Elder Law

Elder Law Newsletters

Employment – Veterans -Miscellaneous Benefits of Federal Government Employment to Veterans

In addition to receiving benefits in hiring and reductions in force, qualifying veterans, known as preference eligibles, receive many other benefits in federal government employment. These benefits include the restriction of some federal jobs to preference eligibles, lifetime eligibility for reinstatement, and the receipt of certain noncompetitive appointments.

Guardianship and Voting Rights

It is sometimes necessary to place a person under guardianship to protect him or her from his or her own personal and financial decisions. Guardianship is an extreme remedy, however. It is used only when a person cannot, for example, understand the implications of his or her decisions or cannot recognize potentially harmful situations.

Income Eligibility for Medicaid

Medicaid programs offer assistance to needy persons who cannot afford to pay for their medical care. The federal and individual state governments jointly administer Medicaid. While federal statutes and regulations provide the template, each state establishes its own methodology for administering its Medicaid program.

MEDICAID ELIGIBILITY FOR NURSING HOME CARE

Most states limit the income a nursing home resident can receive before she is eligible for Medicaid benefits. This limit is usually below the costs of nursing home care.

National Family Caregiver Support Program

In 2000, the United States Congress enacted the National Family Caregiver Support Program (NFCSP). Although the legislation was originally designed to benefit only caregivers of relatives over the age of 59, it was altered before enactment to also benefit relatives over the age of 59 who were caring for children.