Can Mom pay 1/3 of our household expenses?

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MaggieMarshall Asked September 2014

Can Mom pay 1/3 of our household expenses?

I understand Medicaid looks at family care giving as a gift. Still, mom pays $1,000 a month at my home for care giving. I don't need the money, it just makes me feel better. I plan on paying it all back if she needs to go on Medicaid and keep accurate records to that end.

I consulted with an elder law attorney. He explained what we all know -- that it takes a special contract and the family member must keep a daily log of what's been done. I'm not willing to do that. Ridiculous. So I'll pay it back.

However, there are three of us living here. Is she allowed to pay her way? One-third of the electric, gas, water, garbage, real estate taxes, food, maintenance, etc.? Does anyone know the answer to that?

Financial Planning

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score 0 · Answer 1

Maggie, I would ask the lawyer specifically about the room and board, not the caregiving. It may not be clear to her/him what you're talking about when you say "mom is living with me". It may require a rental for or some such.

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score 0 · Answer 2

Three years down the road will you have $36,000 handy to pay for her care? The one-third of household expenses sounds perfectly reasonable, and if you had a simple contract that all of you sign, you would not have to pay it back. Then you keep the bills as a record, proof that is where it went.

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score 0 · Answer 3

No, we don't claim her as a dependent. I don't need the tax reduction. I pay zero anyway. Yeah, that's what I'm wondering -- a difference between room-and-board and care giving. Should be, that's for sure. A senior who can afford it should certainly be allowed to pay her way without jeopardizing Medicaid three years down the road... I don't understand it, frankly.

Thanks ba8alous.

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score 1 · Answer 4

I don't know the answer, but I'm wondering if there is a difference between the "caregiving" and the "room and board" part? Do you claim Mom as a dependent on your taxes? that's what my mom and dad did with grandma many, many, years ago.

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Can Mom pay 1/3 of our household expenses?

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