Follow
Share

Can estate trusts be created within the five year lookup regarding Medicaid?

This question has been closed for answers. Ask a New Question.
To spaulding: There is no reduction in penalty for gifts under a certain amount. That is a federal gift tax law (currently $14,000 per donee per year). Medicaid will tally up ALL gifts made within the five-year period before the date of application to figure out the penalty period.
Helpful Answer (0)
Report

If an individual gives away money or property during the five-year look-back, it triggers a penalty period during which he or she is ineligible for government aid.


The penalty period equals the amount given away divided by the average cost of nursing-home care in your area. So, for example, if you give $60,000 to family members and a nursing home costs $6,000 a month where you live, you can't qualify for Medicaid for ten months.
Helpful Answer (3)
Report

Hi Wyndie, this is how it was explained to me in Calif. Anything spent for my mom's benefit and ownership is not an issue. We could repair her home, make improvements to it, repair & maintain her car even if she didn't drive as long as we were transporting her to doc appts, taking her places, shopping with or for her, buying her clothing, dry cleaning, food, supplies, HER meals out at a restaurant. You get the idea? Her money can't be given to you or grandchildren or anyone in large OR small lump sums, can't be used to buy anybody christmas or birthday gifts, can't pay for anybody else's meal out even if you accompany her, can't be used to buy a car in YOUR name even if you only use it on her behalf, etc. etc. You could take your mom on a round the world 3-month cruise and pay HER $23,595 fare but you must pay yourself for you or your family to go with her.
Helpful Answer (2)
Report

My parents have had a trust for several years. Unfortunately, they also recently added $$ to the trust; those $$ will not be protected for 5 years from the date they were added to the Trust.

Since I provide 50 - 60 hours of care giving services / month. According to our elder law attorney, as long as I document what I am doing (services provided) and the amount of time / mileage can be taken from the non-protected dollars and draw down the dollars that will count against them if / when they need nursing home services.

We are also trying to get it setup as a 'gift' to me rather than payment for services rendered. If it is a gift, I don't have to pay taxes as long as it is within the specific gifting $$ amount / year.

If I were not providing the services, my parents would have to hire someone for the services I provide. Therefore it is an allowable expense within that 5-year look back.
Helpful Answer (1)
Report

What state are you in?
Helpful Answer (0)
Report

I am interested in this too. I am in the state of NJ/ In laws are in Maryland.
Helpful Answer (0)
Report

What happens if you have a parent who is NOT on Medicaid and they have a trust with say $100,000 in it but repairs need to be made to their home caused by termites and just plain old age and deterioration. If that money is spent on repairs to the parents home and then a time should come when that parent needs financial help for Medical problems and you should have to turn to Medicaid. Do they look back and say you had $100,000 and you used $75,000 up to make your home livable again, so we are not going to allow you to go on Medicaid for X number of months?
Helpful Answer (0)
Report

Attorney Heiser, the trust is a revokable trust not irrevocable and was done in 1990's and the house was transferred into the trust at that time as was all their money. How does that change the outcome? We also want to take money and go pre-pay for her burial, will that cause a problem?
Helpful Answer (0)
Report

What about the surviving spouse? We are spending down toward medicaid now. my husband (71) has AD. I am afraid to even have a deck repaired or a room painted less I be penalized later on! I am full-time teacher. Does the money I earn get counted as "the couples" money? It is always so different if the person with the disease is your spouse, not your parent.
Helpful Answer (0)
Report

Omg...you are NOT the "surviving spouse" at thus point b/c ur husb is alive. You are the "well spouse".Please do not b spending down one more cent w/o consulting an elder care atty. There r legal ways for the well spouse to transfer funds into her name alone with no medicaid eligibility penalty. You will b able 2 maintain ur house! The specifics will depend on ur exact circumstances, so too complicated w/o professional assistance. You need an experienced atty right away ! !
Helpful Answer (0)
Report

See All Answers
This question has been closed for answers. Ask a New Question.
Ask a Question
Subscribe to
Our Newsletter