Coulson Elder Law is now Dent-Coulson Elder Law
Learn More

Estate Planning and Elder Law Attorney | Dent Coulson Elder Law

Get Help Right Away

Call Today: 618-632-7000 or 217-330-5500

or Send us an email

  • Home
  • Our Services
    • Alzheimer’s Planning
    • Asset Preservation Planning
    • Estate Planning
    • Medicaid Eligibility
    • Special Needs Planning
    • Trust and Estate Administration
    • VA Benefits Planning
  • News & Videos
    • Video Series
      • Coronavirus Preparedness
      • Asset Preservation Planning
      • Common Estate Planning Mistakes
      • Dealing With Alzheimer’s
      • Financial Exploitation of Elders
      • Handling Difficult Conversations with Seniors
      • Married Couples and Medicaid
      • Medicaid Application Process
      • Medicaid Look-Back Rule and Transfer Penalties
      • Nursing Home Admission and Care
      • Veterans Pension Benefits
      • What You Can and Can’t Keep with Medicaid
    • Weekly Newsletter
    • The Elder Law Minute
  • Alzheimer’s Guide
  • Presentations
    • Health Care Power of Attorney
    • Free Workshops
  • Hear From Our Clients
    • Testimonials
    • Share Your Experience
  • About
    • About Us
    • Meet Our Staff
    • Partners & Resources
    • About Our Fees
    • COVID-19 Policies
    • Privacy Policy
  • Contact
    • Email Us
    • Find Our Offices
    • Refer a Friend

Alzheimer’s, Family Member Caregivers, and Medicaid and VA Benefits

Government statistics show that literally hundreds of billions of dollars of uncompensated care is provided by family member caregivers to those with Alzheimer’s. This opens up a great planning opportunity for both Medicaid and VA benefits.

It is possible to compensate family member caregivers and not have the payments count as gifts, if done correctly (and this is important), for those applying for Medicaid. We’ve also helped a number of veterans and widowed spouses of veterans use that compensation as a means for qualifying for the VA Aid and Attendance benefits.

In this Elder Law Minute, Wes Coulson, Southern Illinois Elder Law attorney, discusses ways to compensate family member caregivers for those with Alzheimer’s relative to Medicaid and VA benefits.

Alzheimer’s, Family Member Caregivers, and Medicaid and VA Benefits

Transcript:

Hi, I’m Wes Coulson and this is your Elder Law Minute. A great deal of care provided to people with Alzheimer’s is provided by family members in the home setting. In fact, government statistics show that literally hundreds of billions of dollars of uncompensated care is provided to those with Alzheimer’s by family members. There’s also a great planning opportunity in that, in two respects.

First, if the person being cared for is a veteran or a widowed spouse of a veteran, it is possible to compensate the family member as a caregiver and use that as a basis for qualifying for the VA Aid and Attendance benefits. We’ve successfully helped quite a few clients with that.

The other way in which it can be very helpful is that payments to a family member, if it’s done correctly (and if it’s done correctly is a very important qualifier here), are not counted as gifts for Medicaid purposes. So, it can be a very constructive means of transferring ownership of assets out of the name of the Alzheimer’s sufferer into the name of another family member. That’s important not just from the compensation standpoint, but to allow some money to be set aside in a safe place so that if it’s needed later to pay for care in other settings, if you choose to pay privately, there’s money set aside for that. And it’s also very valuable in helping to establish government benefits assistance.

So, if you’re a home caregiver for someone with Alzheimer’s give us a call. We really can help. Thanks.

For more information on Alzheimer’s and family member caregivers, visit these articles:

  • Paying Family Member Caregivers: A Blessing or a Curse?
  • Alzheimer’s Caregiving: The importance of managing your workload and stress
  • Family Member Caregivers and VA Benefits

“Your Trusted Advisor on the Elder Care Journey”

Dent-Coulson Elder Law is dedicated to providing families in the St. Louis area with their Elder Law needs. Our practice areas include Asset Preservation Planning, Veterans Benefits, Medicaid Eligibility, Alzheimer’s Planning, Special Needs Planning, Estate Planning and more. We understand the financial challenges you may face as you and your loved ones grow older. At Dent-Coulson Elder Law, our clients’ well-being is our number one priority. For immediate help, call (618)632-7000 or (314)567-9292 or Contact Us and we will get in touch as soon as possible.

Veterans Benefits O'Fallon ILFor Immediate Help

If you or a loved one needs immediate help with a planning matter or legal issue, please contact us, and we will get back to you promptly.

Office Hours
Monday - Friday: 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Call Us
618-632-7000
217-330-5500
314-567-9292

Connect with Us

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Join us for a FREE Workshop

 

Free WorkshopsIf you have reached age 65, there's about a 45% chance that you will eventually need long-term care.

Join us for one of our highly informative and FREE workshops and find out how you can protect your family's hard-earned life savings.

Visit Free Workshops for more information.

Newsletter

Subscribe to our free weekly Newsletter and receive the latest news, updates and videos straight to your inbox!

Recent Posts

  • What an Illinois Medicaid Applicant Can and Cannot Keep: Jointly Held Accounts
  • What an Illinois Medicaid Applicant Can and Cannot Keep: Motor Vehicles
  • What an Illinois Medicaid Applicant Can and Cannot Keep: Personal Residence
  • What an Illinois Medicaid Applicant Can and Cannot Keep: Household Goods & Personal Effects
  • What an Illinois Medicaid Applicant Can and Cannot Keep: Life Estates

More News & Videos

  • Alzheimer's Planning (85)
  • Asset Preservation Planning (150)
  • Coronavirus Preparedness Series (9)
  • Coulson Elder Law (11)
  • Elder Law Minute Video (386)
  • Estate Planning (133)
  • Health Care Planning/Medicare (80)
  • Medicaid Eligibility (142)
  • News & Videos (430)
  • Special Needs Planning (48)
  • Trust Administration (14)
  • Veterans Benefits (51)

774 Sunset Blvd Suite 200
O'Fallon, IL 62269
IL: (618) 632-7000
MO: (314) 567-9292

415 W. Virginia Ave.
Effingham, IL 62401
(217) 330-5500

Fax: (618) 632-7333
Send us an email

Front office building of Coulson Elder Law

Front office building of Coulson Elder Law

  • Directions to our office locations

774 Sunset Blvd Suite 200
O'Fallon, IL 62269
IL: (618) 632-7000
MO: (314) 567-9292

415 W. Virginia Ave.
Effingham, IL 62401
(217) 330-5500

Fax: (618) 632-7333
Send us an email

  • About Us
  • News and Videos
  • Weekly Newsletter
  • Brochures
  • Presentations
  • Hear From Our Clients
  • Partners & Resources
  • Legal Disclaimer

Copyright © 2023 · Wesley J. Coulson | Dent Coulson Elder Law, LLC