PRIME TIME LAW

 

A Practical Guide for those who

are experiencing the Prime of Life

and for those who Care for them

                                                                                                                       

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

An Educational Presentation by:

David L. McGuffey

 

 

 

 

Serving Tennessee & Georgia

 

Our Practice: People First

 

202 West Crawford Street, Suite B

Dalton, GA 30722

(706) 428-0888

 

www.mcguffey.net

All rights reserved, Copyright 2001-2004

Last Revised: February 17, 2004

 

Notice and Disclaimer: This Handbook is to be used for educational purposes only.  This handbook is updated irregularly and some material may be out of date. It is not designed to replace individual legal counsel.  Use of this Handbook does not create an attorney-client privilege between you and the Law Office of David L. McGuffey, LLC or its lawyers.  If you have a specific legal question, you should see a lawyer who can discuss your case with you.  Attorneys with and the Law Office of David L. McGuffey, LLC are not presently certified as Elder Law Specialists (although Mr. McGuffey is certified as a Civil Trial Specialist) by the Tennessee Commission on Continuing Legal Education and Specialization.  No representation is made that the quality of legal services provided by and the Law Office of David L. McGuffey, LLC is greater than the quality of legal services provided by other lawyers.

                                                                                                                                               
                                                            Table of Contents

Introduction                                                                                                                                                                                    4

People: Rights and Responsibilities                                                                                                                                      6

First Things First: Planning                                                                                                                                                       6

Parents                                                                                                                                                                                         6

Children                                                                                                                                                                                       6

Organize your affairs                                                                                                                                                               6

Planner/Questionnaire                                                                                                                                                          7

Financing Retirement                                                                                                                                                                 7

Changing Levels of  Income                                                                                                                                                 7

Social Security/Retirement Benefits                                                                                                                                8

Types of Social Security Benefits                                                                                                                                  8

Most people ask two questions about Social Security                                                                                           8

Retirement Benefits                                                                                                                                                          8

Am I fully insured?                                                                                                                                                             9

More on Social Security Credits                                                                                                                                     9

When can I receive benefits: Retirement Age?                                                                                                       9

Since early retirement will permanently reduce my benefits, should I retire early?                              10

How much do I receive?                                                                                                                                                 10

Social Security/Disability Benefits                                                                                                                                  11

Initial Advice                                                                                                                                                                      11

Am I eligible for disability benefits?                                                                                                                          11

How can I tell whether I have enough SS earnings to be eligible?                                                                 11

Do I have a disability?                                                                                                                                                    12

What if I am already receiving other benefits?                                                                                                      12

Where can I apply for Social Security?                                                                                                                           12

Miscellaneous Information                                                                                                                                                13

How do I contact the Social Security Administration                                                                                          13

What if I disagree with the Social Security Administration?                                                                            13

The Appeals Process in a Nutshell                                                                                                                             13

Supplemental Security Income (SSI)                                                                                                                              13

Medicare and Medicaid                                                                                                                                                            14

Medicare                                                                                                                                                                                   14

Medicaid                                                                                                                                                                                   16

Eligibility                                                                                                                                                                             16

Long Term Care Insurance                                                                                                                                                 18

A Word about Doctors                                                                                                                                                               21

Long Term Care (LTC)                                                                                                                                                               22

What is Long Term Care (                                                                                                                                                   22

Do you (or does someone you love) need LTC?                                                                                                          22

Home Health Care and Congregate Housing                                                                                                              23

Assisted Living                                                                                                                                                                       23

Nursing Home Care                                                                                                                                                              24

Admission Agreement                                                                                                                                                    25

Resident Rights                                                                                                    &nb