Our Blog
Welcome to the blog of R. F. Meyer & Associates, where we share company news and informative articles related to our Elder Law, Probate and Estate Planning legal practice.
Medicare Premiums to Increase Slightly in 2021
Medicare premiums are set to rise a modest amount next year, but still cut into any Social Security gains. The basic monthly premium will increase $3.90, from $144.60 a month to $148.50. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced the premium and...
CARES’ Early Withdrawals Penalty Waiver Expires Dec. 31
If you are experiencing financial hardship due to the coronavirus pandemic, you may want to consider withdrawing money from your retirement account while you still can without penalty. The CARES Act special exemption allowing early withdrawals without a penalty ends...
Newsletter released; End to difficult 2020 finally within sight
Earlier today, we issued the December 2020 e-newsletter from R. F. Meyer & Associates. It’s our last edition in what’s been a very difficult year, with an end to 2020 finally within sight. Thank goodness. 2020 has been a year most of us look forward to leaving...
Husbands Often Omit Wives in Social Security Planning
The amount of Social Security benefits a surviving spouse receives depends, in part, on when their deceased spouse began claiming benefits. However, husbands usually don’t take survivor’s benefits into account when claiming benefits, according to a recent study,...
Receiving an Inheritance While on Medicaid
For most people, receiving an inheritance is something good, but for a nursing home resident on Medicaid, an inheritance may not be such welcome news. Medicaid has strict income and resource limits, so an inheritance can make a Medicaid recipient ineligible for...
How to Fix a Required Minimum Distribution Mistake
The rules around required minimum distributions from retirement accounts are confusing, and it’s easy to slip up. Fortunately, if you do make a mistake, there are steps you can take to fix the error and possibly avoid a stiff penalty. If you have a tax-deferred...
Modest Social Security increase on tap for 2021
The Social Security Administration has announced a 1.3 percent rise in benefits in 2021, an increase even smaller than last year’s. Cost-of-living increases are tied to the consumer price index, and a modest upturn in inflation rates and gas prices means Social...
Newsletter urges estate planning checkup
Dear Clients and Referral Partners, Earlier today we issued our November 2020 edition of the R. F. Meyer & Associates e-newsletter. If you did not receive it by email, please find a link below to download the full PDF version from our website. With the calendar...
Medicare May Cover Extra 100 Days of Skilled Nursing
The COVID-19 pandemic has been particularly devastating for nursing homes and their residents. Aside from the tragically disproportionate loss of life, care for surviving residents has been delayed or interrupted due to infection, facility lockdowns or other health...