I did aid and assistance for 3 months. I didn't know at the time I helped my cousin and his spouse that I could receive pay for aid and assistance. I moved in full time to help them.
Unfortunately, unless you are paid concurrently at the time you perform the services,Medicaid views payment for past services as a gift, subject to a penalty period if the person cared for applies for Medicaid within the five-year period after the date you are paid.
Your cousin is the vet and he is the one who has qualifed to get the $ from VAs A&A program. As such, if he wants to pay you for caregiving (& all above board with taxes paid), it's up to him. He does need to pay you with taxes, reporting, contract, etc. because if later on his level of care increases to the point that he needs to move into a NH and apply for Medicaid (as Medicaid will pay for NH costs while A&A isn't high enough to pay the full 5k-15k a mo cost), the $ paid to you needs to be done all legit otherwise it could bring up "gifting" & transfer penalty issues by medicaid. If he won't, then lesson learned unfortunately.
You ARE allowed to pay anyone but a spouse for care. You need a Caregivers Agreement. You SHOULD treat the caregiver as an employee and take out all taxes, but not needed. It should be specified in the CGA that the caregiver understands that they are "self employed" and will take care of their own taxes. The IRS can come back after the "employer" for taxes if the employee doesnt pay taxes on their income...if CGA isnt worded right regarding being self employed. Generally, you cant go back for pay, for VA purposes since the CGA should be notarized or witnessed and dated. Aid and Attendance new rules once approved, will pay "up to" $21/hr for caregiving.
I am from CT and take care of mom 24/7. As long as I keep careful records on the day to day duties I have and write everything down, I CAN have her pay me a percentage of what they would have to pay a stranger. The amount here is $20/hour. I don't have her pay me nearly that amount per day, but it does add up, even at $10 an hour. I work with a program here in Ct called CCCI and I encourage anyone in my state to look into this program. It really has been a pot at the end of the rainbow for both of us.
If you are trying to go through the VA---good luck, as other posters have said, it's a paperwork nightmare. However, if they pay you privately (I hate to use the term "under the table" but that's what I mean) then perhaps you could come to some kind of agreement about money that may be "owed" to you. It's best to talk about these matter PRIOR to any caregiving, but we think with our hearts and not our wallets. Good Luck.
Can anyone tell me if there are any low cost dental plan my mom can join??She keeps putting off a decayed tooth because of the cost and keep telling her to take care of it-that I would pay for it.But to keep the costs down,anyone know of any plan I can enroll her in,in Texas??
Veryconcerned, go to the University that has a dental school. I have a grandson at UW & he has low income patients. He has one more year of dental school.
I have been taking care of my mom for three years now and people keep telling me I could get paid for it I lost my job in 2014 and can only find part time work and am about to lose my house because of owing back payments any help would be appreciated
As such, if he wants to pay you for caregiving (& all above board with taxes paid), it's up to him. He does need to pay you with taxes, reporting, contract, etc. because if later on his level of care increases to the point that he needs to move into a NH and apply for Medicaid (as Medicaid will pay for NH costs while A&A isn't high enough to pay the full 5k-15k a mo cost), the $ paid to you needs to be done all legit otherwise it could bring up "gifting" & transfer penalty issues by medicaid.
If he won't, then lesson learned unfortunately.
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