Author: Linda Ershow-Levenberg

The surviving spouse of a Social Security recipient is entitled to a “bump up” in their benefits if the deceased spouse received a higher monthly benefit than the survivor was receiving. Typically, the funeral director notifies the Social Security Administration about the death. Don’t assume that this notification suffices to preserve eligiblity for the widow’s benefit....

Reverse mortgages have been an appealing option for many aged homeowners, because they provide access to the equity in the home when liquid assets are getting used up. These Home Equity Conversion mortgages (HECM for short) need not be repaid until the homeowner dies or vacates the premises. The borrower has to be able to pay the ongoing basic property maintenance charges — such as condo...

This is my tribute to the elders in our communities who have been so terribly affected by  the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions. Untouchable; Alone (April 16, 2020 Central Jersey) (c) Linda S. Ershow-Levenberg , all rights reserved Untouchable. Alone. He wants his daughter. Every morning she brought coffee and some news. She would tell him of the books that she was reading, trim his hair, or...

Advocating for our clients in nursing homes during this pandemic has been uniquely difficult! What tools do we still have to help people watch over the delivery of care to their loved ones? Many rights are guaranteed, and right now much creativity is needed to protect those rights. You can still set up care plan...

To say that the care-delivery system in New Jersey’s nursing homes in 2020 has been fraught with problems and perils is, of course, an understatement. Certain facilities are just now beginning to admit new residents, and many new procedures for infection control and care delivery have to be put in place. The NJ Attorney General announced on April 16th that he is embarking on an...

Readers of this blog know that when he time comes to apply for New Jersey’s Medicaid/MLTSS program for either home care, assisted living care of nursing home care, a daunting array of proofs is required. The burden to prove eligibility is placed on the applicant.  Every single expenditure made by the applicant and their spouse during the previous 5 years is open for scrutiny, to see if...

An illiquid estate can be very difficult to administer. If the estate assets include real estate or a business to be sold,  there can be a need for substantial cash to maintain these pending sale. If the beneficiaries of the Estate are Class C (siblings) or Class D (all others), New Jersey Transfer Inheritance Tax will need to be paid. Many Wills direct that these taxes be paid from the estate...

Are you in a long-term relationship, or even engaged to be married? Is that wedding postponed indefinitely due to the current pandemic? Do you have children who would need a guardian if you pass away? Do you have children from a previous relationship? Do you want to make sure that your partner is the one who will inherit your estate, or will be the one who’s allowed to handle your...

Previously we reported on concerns about whether the $1200 per person payments or the $600 unemployment enhancements that would be arriving via the CARES ACT would be counted as income or a resource which would affect the means-tested benefits being received under New Jersey’s Medicaid (NJ FamilyCare) programs. We’re happy to report that the Director of DMAHS has released a...

Increasing numbers of frail elderly are trying to arrange for care in their houses or apartments because admission to nursing facilities is so problematic at this time. About one third of the state’s skilled nursing facilities are considered to be incapable of appropriately isolating COVID-19 patients, and have been  barred from any new admissions. Of course, arranging for home care is...