A legal Checklist for Family Caregivers #4: Explore potential financial help

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Investigate public benefits such as Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI), veterans benefits, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (formerly known as food stamps), Medicare and Medicaid. Online tools like AARP Foundation's Local Assistance Directory and the National Council on Aging's Benefits Checkup can help you find local, state and federal programs you qualify for.

Also, examine your loved one's insurance and retirement plans, including (where applicable) life insurance, disability coverage, pension benefits, long-term care insurance and workplace health insurance. See whether any of them cover home health visits, skilled nursing, mental health services, or physical therapy and other short-term assistance.

If you need to take a leave of absence from your job to care for a loved one, you may be entitled to up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave under the federal Family and Medical Leave Act. Some employers offer paid family leave, and five states (California, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island and Washington) and the District of Columbia have implemented laws mandating paid leave for caregiving. Several more states and the District of Columbia are set to follow suit by 2023.

Below you can find other legal checklist items for family caregivers:

A legal Checklist for Family Caregivers #1: Have the right documents

A legal Checklist for Family Caregivers #2: Make a family plan

A legal Checklist for Family Caregivers #3: Organize important papers

A legal Checklist for Family Caregivers #5: Look for tax breaks and life insurance deals

A legal Checklist for Family Caregivers #6: Think beyond your loved one