Joseph L. Matthews, Expert
Caring.com Expert
Joseph L. Matthews has been an attorney in the San Francisco Bay Area since 1971. From 1975 to 1977 he taught at the School of Law at the University of California, Berkeley. He is the author of numerous books, including Social Security, Medicare, and Government Pensions; Long-Term Care: How to Plan and Pay for It; How to Win Your Personal Injury Claim; and The Lawyer Who Blew up His Desk. The original coauthor of Joseph's book on Social Security and Medicare was his mother, Dorothy, who had worked at senior centers for 25 years. Joseph then assisted her with her own care during the later years of her life, arranging her legal and financial documents and helping her move to home care and assisted living as her needs changed.
Recently Published on Caring.com
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Nursing Home Alternatives — Mar 19, 2013Although many nursing homes today offer wonderful care, most of us would prefer to live out our lives in the comfort of home. For any number of reasons, though -- from phy...
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How to Pay for Independent Living — Mar 01, 2013The cost of independent living facilities varies widely, depending on what's offered and where. Options range from small rental units with few extra services, available for... -
How to Get Paid for Being a Family Caregiver — Feb 25, 2013If you're one of more than 70 million people who provide unpaid caregiving for a family member or friend -- either in that person's home or in your own -- you know that the... -
If I have a Medicare Advantage (Plan C) managed care plan, can I switch back to regular Medicare Parts A and B? — Dec 28, 2012You can leave your Medicare Advantage plan and return to traditional Medicare Part A (hospital insurance) and Part B (medical insurance) at any time. Just give your managed... -
What are the Medicare hospital stay limits? — Dec 28, 2012Unfortunately, yes. In order for Medicare Part A coverage (up to another 90 days) to begin again -- for a new "benefit period," as Medicare calls it -- for a... -
Does Medicare pay for hospital beds for home use? — Dec 28, 2012Yes, Medicare Part B can help pay for a hospital bed and other "durable medical equipment." For Medicare to cover it, an item of equipment must be "medi... -
What should we consider when Mom wants to give monetary gifts to family members for special occasions? — Dec 28, 2012When someone applies for Medicaid coverage of nursing home care, Medicaid looks back at the financial records of the applicant for the previous five years. It determines w... -
When can I apply for survivor's benefits? — Dec 28, 2012You may not begin collecting Social Security survivors benefits until you actually turn 60 (NOT earlier in that calendar year). However, you should apply for your benefits... -
V.A. Nursing Home Benefits — Dec 22, 2012Who's eligible for V.A. long-term care benefits? The V.A. provides nursing home and other long-term care -- the V.A. calls it "extended care" -- for many veterans. Those ... -
Power of Attorney for Finances — Dec 13, 2012Through a power of attorney, an individual appoints a person, usually a close relative, either to help him manage his affairs, or to handle all his affairs if he's unable t... -
Power of Attorney for Finances: What to Know — Dec 12, 2012A power of attorney for finances can be a valuable tool, especially for families caring for older adults. You can use it to help them manage specific transactions, to assis... -
There are two ways that your father’s move to an apartment might cause a problem for his wife’s Medicaid eligibility. The first has to do with the house as an asset. When... -
Dad is at the end of his life, but we have not money for a nursing home. What should we do? — Dec 01, 2012There is help available. This difficult period when treatment no longer works and so health insurance no longer provide standard coverage is, fortunately, addressed by hos... -
The first part of your question has to do with the biological relationship between you and your father, and how that could affect Social Security benefits. Your or your so... -
Putting addresses in a Power of Attorney document is purely for the purpose of helping to identify the people involved. A grant of POA does not lose its validity simply be... -
Medicare and Mental Health — Nov 13, 2012What coverage does Medicare provide for inpatient hospital care for mental illness? Modern medicine recognizes that many mental and emotional problems are in fact physica... -
Social Security Benefits — Nov 13, 2012Social Security benefits eligibility Older adults who were in the work force (even part time for very low wages) for as little as ten years total are likely eligible for ... -
Supplemental Security Income — Nov 13, 2012Who qualifies for SSI? If you're caring for someone who's 65 or older, or someone of any age who's blind or disabled, who has very low income and few assets, she may be el... -
Medicare Insurance Primary/Secondary — Nov 02, 2012Medicare operates together with employer-sponsored health insurance in two different ways, depending on whether the insurance is provided through current employment or thro... -
When does my husband sign up for Medicare? — Nov 02, 2012The short answer is that he should sign up for Medicare Part A hospital insurance right away (it’s free) but as long as he’s insured under the insurance you have from your ... -
I am on SS. Can I get SSDI for COPD instead? — Nov 02, 2012Being turned down for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits does not mean you cannot apply again. The fact that you did not appeal the denial of your origina... -
Your father will continue to get his full Social Security benefits for the rest of his life, regardless of where he lives. Social Security benefits are based on the Social... -
Can elder abuse be reported after the elder has passed away? — Nov 01, 2012There are several people whom you might want to notify about your concerns that the individual with the POA authority abused that authority. First, if and when an administ... -
How Medicaid Works — Oct 17, 2012What is Medicaid? Medicaid is a federal government program to help provide healthcare coverage to certain categories of people who have low income and few assets (other t... -
Will my income affect my father's chances of Medicaid? — Oct 02, 2012Neither your income nor your assets (such as your car) will be counted by Medicaid when it determines your father’s eligibility. The only part of your finances that might ...
