May
17
2013
White Plains, NY (Law Firm Newswire) May 17, 2013 – The state of New York has several major public health insurance programs, including Medicaid, commonly known as “Regular Medicaid.” While Regular Medicaid in New York offers extensive health care services including: dental care; diagnostic testing; home care; hospitalization; mental health support; out-patient care at hospitals and community clinics; and physical therapy, clients of Medicaid in New York must receive their prescription drugs via Medicare Part D. Any individual currently receiving or about to begin receiving New York State Medicaid must join a Medicare prescription drug plan, or they will lose [...]
May
6
2013
Moorestown, NJ (Law Firm Newswire) May 6, 2012 – On May 11, Begley Law Group attorney Kristen Behrens is speaking at a public seminar about estate planning, guardianship and special needs trusts. Ms. Behrens has extensive expertise in the areas of special needs trusts, estates and trust planning. The event is hosted by Special Parents of Exceptional Children (SPEC), a group founded and run by parents of children with special needs. SPEC meets monthly throughout the school year to provide support and information, and welcomes parents and caregivers of children of all ages and types of needs. Newcomers are always [...]
May
3
2013
White Plains, NY (Law Firm Newswire) May 3, 2013 – Bernard A. Krooks, Esq., was a featured speaker on Saturday Night Café with Laura Smith. Mr. Krooks spoke on the importance of financial and legal planning for a child or loved one with autism. The interview aired on 770 WABC-AM and WABCRadio.com on Saturday, April 27, 2013. To listen to Mr. Krooks’ full interview, please go here. Mr. Krooks is a nationally-recognized expert in all aspects of special needs planning, elder law and estate planning. He is a past President of the Special Needs Alliance, a national, invitation-only, not-for-profit organization [...]
Apr
25
2013
Tampa, FL (Law Firm Newswire) April 25, 2013 – The 2013 sequester has many people concerned about what the cuts will mean for their Social Security payments. The AARP has begun running informational ads to explain what the impact of the Chained CPI Social Security benefit cuts may look like. Many Social Security advocates are deeply concerned about how those cuts may adversely affect whole groups of people. Social Security does not only help the elderly and disabled, the benefits also go to children who have lost a parent and need financial support. And, says the AARP, women will be [...]
Apr
22
2013
White Plains, NY (Law Firm Newswire) April 22, 2013 – The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is now offering assistance to travelers with special needs. The disabled, the elderly and individuals with medical conditions are now being offered special assistance with airport security as part of a new push by the TSA. In light of numerous complaints by travelers, the TSA has implemented a cadre of specially trained airport security screeners to assist passengers with disabilities. More than 2,600 TSA officers, supervisors and lead staff have been trained specifically to address the issues that travelers with special needs may face. Each [...]
Mar
26
2013
White Plains, NY (Law Firm Newswire) March 26, 2013 – There has been a renewed call for an examination of the country’s mental health system. Currently, according to a recent government report, there are approximately 7,500 psychiatrists working with mentally ill children and adolescents, but it is estimated that there is a need for closer to 20,000. Meanwhile, families are hard-pressed to get reimbursement from public or private insurers for short-term mental health services that are available. In a study released by the National Institute of Mental Health in 2005, researchers found that as much as 50 percent of chronic [...]
Mar
19
2013
White Plains, NY (Law Firm Newswire) March 19, 2013 – The Treasury Department is asking that all federal benefit recipients opt-in to receive their benefits electronically. Two years ago, the Treasury Department initiated a “green” campaign, urging people who receive federal benefits such as Social Security, Veterans Affairs, and Social Supplemental income in check form, to accept direct deposit instead. Officials estimated that they were sending out close to 11 million checks per month. The campaign included sending notices along with monthly checks inviting people to use direct deposit and releasing public service announcements and reminders via the AARP, banks, [...]
Mar
18
2013
Tampa, FL (Law Firm Newswire) March 18, 2013 – The Social Security Administration (SSA) has launched some new features and rules for 2013. Social Security has asked that beneficiaries switch to a paperless system; though they will continue to send paper checks to those who insist on them, payments can be directly deposited or sent to an issued debit card, accessible wherever MasterCard is accepted. By not mailing out checks every month, the Social Security Administration estimates that it will see significant savings as well as reduce the incidents of lost or stolen checks. The online system includes an electronic [...]
Mar
7
2013
Moorestown, NJ (Law Firm Newswire) March 7, 2013 – Many of the clients of Begley Law Group who receive personal injury settlements are receiving SSI and Medicaid. There are limitations on those funds. SSI is an income stream that pays an individual monies intended to be used for food and shelter. For 2013, the maximum federal benefit rate is $710. In New Jersey, there is a state supplement of $31.25. In Pennsylvania, the supplement is $27.40. Medicaid pays for medical and pharmaceutical services for Medicaid recipients. It covers services that private insurance will not provide, including and most importantly, home [...]
Feb
13
2013
Waxahachie, TX (Law Firm Newswire) February 13, 2013 – Medicare has changed its standards to allow therapeutic services for conditions which previously had to “improve.” The Parkinson’s Action Network (PAN), together with the Center for Medicare Advocacy, has filed a class action lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The lawsuit is asking that Medicare’s Improvement Standard measurement for Parkinson’s and other degenerative diseases be removed; Medicare has been accused of denying therapy services to patients when it was determined that their condition had not “improved.” The administration, spurred by the class-action lawsuit, has agreed to alter [...]
Feb
7
2013
Tampa, FL (Law Firm Newswire) February 7, 2013 – Many people are wondering if there will be new changes to Social Security. While the ongoing debate about the U.S. debt ceiling has many people concerned about government spending, the economy, and tax rates, some analysts are watching to see if the lawmakers skip making new changes to the Social Security program. The Social Security system provides for the disabled and the elderly with much-needed funds; some 14 million elderly individuals live just above the poverty level. If changes are made to Social Security, says analysts, it will likely be made [...]
Jan
31
2013
Zephyrhills, FL (Law Firm Newswire) January 31, 2013 – There are new Compassionate Allowance conditions, says Social Security. The Social Security Administration (SSA) recently announced 35 additions to its list of Compassionate Allowances (CAL) conditions, serious ailments allowed for an official determination of eligibility for Social Security Disability benefits in a matter of days instead of months or years. The additions bring the total number of CAL conditions to 200. Zephyrhills social security attorney, Robert Alston praised the news, saying, “The Compassionate Allowances program is a huge help to individuals suffering from certain highly debilitating diseases. Applying for social security [...]
Nov
27
2012
Moorestown, NJ (Law Firm Newswire) November 27, 2012 – New Jersey elder law attorney, Thomas D. Begley, Jr., of Begley Law Group presented to families at “Tools for Meeting Life’s Challenges,” an informational seminar held in Philadelphia, PA., November 17, 2012. The seminar covered topics such as the critical medical, legal, nursing and funding issues that face families of children with cerebral palsy or catastrophic physical disabilities. As one of a select group of top speakers with expertise in the areas of special needs trusts, guardianships and powers of attorney, Begley spoke to families about how to select the ideal [...]
Nov
12
2012
Tampa, FL (Law Firm Newswire) November 12, 2012 – An Iraq War veteran recently brought suit against the Department of Veterans Affairs. The former Marine has alleged that he received poor treatment from the VA for his post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and has requested more than $5 million for what he claims was medical malpractice. Stanley Laskowski III brought suit against the VA in 2010, claiming that the medical center based in Pennsylvania prescribed him medications that were not appropriate for treating his PTSD. His lawyer stated that it was an uncomplicated matter, as the VA has extensive experience medicating [...]
Oct
8
2012
Tampa, FL (Law Firm Newswire) October 8, 2012 – A nurses’ assistant in Roanoke, VA, was recently sentenced to 24 years in prison, though she will likely serve a mere fraction of that sentence behind bars. Ashley Michelle Sweeney was convicted of stealing wedding rings from veterans at Virginia Veterans Care Center, a state nursing home, and pawning them. Sweeney stated that she needed the cash to support her addiction to pain killers she alleges developed after gallbladder surgery several years previous. Case prosecutors stated that Sweeney had an accomplice, another aide at the home, Brittney Heather Cook. Cook was [...]
Aug
31
2012
New York, NY (Law Firm Newswire) August 31, 2012 – Littman Krooks LLP is pleased to announce that elder law and disability planning attorney Alberthe Bernier, Esq., has joined the firm. Alberthe’s practice is focused on elder law, medicaid planning, asset protection planning, guardianships, estate planning, and trust and estate administration. Prior to joining Littman Krooks, Alberthe worked at an elder law firm on Long Island as an associate, where she advised clients and their families on all aspects of elder law and disability planning. She received both her undergraduate and law degree from St. John’s University. During law school, [...]
Aug
24
2012
New York, NY (Law Firm Newswire) August 24, 2012 – This summer, six students graduated from The Young Marines of Central Maryland, an education program that introduces military structure and principles to students via a classroom setting. The graduates were from the Krieger Kennedy unit in Baltimore, Maryland, the only chapter of the Young Marines in the country comprised of middle and high school students with special needs. There are 24 students in the Young Marine program at Kennedy Krieger High School with a range of intellectual and/or physical disabilities, including autism, Down Syndrome and brain injuries. The standard lessons [...]
Jul
20
2012
Zephyrhills, FL (Law Firm Newswire) July 20, 2012 – According to the Social Security Administration (SSA), a record 8,733,461 workers received federal disability insurance payments in June, 2012, a number greater than the population of New York City. Some commentators have decried the rise, saying that the ratio of working Americans to those living on disability has changed for the worse. According to statistics from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), in June, 1992, approximately 120 million Americans were employed, with slightly more than 3 million living on disability, including Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income [...]
Jun
29
2012
Nashville, TN (Law Firm Newswire) June 29, 2012 – For Americans, getting behind the wheel and turning the ignition is the ultimate freedom. Our cars symbolize our independence and allow us to go where we want, when we want. It’s tough to give up those freedoms. If you’ve had to confront an aging loved one and demand their keys, you understand this emotional and practical problem. This article focuses on maintaining control over your life for as long as possible by executing a durable power of attorney. Why do I need a durable power of attorney? • To make long [...]
Apr
17
2012
Tampa, FL (Law Firm Newswire) April 17, 2012 – Tampa social security and disability attorney, David W. Magann has a lot to celebrate. Last month he opened his third office in the Tampa Bay area located on Bayshore Boulevard to serve the South Tampa area and recently had his 1,400th social security hearing. Magann has been practicing social security law for 14 years and has been active in many community organizations. After his 1,400th hearing Magann explained what this milestone meant to him. “I am proud that I have been able to help so many people get the support they [...]
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