Can the extra money be gifted to a grandchild for a Medicaid spend down?

NO. The purpose of spending down is to.purchase items needed. Any gifting will trigger a penalty.

"Spend down" literally means spending on the person on the application according to the rules and regulations of the applicants state -- not giving or gifting. As it varies by state, the state the application is being submitted to will be able to say where and to what the money/assets can be spent on.

No you cannot gift money to grandchild. She You can’t ask taxpayers for Medicaid and gift your money.

Java15, it's my understanding that Medicaid spend down has to be used on the person themselves. It cannot be given to anyone else, it would be considered "gifting". As Geaton777 had mentioned, best to check with your State Medicaid office.

No. Asking taxpayers to provide Medicaid and giving $2000+ to a grandchild is not allowed.

Since Medicaid programs are run independently in each state with their own rules, and you don't say what state the applicant lives in, and we are not Medicaid Planners or elder law attorrneys or accountants, then you will need to go online and look at what the applicant's home state says on the Medicaid page.

$2000+ is actually a lot of money and a gift could delay or disqualify the applicant from getting the aid.