My dad has dementia and is getting too bad for my mom to take care of. Will the nursing facility get his SS check or will my mom get to have a portion of it? I am asking because mom is worried that she can't survive on just her check.
It is well worth the money to consult a certified elder law attorney, you can find one in your area at www.nelf.org and they will help you understand what is the best course of action. They can help protect your moms livelihood and help with ensuring that dad gets the public assistance that he qualifies for.
This really is not a do it yourself project. Save everyone a lot of stress by finding a good attorney.
I am sorry that your family is dealing with this awful disease. I hope that you can help your mom soon, she matters in this situation as well. Hugs!
If your dad qualifies for Medicaid before he gets accepted into a facility, he may face waiting lists or reduced options for facilities, since they don't get reimbursed as much from Medicaid, and they have far fewer Medicaid designated beds allotted, and existing residents get first dibs on those beds. To avoid this, if possible, pick out a facility to his liking that you know accepts Medicaid and start out on private pay. Once his money is running low, apply for Medicaid. A Medicaid bed means a shared room, but he will get the same care and attention as before. NoTryDoYoda is correct that they won't impoverish your mother. The way it works for my MIL in MN is her SS check is auto-deposited into her checking account. Then the facility auto-withdraws all but $90 of it which covers room, cable and phone. The "protected" amount may not be $90 in your state. Your dad will not need much so don't fret about that amount. If monies build up in his account, it can be deposited in the facility's Resident Trust for him to spend inside with Medicaid's approval (usually up to $250-ish). Before he goes into a facility I strongly recommend he purchase a pre-paid funeral. This is protected from Medicaid and purchasing after qualifying will be much more difficult and is a much lower protected amount. Good luck!
This really is not a do it yourself project. Save everyone a lot of stress by finding a good attorney.
I am sorry that your family is dealing with this awful disease. I hope that you can help your mom soon, she matters in this situation as well. Hugs!
Would he qualify for medicaid?
If he qualifies for medicaid, they will not impoverish your mother.