Explaining the Law and Providing Self-Help Information for Low-Income Iowans
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Individual Rights
What is a "Durable Health Care Power of Attorney?"
A Durable Health Care Power of Attorney is a legal document. It authorizes a person to be your
agent to make decisions about your health care if you are not able to make decisions for yourself.
By: Legal Hotline for Older Iowans
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Bosnian / Bosanski
What Is a Living Will?
A living will is a written document authorizing health care providers to withhold or withdraw life sustaining procedures in certain cases. A life-sustaining procedure is any medical procedure, treatment or intervention which utilizes mechanical or artificial means to sustain, restore, or supplant a spontaneous vital function, and which serves only to prolong the dying process.
By: Legal Hotline for Older Iowans
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Bosnian / Bosanski
Considering Assisted Living
There are a variety of housing options available for older Iowans. Deciding on a facility that provides the services needed and desired can be a difficult process.
By: Legal Hotline for Older Iowans
Funeral Purchases - Protections Under The FTC Funeral Rule
Your funeral may be one of the most expensive consumer purchases you or your family ever makes. To avoid overspending, it helps to understand your rights under the "Funeral Rule" enforced by the Federal Trade Commission (the "FTC").
By: Legal Hotline for Older Iowans
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Spanish / Español
Housing: Rental Deposits
Disputes over deposits are a frequent problem between landlords and tenants. Landlords can make a tenant pay up to two months’ rent as a deposit. This is in addition to a month’s rent in advance. Tenants need to take steps to be sure landlords return deposits after they move out.
By: Iowa Legal Aid
Pre-Need Funeral Arrangements - Pros and Cons
There are many advantages to planning and paying for your funeral in advance. Iowa law has a number of provisions that protect consumers who make pre-need funeral arrangements.
By: Legal Hotline for Older Iowans
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Spanish / Español
Property Tax Suspension for People Who Get SSI
Many people with a disability own or are buying their homes. Iowa law allows people who get Supplemental Security Income (SSI), or State Supplemental Assistance (SSA), or live in a health care facility, to get their property taxes suspended.
By: Legal Hotline for Older Iowans
Rent Reimbursement and Property Tax Credits for Iowans Who Are Elderly or Disabled
Iowans who are elderly or have a disability may be able to receive financial benefits this year from one or more of three programs.
By: Legal Hotline for Older Iowans
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Spanish / Español
The Unemployment Insurance Program
Unemployment insurance (sometimes called Job Service benefits) is a program that gives benefits to some workers who become unemployed. If the worker has not worked enough recently, he or she may not be insured and so not receive any benefits.
By: Iowa Legal Aid
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Spanish / Español
Energy Assistance Programs Available
The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) helps low-income people pay for winter heating costs. The amount of money a person can get depends on household income and size, fuel used, and the type of housing. LIHEAP is not intended to take care of the whole bill. It helps cover costs where the need is greatest
By: Legal Hotline for Older Iowans
Is Your Social Security Safe from Debt Collectors?
With several important exceptions, your social security check is safe or "exempt" from claims of creditors. The money in your account, however, may not be automatically protected. You might need to tell or prove to the creditor or bank that your money is from social security and is exempt.
By: Iowa Legal Aid
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Spanish / Español
Rent Reimbursement and Property Tax Credits for Iowans Who Are Elderly or Disabled
Iowans who are elderly or have a disability may be able to receive financial benefits this year from one or more of three programs.
By: Legal Hotline for Older Iowans
Read this in:
Spanish / Español
Considering Assisted Living
There are a variety of housing options available for older Iowans. Deciding on a facility that provides the services needed and desired can be a difficult process.
By: Legal Hotline for Older Iowans
Do I Have to Sell or Liquidate All of My Assets to Qualify for Medicaid?
There are a number of different Medicaid programs that can assist elderly or disabled Iowans pay
medical bills, home health care expenses and nursing home expenses. Most programs require
that your total assets or "resources" be below certain levels in order to qualify.
By: Legal Hotline for Older Iowans
Gifts and Qualifying for Medicaid for Nursing Home Care
Medicaid can help elderly or disabled Iowans pay nursing home and home health care expenses.
To be eligible, your income and assets must be below certain levels. If you give away money or
other assets to anyone other than your spouse, you may be ineligible for Medicaid. In addition, the
state may seek to recover the assets you gave away.
By: Legal Hotline for Older Iowans
Medicaid Payment for Nursing Home Care
Many people rely on Medicaid, also known as Title 19, to pay for their nursing home care. People may generally receive Medicaid payment for their nursing home care if their income is $1,809 or less per month and their nonexempt resources are $2,000 or less.
By: Legal Hotline for Older Iowans
Miller Trusts: Helping Pay for Nursing Home Care
Miller Trusts can resolve the problem facing people with too much income to get Medicaid, but not enough to pay for nursing home care. Miller Trusts can also be used to qualify for in-home assistance under the Medicaid Elderly Waiver program.
By: Legal Hotline for Older Iowans
Payment Options for Nursing Home Care
When you need long-term care in a nursing home, the care will generally be paid through Medicare, private payment, long-term care insurance or Medicaid (also known as title 19). This information will address Medicare, private pay and long-term care insurance.
By: Legal Hotline for Older Iowans
Repayment of Medicaid under Iowa's Estate Recovery Law
Iowa's Estate Recovery Law requires the state to be reimbursed from the estate of a person who has received benefits under certain Medicaid (Title
19) programs.
By: Legal Hotline for Older Iowans
Signer Beware! The Pitfalls of Nursing Home Agreements
Before a person enters a nursing home, they must typically wade through a hefty pile of papers. Among the pile, there will be an “Admission” agreement of some kind. With the obvious distractions of the occasion, most people do not take the time to read and consider the specific terms of this agreement. This is a big mistake.
By: Legal Hotline for Older Iowans
The "Elderly Waiver" Program
As you age, everyday tasks can become harder or you may need help to stay safely at home. The Elderly Waiver Program can provide a wide range of services tailored to your special needs.
By: Legal Hotline for Older Iowans
Transfers and Discharges from Nursing Homes
An attempt to transfer or discharge a resident from a nursing home against his or her wishes can be upsetting and frightening for residents and family. Fortunately, there are federal and state laws that protect a resident.
By: Legal Hotline for Older Iowans
Transfers and Discharges from Nursing Homes
An involuntary transfer or discharge from a nursing home can be upsetting and frightening for both the resident and their family. Fortunately, both federal and state law limit involuntary transfers and discharges.
By: Legal Hotline for Older Iowans
"Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care Decisions" Form A form you can print out and use to prepare your own Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care Decisions or "Medical Power of Attorney."
By: Legal Hotline for Older Iowans
"Living Will" Form A form you can print out and use to prepare your own Declaration Relating to Use of Life-Sustaining Procedures or "Living Will."
By: Legal Hotline for Older Iowans
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The Iowa Legal Aid Website is a project of Iowa Legal Aid, the Volunteer Lawyer Projects of the Iowa State Bar and Polk County Bar Associations and HELP Legal Assistance.
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