If I can't get access to her money because I'm only her guardian, not her conservator, how do I get her funds down to $2000? Will she be screwed because her account will exceed $2000 and in another month her pension puts her way up again?
Yes, you can buy your mother needed things for her room, including storage or furniture she must have. And yes, when her accounts show payment that raises her assets above the needed, then she can lose her Medicaid. Do check the laws of your state. California will have at the beginning of the year no limit on funds you can have and still apply for medicaid. AARP recent magazine indicates other state's rules are changing also, so check. Contact Medicaid office in your own State. Do consider seeing an attorney (if you are POA this TOO is a legitimate cost) to find out exactly how to protect things best.
If you have no excess to her money then get conservatorship. You need to talk to a Medicaid caseworker.
If you are looking at her going into Longterm care on Medicaid, her pension and Social Security will be used to offset the cost of her care. Medicaid will pay what they pay. Yes the 2000k is what they are allowed asset wise but they also have to stay under an income cap. In my State that cap, the last I looked, it was a little over 2300k. If her monthly income goes over that amount, then a Qualifying Income Trust is needed and not all states allow them. The only thing that will take her over the 2000k would be the Personal Needs Acct where a small amount of her SS will be placed for her personal needs ea month. If not spent it could take her over the 2000k.
Why do u need a storage unit? She will be in a NH with the bare necessities. I would just get rid of anything she can't take with her. Split it up between children, relatives. Give it away. Thats what I did. Mom went to an AL, very little needed there. Then LTC. Only her clothes were needed there, They provided her furniture and TV. Not enough room on her side table for photos and such. Actually, there will be no money for a unit because what she receives monthly goes to her care. There should be no money to pay for a storage unit. Even if you used the 2k, its going to run out eventually.
If you are looking at her going into Longterm care on Medicaid, her pension and Social Security will be used to offset the cost of her care. Medicaid will pay what they pay. Yes the 2000k is what they are allowed asset wise but they also have to stay under an income cap. In my State that cap, the last I looked, it was a little over 2300k.
If her monthly income goes over that amount, then a Qualifying Income Trust is needed and not all states allow them. The only thing that will take her over the 2000k would be the Personal Needs Acct where a small amount of her SS will be placed for her personal needs ea month. If not spent it could take her over the 2000k.
Why do u need a storage unit? She will be in a NH with the bare necessities. I would just get rid of anything she can't take with her. Split it up between children, relatives. Give it away. Thats what I did. Mom went to an AL, very little needed there. Then LTC. Only her clothes were needed there, They provided her furniture and TV. Not enough room on her side table for photos and such. Actually, there will be no money for a unit because what she receives monthly goes to her care. There should be no money to pay for a storage unit. Even if you used the 2k, its going to run out eventually.