Mum has dementia now and is in a nursing home..I have POA for her...when she asked me to take POA she requested that I keep enough of her monthly pension in her account for her funeral...now the financial assessment team at Bedford have sent me a bill for £6000.00....that's all mums money.
Do I have to pay this bill...?
Is Mom on Medicaid? If so, her SS and pension go towards her care. She is allowed 2k in the spend down process and that can only be used for her.
If when Medicaid was filed her SS and pension were shown as income, what Medicaid pays to the facility is based on the SS and pension being paid to the NH. You are probably being billed for what should have been given to the NH in the first place. You owe that to them.
In my Moms spend down, I was able to cash in a policy and prepay her funeral.
Your Mom has a personal needs account where $50 a month from her SS check goes in. This can be used for her personal needs. Clothing, favorite candy, handlotion she likes, ect.
Mom needs to understand all her income goes towards her care. I would suggest allowing the NH to be her payee with her pension.
Unless family wants to pay towards the funeral its going to have to be very simple unless family pays for it. It can be done by cutting out certain services, like the viewing. Having graveside services.
Sorry, but this is how it works when Medicaid is involved. I suggest that you talk to the billing office. They probably will confirm what I have said. Be aware that Medicaid will try and recover what was spent on Moms care. If Mom has no assets, like a home and car, then there will be nothing to recover. If there is a house involved and ur areca resident u will be able to live there but a lean will be put on it and will need to be satisfied if house is sold or you pass. I am telling you this because I have families thinking they personally have to pay this. Its Moms debt. If shechas no money that just gets proven and her case closed.
I'm guessing that the council sent an assessor out to discuss your mother's funding, yes? Were you there when this took place?