A recent Jenkins Fenstermaker article provided a summary of several bills pending in the West Virginia (WV) Legislature that could have significant impacts on employers, workers' compensation insurers, and claim administrators if enacted. Most of the 2019 WV workers' compensation bills died in the legislature, so there are not many changes to report, but following is an update of the bills and their potential effect in the Mountain State.

Insurance is a valuable tool that allows people to distribute risk more broadly and prevent the financial devastation that can come with the various tragic and unpleasant situations that inevitably arise in life and business. Insurers in West Virginia (WV), and the WV insurance defense lawyers who assist them, know the importance of preventing and controlling financial losses due to fraudulent or unreasonable claims.

The tristate area of West Virginia (WV), Kentucky (KY), and Ohio (OH) is home to more than 1.3 million United States (U.S.) military veterans. Those veterans and their families should be aware that there is an aid and attendance benefit available through the US Department of Veteran's Affairs (VA) to those who qualify.

Veterans and survivors of veterans who require long-term care and meet the aid and attendance eligibility requirements can receive additional monthly pension payments to cover the costs of veterans' assistance for activities of daily living and other long-term care expenses.

We all have personal preferences, and sometimes we don't really know why we favor one thing over another; we just do. These subconscious inclinations impact our daily decision-making, even at work. West Virginia workplaces are affected by the bias of employees, whether it is intended or not. Unconscious bias in WV should be addressed by employers who wish to maintain a positive, diverse work environment and avoid discrimination and harassment complaints.

Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) are both programs of the Social Security Administration (SSA). While these programs have some similarities, it is important to realize there is a difference between SSI and SSDI, especially if you are preparing your estate plans and Social Security is a possible factor.