Maureen Kroll, Attorney at Law, 8981 Norwin Avenue # 20, North Huntingdon, PA (2026)

09/01/2026

The 2026 Medicaid Income and Resource Limits

You May Qualify for Help You Didn't Qualify for Last Year

Every January the federal poverty guidelines are updated, and Pennsylvania uses those numbers to decide who qualifies for Medical Assistance (what most people call Medicaid) and a whole family of related health programs. The 2026 guidelines were published on January 15, 2026, and the Pennsylvania Health Law Project has released its annual fact sheet showing the new limits for each program.

A few of the numbers most likely to matter to you or someone you love:

Medicare Savings Programs. If you have Medicare, these programs pay your Part B premium, and at the lowest income level, your Part A premium and cost-sharing as well. Monthly income limits for 2026 range from $1,330 single / $1,804 married up to $1,796 single / $2,435 married, depending on the program.

Home and Community-Based Services waivers. For older adults and people with disabilities who want to stay in their own homes rather than enter a facility: $2,982 in monthly income (only the applicant's income is counted) and $8,000 in countable resources.

Medical Assistance for Workers with Disabilities (MAWD). For adults ages 16–64 with a disability who work: up to $3,325 monthly single or $4,509 married, with a $10,000 resource limit.

Medicare Part D Extra Help. $1,995 single / $2,705 married in monthly income, with resource limits of $18,090 and $36,100.
Two things are easy to miss. First, not all income and resources count toward these limits, disregards apply, and people often assume they're over the line when they aren't.

Second, the resource limit can be dramatically different between two programs with the same income limit, so being turned down for one does not mean you're ineligible for another.

If you or a family member were denied in the past, or you've never applied because you assumed you earned too much, it is worth a second look this year.

You can view the Pennsylvania Health Law Project's full 2026 fact sheet here:https://maureenkroll.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/2026-Income-and-Resource-Limits-for-Medicaid-and-Other-Health-Programs.pdf

Contact Maureen Kroll, Attorney at Law, for the help you need. Call me at 724-863-6770, or visit my website today: https://www.maureenkroll.com/

Disclaimer: This post is not intended as tax, accounting, or legal advice. This material has been prepared for informational purposes only.

08/25/2026

What You Can Keep: 2026 Pennsylvania Medical Assistance Asset Exemptions

When a family first starts looking at long-term care (a nursing facility, or services that help a loved one stay at home) one of the questions I hear most often is some version of: "Do we have to lose everything?"

The answer is no. Pennsylvania Medical Assistance (Medicaid) protects a number of assets so families can hold onto basic stability and dignity. Here are the key exemptions for 2026:

• Your primary residence: equity interest up to $752,000 if you intend to return home. There is no equity cap at all if your spouse, a child under 21, or a blind or permanently disabled child of any age lives in the home.
• One motor vehicle, regardless of value.
• Real and personal property essential to a trade or business.
• Household goods and personal effects.
• Term life insurance that carries no cash surrender value.
• Life insurance with a total face value of $1,500 or less per insured person. If the face value is higher, only the cash surrender value above $1,000 is counted.
• Burial spaces for you and your immediate family.
• A properly structured irrevocable (or limited revocable) burial reserve subject to specified limits based on average local burial costs. Limits interact with life insurance rules and should be confirmed with the County Assistance Office.
• A community spouse's IRAs and qualified retirement accounts. The applicant's own retirement accounts are generally countable, but this is one area where Pennsylvania is notably more protective of the at-home spouse than many other states.

These exemptions sit on top of the resource limit itself.

Pennsylvania uses a two-tier limit: $8,000 in countable resources if gross monthly income is at or below $2,982 per month, or $2,400 if income is above that figure. Separate spousal protections apply when one spouse needs care and the other remains at home.

One important caution: these rules apply primarily to long-term care eligibility, and the details matter enormously. Whose name is on which asset, whether a written intent to return home has been filed, and exactly how a burial reserve is drafted can each change the result. The dollar figures also change every January.

Before you transfer, spend down, or restructure anything, talk it through with your County Assistance Office or a Pennsylvania elder law attorney.

Official overview from the PA Department of Human Services:
https://www.pa.gov/agencies/dhs/resources/aging-physical-disabilities/medicaid-payment-long-term-care

Detailed 2026 eligibility summary:
https://www.medicaidplanningassistance.org/medicaid-eligibility-pennsylvania/

Contact Maureen Kroll, Attorney at Law, for the help you need. Call me at 724-863-6770, or visit my website today: https://www.maureenkroll.com/

Disclaimer: This post is not intended as tax, accounting, or legal advice. This material has been prepared for informational purposes only.

08/18/2026

Caregiver Child Exemption: Preserving the Family Home in 2026

If you have moved in with your parents to care for them, Pennsylvania law may let the family home pass to you without triggering a Medicaid penalty.

Normally, giving away a home within five years of applying for Medical Assistance creates a penalty period: a stretch of time when Medicaid won't pay for nursing facility care. In 2026, Pennsylvania calculates that penalty using the state's average private-pay nursing home rate of $421.20 per day, or $12,811.50 per month. A home worth $150,000 given away at the wrong moment can mean roughly a year without coverage.

The caregiver child exemption is a federal exception to that rule (42 U.S.C. § 1396p(c)(2)(A)(iv)). To qualify, the adult son or daughter must have:

• Lived in the parent's home for at least two years immediately before the parent entered the nursing facility, and
• Provided care that allowed the parent to stay at home rather than move into a facility sooner.

"Child" means a biological or adopted son or daughter. Stepchildren, grandchildren, nieces, and nephews do not qualify under this exception.

Expect to document the residency and, critically, the level of care provided. A physician's written statement describing the parent's condition and the care that kept them home is usually essential. Casual help with errands will not meet the standard.

Because Pennsylvania’s Estate Recovery Program collects from the probate estate, a home properly transferred during the parent’s lifetime is generally beyond its reach. (Note: Pennsylvania also has a separate estate-recovery hardship waiver under 55 Pa. Code § 258.10 that can protect the home after death even if it was never transferred, but that waiver has additional requirements, including that the caregiver has no other permanent residence. The exemption discussed here is the federal transfer-penalty exception that allows the lifetime transfer without creating a Medicaid penalty.)

Learn more about Pennsylvania's Estate Recovery Program: https://www.pa.gov/agencies/dhs/resources/for-residents/estate-recovery

Contact Maureen Kroll, Attorney at Law, for the help you need. Call me at 724-863-6770, or visit my website today: https://www.maureenkroll.com/

Disclaimer: This post is not intended as tax, accounting, or legal advice. This material has been prepared for informational purposes only.

08/11/2026

Durable Powers of Attorney: Essential Protection in 2026

A financial Power of Attorney is one of the most useful documents in any plan. It lets you name a trusted agent to handle your bills, bank accounts, investments, insurance, and real estate if illness, injury, or age ever leaves you unable to manage those things yourself.

Here is something you may not know: in Pennsylvania, a Power of Attorney is durable by default. Under 20 Pa.C.S. § 5601.1, your document keeps working even after you become incapacitated, unless it specifically says otherwise. That durability is exactly what makes it valuable.

But there is a catch. You must be mentally competent at the time you sign. If a family waits until after a stroke or a dementia diagnosis, that door is generally closed for a new financial Power of Attorney, and the primary remaining path is often a court guardianship proceeding. That’s a formal proceeding involving court filings, medical evidence, attorneys, and ongoing reporting to the court for years afterward.

Pennsylvania's Act 61 guardianship reforms, effective June 11, 2024, now require courts to look first at less restrictive alternatives before appointing a guardian. A financial Power of Attorney is at the top of that list. Signing one now is often what keeps a family out of court later.

Pennsylvania also has strict signing rules. For documents signed since January 1, 2015, the POA must be dated and signed, include the required statutory notice, be witnessed by two adults, and be acknowledged before a notary. Your agent must also sign a separate acknowledgment before acting. Generic forms downloaded online frequently miss one of these steps , and a bank or title company will catch it at the worst possible moment.

If your Power of Attorney is more than a few years old, or you do not have one, this is worth a conversation.

Learn more from the Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network: https://www.palawhelp.org/resource/power-of-attorney-in-pennsylvania

Contact Maureen Kroll, Attorney at Law, for the help you need. Call me at 724-863-6770, or visit my website today: https://www.maureenkroll.com/

Disclaimer: This post is not intended as tax, accounting, or legal advice. This material has been prepared for informational purposes only.

08/04/2026

Half a Year In: What the 2026 Social Security COLA Has Actually Meant

Back in January, Social Security's 2.8% cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) took effect for nearly 71 million Social Security beneficiaries, with increased payments to roughly 7.5 million SSI recipients starting December 31, 2025. Now that we're more than half a year in, it's a good time to check whether the numbers on your statement match what you expected.

For the average retired worker, SSA estimated the monthly benefit would rise from $2,015 to $2,071 — about $56 more per month. For Supplemental Security Income, the maximum federal payment increased from $967 to $994 for individuals and from $1,450 to $1,491 for eligible couples.

But here's what many people don't account for: the standard Medicare Part B premium rose to $202.90 a month for 2026, up $17.90 from $185.00 in 2025. Because Part B is usually deducted directly from your Social Security payment, a good portion of the raise never reaches your bank account. For many households, the increase in groceries, utilities, and medical costs has outpaced the adjustment already.

A few things worth doing this month:

• Log into your my Social Security account and confirm your current benefit amount and Part B deduction: https://www.ssa.gov/myaccount/
• If you're working while collecting before full retirement age, the 2026 earnings limit is $24,480 — exceeding it can trigger withholding. https://www.newsweek.com/medicare-update-new-estimate-of-how-much-premiums-will-increase-12256344
• Watch for the next COLA announcement, which SSA typically issues in October: https://www.ssa.gov/cola/

A change in benefit amount can also affect Medicaid eligibility calculations, SSI resource planning, and long-term care planning.

Contact Maureen Kroll, Attorney at Law, for the help you need. Call me at 724-863-6770, or visit my website today: https://www.maureenkroll.com/

Disclaimer: This post is not intended as tax, accounting, or legal advice. This material has been prepared for informational purposes only.

07/28/2026

Trump Accounts vs. PA 529: What Pennsylvania Families Should Know

If you have young children or grandchildren, you may have heard about Trump Accounts — new federal long-term investment accounts for U.S. citizens under 18.

Here's what stands out. There is a $1,000 seed deposit for children born between January 1, 2025 and December 31, 2028, though a parent must make an election to receive the funds. Families can contribute up to $5,000 a year, and an employer may add up to $2,500 within that same limit. The money is invested in low-cost U.S. stock index funds, and generally no withdrawals are permitted until the year the child turns 18 (after which traditional IRA rules apply.)

That makes a Trump Account a long-horizon tool; great for retirement, a first home, starting a small business — rather than a college savings plan.

Pennsylvania families already have two education-focused options that work differently. PA 529 accounts offer tax-free withdrawals for qualified education expenses plus a Pennsylvania income tax deduction on contributions. Keystone Scholars automatically deposits $100 at birth for every child born to (or adopted by) Pennsylvania residents since 2019. These programs are designed to complement one another, not compete.

One important caution: details for Trump Accounts are still being finalized. Pennsylvania state tax treatment and the effect on financial aid remain unsettled, and current information reflects the IRS's initial notice and proposed regulations.

PA 529 has published a helpful side-by-side comparison chart: https://pa529.com/learn/trump-accounts/

If you're thinking through how these accounts fit into a broader family plan — including special needs planning or ABLE accounts — let's talk.

Contact Maureen Kroll, Attorney at Law, for the help you need. Call me at 724-863-6770, or visit my website today: https://www.maureenkroll.com/

Disclaimer: This post is not intended as tax, accounting, or legal advice. This material has been prepared for informational purposes only.

07/21/2026

A Bill in Harrisburg Could Change How Pennsylvania Courts Decide Custody

Pennsylvania custody law rests on a simple, powerful idea: every decision should be based on the best interests of the child. Today, when parents cannot agree, a judge weighs a full set of factors and shapes an arrangement that fits that particular child and family.

A bill now before the state legislature, House Bill 1499, would change that starting point. Rather than an individualized review, courts would begin from a presumption that equal, 50/50 parenting time is best, and a parent who disagreed would carry the burden of proving otherwise. The bill is still in committee. It has not passed and is not current law.

Supporters argue a 50/50 default is fairer to both parents, and shared custody is the right outcome for many families. But it may not be the right outcome for every child. A one-size-fits-all presumption can be difficult in situations involving distance between homes, high conflict, or safety concerns, and it can shift the focus away from the individual child. That is exactly why the current best-interests standard, which examines each family's specific facts, remains so valuable.

If you are navigating a custody matter, know that today's law still centers on your child's needs. If you would like to understand how the current rules, or any proposed changes, could affect your family, let's talk.

You can read House Bill 1499 for yourself on the Pennsylvania General Assembly website: https://www.palegis.us/legislation/bills/text/PDF/2025/0/HB1499/PN1755

Contact Maureen Kroll, Attorney at Law, for the help you need. Call me at 724-863-6770, or visit my website today: https://www.maureenkroll.com/

Disclaimer: This post is not intended as tax, accounting, or legal advice. This material has been prepared for informational purposes only.

07/14/2026

Good News from Social Security: Streamlining How Claims Are Handled

If you or a loved one has ever waited on a Social Security claim, you know how frustrating the process can feel. There's some encouraging news: the Social Security Administration recently announced changes meant to make its service more responsive.

Just announced this month (July 2026), SSA unified oversight of all eight of its processing centers. That means the offices behind disability operations, earnings records, international cases, and the support units that back up your local field office and the national 800 number. Now they are all under a single new organization called Central Processing. The goal is to merge similar workloads, streamline decisions, and improve customer service across the agency.

SSA has also expanded its Representative Call Center, which now serves as a single point of contact for attorneys and representatives who have a case pending at any processing center. That matters if you're working with an elder law or disability attorney: your representative has a direct channel to help move a claim along and resolve payment questions, instead of tracking down the right office one at a time.

Whether or not you have a representative, one simple step keeps you in control: create a free my Social Security account. It lets you check your earnings, view benefit estimates, and manage your benefits online. Set yours up at https://www.ssa.gov/myaccount/
If you're navigating a disability claim, an overpayment, or another Social Security matter and feel stuck, you don't have to face it alone.

Contact Maureen Kroll, Attorney at Law, for the help you need. Call me at 724-863-6770, or visit my website today: https://www.maureenkroll.com/

Disclaimer: This post is not intended as tax, accounting, or legal advice. This material has been prepared for informational purposes only.

07/07/2026

Free FBI Teen Academy: A Leadership Opportunity for Local High Schoolers

This fall, the FBI Pittsburgh Division's Community Outreach Program is hosting its free, one-day Teen Academy. This is a hands-on experience for rising high school juniors and seniors (2026–2027 school year) who live in Western Pennsylvania.

Students spend the day building leadership skills and getting a real look at federal law enforcement. Activities span fitness and forensic science, with the chance to learn directly from FBI special agents, intelligence analysts, and professional staff.

There are also age-appropriate discussions on violence prevention, online safety, and how to handle hoax threats. These are practical tools that help teens make smart, safe decisions.

And you don't need to be planning a law enforcement career to apply. Any student interested in leadership, service, or simply understanding how the FBI works is encouraged to submit an application.

2026 Fall Teen Academy Dates:
• FBI Pittsburgh, PA: Wednesday, September 30, 2026
• Application deadline: Wednesday, September 2, 2026

How to apply: To learn more about the Teen Academy and to download applications, visit the FBI’s Community Outreach page at: https://www.fbi.gov/contact-us/field-offices/pittsburgh/community-outreach

If you know a young person who'd thrive on a day like this, please pass it along. Helping the next generation of leaders find opportunities like this is something our whole community benefits from.

When life tosses legal challenges your way, contact Maureen Kroll, Attorney at Law, for the help you need. Call me at 724-863-6770, or visit my website today: https://www.maureenkroll.com/

Disclaimer: This post is not intended as tax, accounting, or legal advice. This material has been prepared for informational purposes only.

06/30/2026

Nursing Homes Can't Just Send Your Loved One Away

If a nursing home tells you your loved one has to leave, take a breath — they can't do this on a whim. Federal law (42 CFR § 483.15) strictly limits when a facility can force a resident out.

A nursing home may only discharge or transfer a resident involuntarily for one of six specific reasons under federal law: the resident’s needs cannot be met in the facility and the transfer or discharge is necessary for their welfare; the resident’s health has improved sufficiently so they no longer need the services provided by the facility; the safety of individuals in the facility is endangered due to the resident’s clinical or behavioral status; the health of individuals in the facility would otherwise be endangered; the resident has failed, after reasonable and appropriate notice, to pay for (or to have paid under Medicare or Medicaid) their stay at the facility; or the facility ceases to operate.

Even then, the facility must:

• Give 30 days' written notice (with the reason, the date, and your full appeal rights)
• Document the reason in the medical record
• Provide a safe discharge plan and send health information to the next provider

Most importantly, you have the right to appeal, and in most cases, your loved one can stay in the facility while that appeal is pending.

If you think a discharge is unfair or improper, you don't have to face it alone. Call your Area Agency on Aging. In Westmoreland County you can call 724-830-4444 or visit https://www.westmorelandcountypa.gov/397/Aging and ask for the long-term care ombudsman, who provides free, independent help with appeals.

You can also give me a call for the legal help you need.

Contact Maureen Kroll, Attorney at Law, for the help you need. Call me at 724-863-6770, or visit my website today: https://www.maureenkroll.com/

Disclaimer: This post is not intended as tax, accounting, or legal advice. This material has been prepared for informational purposes only.

Maureen Kroll, Attorney at Law

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