inflation - Trust and Estate Planning Law Office

With prices and inflation rising as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, disruptions in global supply chains, and the war in Ukraine, more retirees than ever before are returning to work. Some might find their retired life unappealing, while others feel their expertise can still be shared. The majority of retirees, however, are returning because they simply cannot make ends meet. As the cost of healthcare, housing, and basic necessities rise, many find that their savings or monthly income are insufficient to support their daily costs. This does, however, raise questions about Social Security and Medicaid. Those of full retirement age might be eligible for Social Security and Medicaid benefits, depending on a variety of financial and health-related factors, but those who return to work do run the risk of having their benefits reduced or taken away depending on their income and any private coverage they receive from a place of employment. Planning for Social Security and Medicaid are important factors to consider when drawing up a retirement plan, as qualification for benefits can be tricky to determine and acceptance into either program is not guaranteed. Financial planning, including asset protection and estate planning, are also important when considering retirement, as planning ahead with realistic goals in mind will help avoid future financial hardship or the feeling that one is a burden to their family. Consulting with an experienced elder planning attorney will help inform one’s planning, such as an appropriate retirement age or monthly saving’s goals.

Social Security and Medicaid

Upon reaching full retirement age, currently calculated as between 65 and 67, qualified retirees are eligible for Social Security retirement benefits without any deductions based on current earnings. Similarly, qualified retirees of full retirement age are eligible for Medicaid benefits based on income methodologies employed by the supplemental security income program of the Social Security Administration. Qualified individuals may begin collecting social security and Medicaid benefits before full retirement age, although coverage will likely be reduced unless their qualification is not dependent on age. Social security and Medicaid provide, among other things, health coverage, disability insurance, and assistance with the cost of prescription drugs. One can begin receiving partial social security benefits before their full retirement age, but their partial benefits will be reduced based on the Social Security annual earnings limit, currently set at $21,240. These reductions continue until the month before a person reaches full retirement age.

Returning to work after retiring is a tricky prospect because this may affect one’s qualification for partial or full social security and Medicaid benefits. Income is a key factor when determining the coverage and benefits a retiree is eligible for from both Social Security and Medicaid. While social security benefits are not deducted for current income about full retirement age, the benefits are aimed at those of lower income or without any stable income stream. In the case of Medicaid, yearly household income is a key factor in determining one’s eligibility, so any income above thresholds for eligibility set by Medicaid may result in one having some or all of their coverage taken away. Going back to work after retirement, especially for those above their calculated full retirement receiving social security or Medicaid benefits, is not a prudent financial plan, even if a job provides better health coverage.

Financial and Estate Planning for Later Life

Medical emergencies, long-term treatment costs, and prescription drug costs are, among other physical considerations, a reality for most retirees. There is also the simple fact that retirees will, for the most part, still be paying their bills for housing, groceries, and electronics, among other things. Even with help from family, and the benefits and coverage provided by social security and Medicaid, retirees will increasingly find themselves with bills they cannot afford to pay. Planning for retirement, therefore, is a key aspect of ensuring that one’s later years are spent comfortably and without the stresses of potentially having to return to work or becoming a burden on family.

Planning for things such as Medicaid coverage are best done before one reaches their full retirement age. Protecting one's assets and creating an estate plan will also be of great help when determining a plan for retirement, as an experienced estate planning and asset protection lawyer will help one to ensure they have a steady income for retirement and still qualify for Medicaid coverage. Social security and Medicaid are tools to help you in your later life, but comprehensive estate plans are important to ensure that you have a plan for emergencies.

You have worked your entire life to ensure that your later years are spent enjoyably and that you can leave a financial legacy to your family, so ensure that you engage in retirement planning as soon as possible. To speak with New York’s most experienced elder planning attorney, please call the Trust and Estate Planning Law Office at (718) 333-2395.

While there are numerous ways in which one can pass assets to family members or following generations, a generation-skipping trust allows a beneficiary—or otherwise called a trustor or grantor—the ability to pass all assets onto the next generation by "skipping" the consecutive generation tax–free. This form of trust is most often utilized for relatives who are at least 37.5 years younger than you. They often include a beneficiary such as a friend, grand–child, or niece/nephew (excluding a spouse or ex-spouse).

What is a Generation-Skipping Trust?

A generation-skipping trust is an established trust that names a beneficiary who has to be at least 37.5 years younger than the settlor. A generation-skipping trust can be established by a settlor, as part of a complete estate plan to reduce tax obligation.

A settlor, for example, might leave an inheritance to a grandchild without ever transferring ownership of the assets to the child's parents. The assets flow tax–free to the recipient upon an individual’s death from the consecutive generation.

How a Generation-Skipping Trust Works

Generation-skipping trust laws provide precise requirements for who can be designated as the "skip person," according to the United States Code. According to these laws, the skip person, or beneficiary, must be “a natural person allocated to a generation 2 or more generations below the transferor's generation assignment.”

Three Things to Consider when Creating a Generation-Skipping Trust

First, the federal GST exemption level was raised to $11.4 million in 2019 and $11.58 million in 2020, after being adjusted for inflation. This implies that you are eligible for a lifelong generation-skipping tax exemption on property transfers up to that amount. There are twelve states who additionally have their own inheritance tax, which applies to smaller estates in some cases. When someone leaves an estate to their child, who then leaves the estate to their offspring, the estate taxes are levied twice. One of these transactions and estate tax assessments is avoided by using a generation-skipping trust.
As long as the original assets stay in the trust for the deceased person, there is no restriction prohibiting the following generation from obtaining earnings on assets. The trust can also be set up for them to obtain a voice in future beneficiaries' rights and interests. When your children pass away, the assets will transfer to the beneficiaries.
It is not necessary for the recipient to be blood related. A generation-skipping trust solely requires that the trust is created for a beneficiary who is at least 37 1/2 years younger than the deceased individual.

Generation-Skipping Trust and Taxes

“Congress created the generation-skipping transfer (GST) tax and connected all three taxes [estate, gift, and generation-skipping transfer taxes] into a single estate and gift tax,” according to the Tax Policy Center, with the objective of eliminating the estate tax loophole.

Accordingly, by moving assets to the trust that falls under the exemption amount, the trust can be established to take advantage of the GST tax exemption. If the assets appreciate in value, the proceeds can be distributed to the trust's beneficiaries. Furthermore, because the trust is unchangeable, your estate will be free from paying GST even if the value of the assets exceeds the exemption limit. This is also true for any asset appreciation because all profits are transferred directly to beneficiaries. This means you will not have to pay the generation-skipping transfer tax if the value of the trust's assets totals to an amount exceeding the exemption maximum.

The estate tax exemption was increased through 2026 by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which was passed into law in 2017. Because of the large barrier, most people will not be subject to the generation-skipping transfer tax. However, beneficiaries who receive assets in excess of the $11.58 million inflation-indexed exemption would be subject to a 40% top tax rate on the taxable amount.

Gift Tax

The individual gift tax for 2019 was $11.4 million. As a result, you and your spouse will be able to exchange $11.4 million over the course of your lives. Through 2025, the yearly lifetime gift tax exemption has been raised by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017. The gift tax increased to $11.58 million per person in 2020.

Determining Whether a Generation-Skipping Trust is Right For You

Since a generation-skipping trust is a complex legal structure, it is a good idea to think about it as soon as possible—preferably when you are starting to plan your retirement.

A generation-skipping trust is an excellent concept for capital preservation if you have a significant estate that is likely to be affected by the federal estate tax, and where, barring any catastrophic circumstances, your children will also have to pay the estate tax. It can also prove to be a sufficient resource in preserving your personal assets to those you wish to desire. Nonetheless, you must keep in mind that trusts are irreversible.

If you are in need of a highly qualified and experienced attorney for advice on how to build a trust, please contact the Law Office of Inna Fershteyn at (718) 333-2395 to have all of your authorization questions answered.

Navigating the New Retirement Landscape: Social Security, Medicaid, and Financial Planning for a Secure Future

Passing Assets to Grandchildren Through a Generation–Skipping Trust