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My mother recently entered a nursing home. Since medicaid is paying for her stay, they are taking her social security check as supplemental payment. As is standard, she will be left with a "personal needs allowance" of 50 dollars a month. I consider this all fair and reasonable. However, since her ss check, which had been her only income, will now go to the nursing home, she no longer has the funds to pay her credit card bills. My mother always prided herself on good credit and meeting her obligations, but that is no longer possible. I wonder what, if anything, I should do.

I had a good friend in the same situation when her mother went into a nh. She explained the situation to her mom's creditors, who in turn began to hound and harass her for the money, which legally, my friend did not owe. I suffer enough watching my mother's Alzheimer's progress. I really don't need to be harassed by my her creditors. Any suggestions from anyone who's been there? Or who hasn't been there?

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In case someone picks this thread up in the future, a friend showed me that I can block my number by dialing *76 first. I'm a little scared of being harrassed by creditors once they make the connection (we both have Chase cards, same last name, and same address since I had my mother's mail forwarded to me so I could pay her bills our of her account. I have since rented a P.O. Box, which I will make her address.) I'm considering getting a lawyer to be a go-between so I stay out of it completely. This may be overkill or completely unnecessary. I have about a month before they start taking her check...
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Thanks pamstegman. I found another thread on this site that's similar to mine which recommends changing my mother's address to a P.O. box. Currently, I have her address changed to mine do I can get and pay her bills. Eyerishlass, I am so sorry to hear about what happened with your father. That sounds like a nightmare. You make a great point that I actually don't *have to do anything! I am her POA, but since there are no assets, that might be moot... The way I understand it, being her POA means I *can act on her behalf, not that I have to.
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Since it's your mom's debt you're not obligated to do anything about it but if you want to you can contact each creditor once and tell them your mom's circumstances. However, if you call them from your phone they will use your phone number as their contact number and will call you incessantly so make sure that you tell each one not to call you. You can tell them verbally and in writing.

I went through this with my dad and I never did get his creditors off my back, they called constantly even after I had spoken with them and written them each a letter but I had called them from my phone which was a big mistake. Even after my dad died they continued to harass me until I issued each creditor a death certificate.

I was trying to do the right thing in letting dad's creditors know that he was in a nursing home (same situation as you) and all I got for it was daily harassment. I ended up blocking the phone numbers from my phone so at least I didn't hear the phone ring when they'd call.
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You write them each a letter and explain her circumstances. If they call, tell them not to call you. If they threaten to sue, tell them to right ahead.
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