Find Senior Care (City or Zip)
Join Now Log In
N
NJdaughterFLmom Asked October 2017

Should we spend down savings to apply to Medicaid?

What do you do when your mom's savings are close to the line of Medicaid but not close enough to qualify? If you spend down you get a benefit now. But if you keep the savings, you'll have cash after she dies to pay utilities and rent on mobile home property while you try to sell it. How do you know what's better?

igloo572 Nov 2017
NJ - for NH Medicaid it usually means a max of 2k in assets (savings) for an individual application. She will have to spend down assets till she gets to be eligible. Her monthly income can possibly be diverted to pay property costs. Just what is allowed depends on your states Medicaid. Some allow for mortgage, HOA or other recurrent costs to be taken from thier monthly income (like her SS) to pay for these for a period of time if property has a valid Realtor MLS type of listing. But diversion has to be applied for. Otherwise all their monthly income will need to be paid to the NH as copay or SOC (share of cost) less a small personal needs allowance ($35-$115 mo).

Mobile homes tend to be low on resale value to begin with. If it’s in a park, so no land value to add into the sale, even more so. It may not be worth dealing with a sale if your state does not allow for a diversion. It may not be worth doing any repairs either, as the $ you spend on moms property cannot easily be reinbursed or repaid to you from the sale as it will more than likely be considered “gifting” by mom to you by Medicaid. You’d need some sort of legit & notarized memo of understanding or promissory note done beforehand to try to get around this and even then it could stall application.

For an individual elder to continue to own thier empty home & be on NH Medicaid, the choices for family are limited...... they can rent property, disclosing all to Medicaid so part of rent goes into SOC; or family pays all if a reasonable expectation of exemption or exclusion to estate recovery (& doesn’t mind risk on that expectation) exists and has the ability to pay all needed property costs & then deal with probate & or MERP for however long it takes to distribute as per will. It can be a tough decision whatever path taken, especially if finances fall to 1 person but many others /heirs.

Subteacher87 Nov 2017
I believe that if she is in a nursing home you can still use money to upkeep her trailer or home. We have been doing some repairs on my dad's house. They need to get done before we sell it.

ADVERTISEMENT


JoAnn29 Oct 2017
We were in the same boat, from NJ and MIL was in Fla. Where is Mom living now, Fl? Medicaid does not go over state lines. The spend down comes when u think you will need Medicaid in the near future. Once Mom is in a nursing facility, no money can go to the upkeep on her trailer. All money has to be spent on her care. This includes private pay. I will probably lose my Moms house because I cannot pay to keep it up. You really need to talk to a caseworker at Medicaid.

ADVERTISEMENT

Ask a Question

Subscribe to
Our Newsletter