The type of trust & when done will be mucho importante... if it’s irrevocable then it cannot be changed but maybe will mean new beneficiary (like the state); if it’s revocable MedicAID likely will want it dissolved or defunded. Trusts are sticky and you need to clearly find out exactly what this legal is and then what it exactly means for how her states LTC Medicaid program runs.
Also on this trust, how are costs related to the trusts assets being paid for? Like is the house the only asset of the trust so mom is actually like property taxes from her checking account OR does the trust actually have other assets that “feed” $$$ within the trust. Like investments in trust name that make $ so that trust can exist truly independently.
To defunding a trust is not a DIY, there will be paperwork needed like for taxing authorities. I was a trustee on my cousin’s special needs trust that did a planned defunding & we let the atty basically wrap it up with the forms needed.
On the MMF, is it actually a MM fund (like held as a brokerage account) or is it rather a money market savings account (like at her bank). These kinda get confused, so make sure which it is as defunding these is quite different.
Whatever the situation with her home and her $$$, LTC Medicaid will require her to be impoverished with no more than 2k in nonexempt assets before LTC Medicaid will EVER pay for her care. That money market is not exempt asset. Please please before you blithely think that Medicaid will cover her care, find out exactly how LTC Medicaid runs in her state and then how her home, her $ & the trust Play into eligibility.
also as a lil FYI, please put “fund” when using it as an acronym, it can mean something big time quite different otherwise.
The house may be in a trust but it will impact her Medicaid eligibility if it was placed in the trust during the Medicaid look back period. Same with any other assets in the trust. If she has a MMF, she needs to use that to pay for her care. Medicaid is not for those with money and assets.
1. Is there a spouse? 2. What kind of trust? 3. What State does she live in? Medicaid is a joint state/federal program so the qualifications are very state dependent. 4. Long term care Medicaid or community Medicaid? Again, big difference in the qualification levevls.
It is in her best interests to use some of her MM funds to see a highly qualified eldercare attorney in her state who understands Medicaid.
In most states, the house is not a "countable asset", but that may change because it is in the trust's name and not hers.
Also on this trust, how are costs related to the trusts assets being paid for? Like is the house the only asset of the trust so mom is actually like property taxes from her checking account OR does the trust actually have other assets that “feed” $$$ within the trust. Like investments in trust name that make $ so that trust can exist truly independently.
To defunding a trust is not a DIY, there will be paperwork needed like for taxing authorities. I was a trustee on my cousin’s special needs trust that did a planned defunding & we let the atty basically wrap it up with the forms needed.
On the MMF, is it actually a MM fund (like held as a brokerage account) or is it rather a money market savings account (like at her bank). These kinda get confused, so make sure which it is as defunding these is quite different.
Whatever the situation with her home and her $$$, LTC Medicaid will require her to be impoverished with no more than 2k in nonexempt assets before LTC Medicaid will EVER pay for her care. That money market is not exempt asset. Please please before you blithely think that Medicaid will cover her care, find out exactly how LTC Medicaid runs in her state and then how her home, her $ & the trust Play into eligibility.
also as a lil FYI, please put “fund” when using it as an acronym, it can mean something big time quite different otherwise.
1. Is there a spouse?
2. What kind of trust?
3. What State does she live in? Medicaid is a joint state/federal program so the qualifications are very state dependent.
4. Long term care Medicaid or community Medicaid? Again, big difference in the qualification levevls.
It is in her best interests to use some of her MM funds to see a highly qualified eldercare attorney in her state who understands Medicaid.
In most states, the house is not a "countable asset", but that may change because it is in the trust's name and not hers.