Is it true that social security (Federal Government), will pay you, in order to take care of your elderly parents?

Barbara, the Federal government and State government offer Medicaid to those elders who are below the poverty level. From a previous post it sounds like you tried to have your Mom apply but was turned down.

Sounds like you would need to look outside of the government coffers to find someone to take care of your Mom while you have foot surgery.... other relatives, friends, church, and try your local council on aging for suggestions.

can the Federal Government help pay for help to aid my mother?

Public assistance turned us down, my mom is 88 dementia patient, only income is medicare, mines medicare, they never called and cancelled usb/c they said we did not apply, wrong we waited for the telephone to ring we need financial assistance, I have foot surgery next month on other foot and I need to pay someone to care for my mother

Please note that Medicaid is different in each State.... each State has their own rules, regulations, and programs. What is offered in one State may not be offered in others. Plus if programs are available, there could be a long waiting list. Only a handful of States will pay a caregiver.... some will only pay if the caregiver lives elsewhere and not with the elder they are caring. Some States might send in a Caregiver from an Agency for a few hours each day.

If your parent is on Medicaid, Medicaid will pay for you caring for your parent(s) after you take a caregiver (Medicaid approved) class. Some home care companies can provide you with the training. I believe it's about a week long. Then Medicaid will pay you but only for approximately 8 hours per day....not 24/7. It is better than nothing. I tried to take my mom home with Dementia and was going to do this but she is too difficult for me to handle with her psychosis and hallucinations. Good luck to you.

I might add that I recall when the the welfare agencies (not sure what levels were involved in this) considered the family as having the primary responsibility for elder care. They would bill the family for care provided.

We live in California. My mother-in-law, who had never worked outside the home, got a minimal SSecurity benefit from her husband's account, and then SSI on her own.When she was living with us during her last illness, SSI paid for a daytime caretaker. They had a contract with an agency, we had to work with the agency to get the caretaker we wanted,I don't believe that we ourselves were not eligible for this, but then my husband and I both worked, so we needed an additional person. . What they paid was not very much.

KANDISUNSHINE, why not? What is your concern?

can a person on Social Security be a caretaker for someone

Thanks for the explanations - Social Security, SSI, Medicare and Medicaid are all separate programs. Social Security is plenty occupied with the issue of pension income and doesn't need the complications of Medicaid. The whole issue of medical care involves all the people, not just the elderly and needs to be tackled on that basis. We really cannot afford to alienate younger people who are unable to get medical care by making this all about seniors.

Usually one asks their own parent to pay the salary to help with their needs. If that is feasible you would need to draw up a written contract saying how many hours and the hourly rate.

If your parent is on Medicaid, sorry but Medicaid won't pay a relative for home care as it is less expensive for said parent to be placed in a nursing home then pay 3 shifts of 8 hours each or 2 shifts of 12 hours each for around the clock care.

It would be great if there were funds to pay every grown child or grandchild who is a Caregiver for their parents/grandparents, but where would all that money come from? It would mean raising all our payroll taxes, income taxes, sale taxes and property taxes to sky high levels.

I moved from California to Florida to help my mother who is 94. I am 69 and on SSI. She can no longer drive, almost blind, hears poorly, and needs help for almost all aspects of her life. I am a retired nurse and was going back to work but can't due to her needs. Is there anyway I can get monetary assistance?

There actually is a program. It is called IHSS. You can find info about it through the health and human services agency.

I have a friend who I go and take care of. He has a tube in stomach from cancer, he need to be put on and machine everynight in order to feed. he has a dog and cat that I also make sure are feed., once he is set up for evening I go home and go back every day, Weekend I stay with him., and take him out of house. So I was wondering if Scocial Security will give me any thing and if so how do I go about it.

Social Security is for retired seniors who have paid into the system. The majority of retirees get back more in their pension than they did paying into the system. Using Social Security for elderly care would deplete further the already low funds. What needs to be done is for the government to initiate laws to keep elder care affordable for everyone.

I feel social security department should pay for elderly care. Giving them back what really do to them. You pay in taxes all your life and when you die you get a $250.00 check from social security office. Now that is a shame!

My 83 mother lives with my family and she gets Social Security. Can I get money for being a caretaker?

What resources are available for older women taking care of their chronically ill husbands?

Mariesmom & Karie,
Thanks for the replies to my post! I will look into the posted links.
Regards,
BillS72

Hi BillS72,

Thank you for submitting this question on our website. We appreciate your involvement in our caregiving community.

There are two great article written by AgingCare.com Editor’s that were already posted in our community. We thought this might answer your caregiving question.

LINK:
“10 Government Programs You Can Access for Your Elderly Parents.”
https://www.agingcare.com/articles/10-Government-Programs-Caregivers-Can-Access-for-Their-Elderly-Parents-120513.htm

and

“How Can I Get Paid for taking Care of My Elderly Parents?”
https://www.agingcare.com/articles/how-to-get-paid-for-being-a-caregiver-135476.htm


We hope this helps. Please let us know if you need anything else and we look forward to seeing more questions and discussions from you.


Thank you,
Karie H.
The AgingCare.com Team

"the Federal Government would rather pay you; to take care of your parents, then to run up medicare charges for nursing home fees."

Oh if only that were true!!! It should be - and perhaps one day it will be.

But in truth most caregivers take on their parents care for no compensation, and in fact spend a good deal of their own funds making sure our parents have what they need. Some of us quit our jobs, lose our insurance, and end up impoverished taking care of our elders.

Make the calls to your counties DFCS or Aging Agency - find out what is available. Perhaps Meals on Wheels would save some money if Mom qualifies, or food stamps - every little bit helps, and you won't know if you don't ask.

Benefits for Caregivers
Although the Social Security Act provides benefits for many circumstances, it does not provide funding of benefits for caregivers of elderly recipients, not even when the caregiver is the adult child of the beneficiary. Representatives of the Social Security Administration suggest that you contact social services agencies in your community if you need assistance in finding resources that make it possible for you to care for your elderly parent.




Supplemental Security Income
Supplemental Security Income, although administered through the SSA, is not paid with Social Security taxes. Funding for SSI comes from U.S. Treasury general funds. SSI makes payments to low-income people with few resources, who are 65 or older, blind or disabled. If your parent qualifies for SSI benefits, which are paid in addition to Social Security benefits in specific circumstances, this may provide an income source that would allow you to properly care for your elderly parent.
SSI Income and Resource Limits
SSI income limits are based partially on your state of residence. In each state, the income level fluctuates from year to year, and the SSA sets the limit. Your elderly parent may qualify for SSI if his income and resources fall below prescribed levels. For purposes of qualifying for SSI, the agency counts real estate, bank accounts, cash, stocks and bonds as resources. Resources are limited to $2,000 for an individual and $3,000 for a couple. Your parent's home, life insurance valued at $1,500 or less in most cases, your parent's vehicle; burial plots for your parent and immediate family; and $1,500 in burial funds for your parent are not counted against your parent's resource total