As an estate planning attorney practicing in Pennsylvania with a strong focus on special needs planning, I frequently work alongside personal injury counsel to address a critical but often overlooked consequence of...more
On April 29, 2025, the U.S. Supreme Court issued an opinion upholding the formula the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) utilized to calculate Medicare hospitals’ disproportionate share hospital (DSH) payment...more
As the chair of the Elder Law Practice Group, I see a lot of issues that the firm’s clients encounter in their personal lives. As we begin the new year, I thought it appropriate to write about the areas of our practice that...more
The answer to how personal injury settlements affect Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits depends on your specific situation. However, there is a general answer: SSDI...more
The Elder Law Practice Group at Falcon Rappaport & Berkman would like to share some important Elder Law legal updates with our clients and professional partners that will impact Medicaid eligibility for applicants/recipients...more
Our February Elder Law and Special Needs newsletter is now available! In this issue, our attorneys delve into timely topics such as recent legislative developments in New Jersey. Specifically, we explore new laws designed to...more
For disabled persons receiving financially-based government benefits, supplemental needs trusts (“SNTs”) can safeguard benefits and serve as an effective estate planning tool. SNTs allow individuals with disabilities to...more
Social Security benefits will rise only slightly in 2017. This follows no increase in benefits in 2016 and small increases for many of the previous years. The small bump in 2017 will likely be eaten up by higher Medicare Part...more
The rules for how income will reduce a Supplemental Security Income (SSI) beneficiary's monthly benefit can be very confusing. Here is a quick look at how the Social Security Administration (SSA) treats an SSI beneficiary's...more
If you own or are thinking of owning a recreational vehicle (RV), you need to consider the vehicle's impact on your government benefits, especially Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Medicaid....more
Although their names are confusingly alike, Medicaid and Medicare are quite different programs. Both programs provide health coverage, but Medicare is an “entitlement” program, meaning that everyone who reaches age 65 and is...more