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Husband on community Medicaid. He is now at a point for nursing home placement. Will Medicaid leave me enough to survive in the community. I understand that they take all his SS and pension, leaving me with a very small SS and pension of my own. The only assets we have is a senior co-op which we own free and clear. I have no problem signing it over to them for recovery after we both pass away. I cannot live anywhere cheaper than I do right here. No support from family, I'm left to navigate this alone.

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Each state is different but I think they all have protections in place for the "community spouse". That is someone who has a spouse receiving Medicaid for a nursing home placement.

Most of the time you will get to keep half of the assets up to the limit set by the state. Some of your assets won't be counted. A house. A car. A prepaid burial plot, things like that. As far as your income, they calculate how much you need to live. If you have exceptionally high rent or medical bills-or living expenses in general, you can petition to get more than the recommended amount. They will let you keep your own income and then as much of your spouse's income that you will need to live. The rest will go to the Nursing Home.
It would be a good idea for you to ask the Office on Aging for some information about how things work in your state. You may have to petition to keep some of his income. If you do that, don't cut yourself short. You don't get any prizes for budgeting too little for your own housing, food, clothes and medical care.
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When my mom went in nursing home and required Medicaid my father was left in their home. Her SS went to the nursing home and Medicaid paid the rest. My father’s SS and retirement income remained with him. He had to sell one car and keep one. Their joint savings, which wasn’t huge, was untouched. His lifestyle, and ability to pay his bills was never in jeopardy. My parents weren’t ever well off and had always lived within their means, so there was already a paid for home and no real debt and only the usual monthly bills. Maintaining this on what Medicaid left was very doable. I don’t see Medicaid leaving you unable to live
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When we applied for Community Medicaid, I was told by the agent that they would not “impoverish” me as the Community Spouse. They won’t leave enough for you to get weekly mani and pedi, but you should be able to pay your bills. They should have documents supporting your monthly expenses that you sent them when you applied. Call them and tell them hubby will be going to a facility. I’m sure there’s the regulation ton of paperwork you’ll have to send them.
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You would do yourself a big favor by hiring an attorney who knows Medicaid well.
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Thank you to all who replied the info was very helpful. Will update the site when the process is done so others might benefit.
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You DO have to sign it over - HOWEVER, you have the legal right to live there as long as you live. But you MUST stipulate that.
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Go to your nearest DHHS office and speak to the representative and they will tell you andgive you information. Trust me that you need to go in person. The phone reps are just intake folks and they don’t know squat. I know this because my Mom had to go to the nursing home facility and Dad was still at home. They will tell you how much you keep out of the family income. They have the figures in writing. DHHS is where the Medicaid folks are located in every city. Varies from state to state too so do yourself a favor and go ASAP and they will clear it up for you.
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Hi Justginger1- take Medicaid advice given on this site carefully--each state has different rules, so in a forum where people chime in from 'round the world/US, you might not get the right information. I would suggest you contact either an Elder Law attorney or your local Area Agency on Aging and speak to someone in Aging & Disability Resources/Senior Information & Assistance for help understanding the rules in your state. Your local AAA might even have some resources to help with paying for a visit to an attorney- worth looking into!
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Talk to an expert! I don't know all the state laws. My husband was in CT - I had small children at the time. I had to apply for and be approved for community assistance and was able to keep all of his social security based on my income levels and the fact that I had children was taken into account. It is very complex. In CT there are income limits and asset limits. Best advice is to talk with someone in the know. Be careful about this, I had attorneys and a nursing home who didn't know about assistance in the community plus my case was unusual having small children (my husband was disabled young).
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All these people who are telling you to see and elder attorney...do that...NOW! No way is the spouse to be left destitute or just getting by. Move quickly on this, or you will be sorry!!!
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