Macomb County’s 21 school districts are now losing $103 million in funding each year compared to 2008 levels from cuts in state per-pupil aid, declines in local property taxes as home values decreased, and the loss of money from federal and other sources. The total equals about $785 for each of the 131,000 students countywide. Here in Chippewa Valley we are losing more than $12.7 million.

The funds from this proposal would continue to help finance programs for all our district’s special education students, plus those with more serious impairments who are attending up to 18 MISD regional and center-based programs.

One in seven Macomb County students currently receives special education services. Last year we provided services to 1,793 special needs students. In recent years, there has been a significant increase of learners with autism, children born with low-birth weight, and other cognitive impairments and health-related issues that require additional services from the Macomb Intermediate School District.

Chippewa Valley, like other districts in Macomb County, is finding it increasingly difficult to fund special education programs while avoiding budget cuts to general education programs. If approved by voters, the new funds would partially offset the district’s funding losses by helping finance local special education programs. This in turn will free up some general fund dollars for programs that will benefit all Chippewa Valley students.

If the proposal is approved Chippewa Valley would receive an additional $3.3 million in funding or approximately $206 per student. Although this represents only about a third of what we are currently losing annually, it will go a long way to help restore and preserve programs.

According to the county equalization department, the average cost of the proposal for a Macomb County homeowner is about .20 cents per day or $71.56 annually (Clinton Township is about .20 cents per day and Macomb Township is about .28 cents per day based on the average residential taxable value). For many homeowners the increase could be much less or nothing at all depending on federal and state tax deductions and rebates. Chippewa Valley residents can calculate their actual cost of the special education proposal at www.mytaxcalc.com/MacombISD.

You must be registered by October 11 to vote in this election. Forms are available in every school office or the Secretary of State website at www.michigan.gov/sos.

The Chippewa Valley school community has a proud legacy of supporting their local schools and the quality education we provide. Please remember to vote on Tuesday, November 8!

Find out more by going to chippewavalleyschools.org. Have a question about the proposal? Call us at 723-2240.

There were two major changes to the BEMs which became effective April 1, 2011 that effect the inaccessibility of jointly owned property and the ability to fund a pooled special needs trust for individuals over age 65.  Another major proposed policy was recently announced which is anticipated to become effective July 1, 2011 which effectively incorporates estate recovery into the Medicaid program.  These changes will greatly impact the need for even general estate planners to become familiar with elder law planning techniques to prevent an unnecessary and devastating result for clients and their families.

The rules governing jointly owned property is under BEM 400-Assets.  Formerly, a jointly owned parcel of real estate was rendered “unavailable” and therefore not counted  as a resource as long as the joint owners were not added within the 60 month look-back period and were unwilling to sell their share.  The most common applicability to this rule was when mom or dad is applying for long term care Medicaid assistance.  This rule prevented the family cottage up north or condo down south from being a countable asset or forcing the sale of the property.

However, as of April 1, 2011 the new rule governing joint property is as follows:

“BEM 400 9 of 42 ASSETS
BRIDGES ELIGIBILITY MANUAL STATE OF MICHIGAN
DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES

An asset is unavailable if an owner cannot sell or spend his share of an asset:

• Without another owner’s consent, and
• The other owner is not in the asset group, and
• The other owner refuses consent.

Exception: In SSI-related MA, when ownership is shared by an SSI related child and his parent(s) and parental asset deeming applies, refusal to sell by either the child or the parent(s) does not make an asset unavailable.

Exception: Jointly owned real property is only excludable if it creates a hardship for the other owners; see hardship in this item.”

The problem is proving a hardship exists for the remaining owners.  It is akin to seeing a unicorn.

The second major change in the BEMs which became effective April 1, 2011 is particularly troublesome to my practice as it effects the ability for disabled individuals over age 65 to fund a pooled trust.

Historically, Michigan was very liberal in allowing pooled trust funding.  However, that general policy seemed to change in late 2008 when a worker in the Medicaid Policy Unit began advising eligibility specialists to assess a divestment penalty for the funding of the trust.  The penalty determinations were infrequent and generally successful on appeal.

Perhaps in response to the many successes at the ALJ level, DHS issued a policy change effective April 1, 2011 as follows:

“The trust contains the resources of a person who is disabled (not blind), and under age 65 per BEM 260. See Transfers to an Exception B trust in this item.”

There are several problems with the new policy.  First, the state policy is supposed to follow and implement the federal policy in 42USC§1396(p)(d)(4)(C), which does not reference an age limit for individuals funding a pooled trust.  Further, BEM 260 defines disability and does not contain a reference to age either.

In response, the Elder Law and Disability Rights Section (ELDRS) of the State Bar is working with legislators to develop a statute to allow funding into a pooled trust without penalty and working with policy makers, lobbyists and families in an attempt to remedy this policy.  The ELDRS section is fresh from a victory regarding enforcement of PEME (pre-eligibility medical  eligibility policy and may take up this issue next.

Other states are facing the same issues.  The State of Maryland will implement their pooled trust act which will be effective October 1^st of this year.  The bill is simple and to the point, and allows execution and funding of a pooled trust regardless of age.  This issue was also successfully litigated in Wisconsin.  A federal district court in North Dakota also weighed in on this issue, but it was not directly on point as the issue in that case was really centered on the ability of the non-profit trustee to retain trust assets after death.

Finally, the long awaited and highly dreaded estate recovery act has come to Michigan in the form of BEM 400.  The proposed BEM was recently issued as indicated below, comments are to be forwarded to DHS no later than June 6, 2011 and will become effective July 1, 2011 as follows:

“BEM 400 7 of 42 ASSETS
BRIDGES ELIGIBILITY MANUAL STATE OF MICHIGAN
DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES
ESTATE
RECOVERY MA ONLY

The federal government requires Medicaid to recover money that it paid for services from the estates of Medicaid beneficiaries who have died. Medicaid will only recover the amount Medicaid paid for a beneficiary. This is estate recovery. The state will not seek recovery of certain Medicare cost-sharing benefits.

What is an estate?

An estate includes all property and assets that pass through probate court.

Example: homes, cars, insurance money and bank accounts.

Who is subject to estate recovery?

Medicaid beneficiaries who are age 55 or older.

Are there exceptions to estate recovery?

The state may decide not to recover money if it creates an “Undue Hardship” or if any of the following people lawfully live in the beneficiary’s home

• Beneficiary’s spouse.

• Beneficiary’s child who is under the age of 21, blind, or permanently disabled.

• Beneficiary’s sibling who has an equity interest in the home and was living in the home for at least 1 year immediately before the beneficiary’s death.

• A survivor who:

•• was living in the beneficiary’s home for at least 2 years immediately before the beneficiary went into a medical facility: and

•• provided care so the beneficiary could stay at home during that period.

What is an undue hardship?

An undue hardship exists when:

• The estate is the sole source of income for the survivors, such as a family farm or business; or

• The estate is a home of modest value; or

BEM 400 8 of 42 ASSETS
BRIDGES ELIGIBILITY MANUAL STATE OF MICHIGAN
DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES

• A survivor would become or remain eligible for Medicaid if recovery occurred.

How does estate recovery work?

When a Medicaid beneficiary age 55 or older dies, the state sends an estate recovery notice to the estate representative or heirs. The estate recovery notice tells them:

• the state plans to file a claim;

• how much the state will claim;

• how to apply for an undue hardship waiver.

If no exceptions apply, then the state will file a claim with the estate.

How to apply for an undue hardship waiver?

An Undue Hardship application must be completed. Applications are available from the following sources:

• online at www.michigan.gov/estaterecovery

• by email at miestaterecovery@hms.com

• by sending a letter to P.O. Box XXXX.

The completed application must be received no later than 60 days from the date of the estate recovery notice. Send copies of any documents the notice specified. The state will determine if a waiver is warranted.”

This new rule will certainly prompt administrative changes in probate court filings and DHS will likely be an interested party on probate estates for individuals over age 55.  Interestingly, this new rule may in fact revitalize a sagging estate planning practice as estate recovery can be completely avoided through a well-crafted, but simple plan. Proper drafting of Lady Bird deeds and other historically “elder” law techniques will need to be mastered by even the general practitioner in order to prevent the State of Michigan from becoming the unintended primary beneficiary of an estate.

The governor’s budget has assessed approximately Ten Million Dollars in potential revenue for the state.  While the estate recovery bill was being debated in the state legislature, there was varying statistical analyses of state revenue generate through estate recovery.  All states except Michigan have some form of estate recovery.  In our discussions at the Elder Law council and probate council meetings, after state employees and overhead is paid for to collect these assets, there is generally a loss to the state.  The state may end up being the largest homeowner in Michigan.

If you wish to submit comments to DHS regarding the implementation of the policy, please forward your comments to

Attn: Lisa Trumbell
MDCH/MSA
PO Box 30479
Lansing, Michigan 48909-7979
Or
E-mail: trumbelll@michigan.gov

Background

The Social Security Administration (SSA) has published proposed regulations to change the mental impairments. These are the criteria used to help determine whether an individual with intellectual disability, mental illness, autism, Alzheimer’s, traumatic brain injury, or other cognitive or mental disorders is disabled for purposes of the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program or the Social Security disability programs.

The Arc and UCP have carefully reviewed these regulations and believe they make a number of significant improvements for people with disabilities. We are finalizing our comments and urge that you comment directly to SSA on the following key points:

1. Terminology. Thank SSA for proposing a transition to using the term “intellectual disability” and urge SSA to drop the use of the term “mental retardation” altogether with clear instructions that the terms have the same meaning and cover the same people.
2. Diagnosis. Urge SSA to ensure that decision-makers respect the valid diagnosis of intellectual disability made by professionals and do not allow them to dismiss a valid diagnosis based on their own limited observations.
3. Infants and toddlers. Support SSA’s proposed new listing for Developmental Disorders of Infants and Toddlers to evaluate developmental disorders for children from birth to age three.
4. Measures of functional ability. Urge SSA to eliminate the reference to the use of standardized tests for measuring the functional abilities of people with mental impairments, as related to the “paragraph B” criteria of the regulations, until such time as tests have been developed, assessed, and found to truly measure the areas of function that are under consideration.

Take Action

Please submit your comments online by the deadline of Wednesday, November 17 (11:59 p.m. eastern time) at:
http://www.regulations.gov/search/Regs/home.html#submitComment?R=0900006480b3517b

Thank you in advance for your advocacy efforts.

The Grim Reaper of the recession harvested Rich’s door and screen company, leaving him with unpaid debts. Then the real nightmare began. Bank of America seized his elderly mother’s life savings to pay off Rich’s line of credit because she had added Rich’s name to the account to protect the funds in case she became incapacitated.

Now both Rich and his mother are sick to their stomachs. He writes:

Bank of America then proceeded to seize all of my mother’s savings from her B of A savings account with all the money she has in this world 27,500.00.

Two years ago my 87 year old mother asked me to sign on her account in the case that she were ill and not able to get to the bank and I complied.

My mother is on social security and has been for the last 20 years with no other income.

This was her money and I had no access at any time, nor did I ever deposit or withdraw funds at any time and that money was not mine and never to be it was saved from her social security.

I was not ever aware of the funds that she had and the account number was never information that I was privy to.

Mom was to use these funds to enter a retirement center this winter and now cannot.

In May of this year I was forced in bankruptcy protection as I had no other option with zero income In 2009.

This money was my mothers and only hers and I feel this is criminal and I want these funds returned to her account and I will do whatever is necessary to accomplish this.”

It’s doubtful BofA crossed any legal lines here, but it just seems wrong that Rich’s mother has to suffer due to a technicality. What would you do if this happened to you?

The WLAM event was showing the HBO movie “Iron Jawed Angels” to celebrate democratic values month. I had seen the movie when it aired on HBO some time ago, and I think every 18 year old woman should see it. I had forgotten how powerful it is. The suffragettes truly did “suffer” in their efforts to have women achieve legal status greater than livestock. Hilary Swank’s portrayal of Alice Paul moved many of us to tears. I have been fortunate to grow up in an era where my law school graduating class was 50 percent women and husbands are expected to help raise the kids. I can’t imagine what it would be like to not be able to have my own checkbook or have people think I’m a slut because I wore pants. The film is a wonderful illustration of how many of my legal rights as a woman have evolved during my grandmother’s generation. If you haven’t seen it, watch it with your daughter. There are some disturbing parts, so not for my little girls quite yet. I would like to think that if I were born in that era I would have been brave enough to march with them. Along with Patti and Marsha we carry on a similar fight for people with disabilities. Often their rights are neglected and their voices are not heard. Even though none us rode horses in the front of the suffragette parade, we have their legacy and strength of purpose to inspire us.