Community Medicaid eligibility question. Can mom transfer upcoming inheritance?

I would think she’d Be disqualified for continued Medicaid until that $50k is paid to NYC coffers.

Medicaid is not “taking” your mother’s inheritance, your mother’s inheritance would simply be paying for care she is receiving.

Why do you not think the $50k should be spent on her care but transferred to another family member to hide it?

With the high cost of care, her $50k will probably last 3-4 months and then you can have your mother reapply for Medicaid.

Why do we think we should shield assets to avoid paying for our own (in this case your mother's) elder care? We are a nation of greedy wanna-haves. From the wealthiest to the poorer.

Contact the local Area Agency on Aging and talk to a social worker. They can direct you. NyC is a law unto itself.

Elder Attorney Time

Medicaid laws vary from state to state. and I would be careful about transferring monies to a son or relative without consulting an eldercare attorney. I am no attorney but common sense dictates this will be considered an income transfer in effort to hide the money--my opinion only and that's all it is.

Wow, lots of hostility.  I am not a Medicaid worker but work around it.  In Nebraska I counsel people not to make any changes to their finances, or allow changes, without consulting your Medicaid worker.  Everything makes a difference.

With the inheritance, it would be counted as income and then assets and your mom would no longer be eligible for Medicaid.  She would have to use her own assets to pay for her own care until such time as she "spent down" her assets to the point she was Medicaid eligible again at which point, Medicaid would kick back in.  You would want to be in contact with the Medicaid worker before your mom spent down to the eligibility point so that everything was in place when she got there.

If she were to pass the inheritance on and not use it for her own care there would be a penalty that may not allow her to be on Medicaid anyway.

Talk to your Medicaid worker and get the details.  Be upfront.

NYC Community Medicaid is different from all other Medicaid plans. The OP REALLY needs to consult with a SW from her local Area Agency on Aging.

This may be a NY specific question. However, there may be exceptions that would allow for transfer without penalty. For example, if the recepient is on social security disability or a minor. It is worth a call to a NY Elder law attorney.

Trying to hide money from Medicaid is never a good thing. The money should be spent on your mother.

People, remember not everyone is knowledgeable about Medicaid. I myself learned a lot from this forum. No one thinks of Medicaid until they need it. The poster is just asking a question.

You really do need a lawyer. This inheritance is income that can be used for her care. There is a five year look back when needing Medicaid for LTC. I doubt at 88 if a trust can be set up. Dorsey mentioned her son is Disabled. He can apply for Special Needs Trust if under the age of 65. Its basically for those people with mental challenges and physical. My nephew has one to protect insurance money from his mothers death. It's not for people who disabilities stem from aging.