You are already a mess if you are on the account as a co-owner. That is not how you do it and melding funds in this way has devastating results. Go to an elder law attorney (which is paid for by your POA) and learn how to put yourself on accounts correctly as the POA. Also research online for your state: How to pay bills as a POA How to handle checking accounts as a POA. And etc.
If Mom is on Medicaid in the NH, then yes you don't pay the bill because her money is now paying for her care. You are not responsible for her bills. You contact the credit card company and tell them that Mom is in a NH on Medicaid and can no longer pay on the credit card.
If Mom is private pay, then of course she is still responsible for credit card debt. You can pay the minimum but that is really not going to bring the amt down that much.
All due respect- why would you stop paying the bill? If the card is not paid off- the balance will remain - and when the day comes that she passes away the ESTATE will be responsible for the debt. Not you - but her estate will be responsible to pay off the debt and show that it was paid to close out the estate/will. So whoever is the Executor of her Will is going to have to cut a check from the estate if there is any money left from her accounts or the sale of her home to pay off the debts - including that credit card.
You should never pay for her bills from your own account. Her account pays her bills. Do not co-mingle your money. Is she still using her credit card? If so for what? The debt that she has at this point needs to be paid. Since you are in charge of that do your best to pay off what there is, again using HER funds. She should probably not have access to her card if she is in a facility where security might be an issue. As POA you need to make sound financial decisions while she can't. If the Skilled Nursing Home is a permanent residence for her you need to make sure that you are very careful about bills and finances in case the need arises to apply for Medicaid.
That is not how you do it and melding funds in this way has devastating results.
Go to an elder law attorney (which is paid for by your POA) and learn how to put yourself on accounts correctly as the POA.
Also research online for your state:
How to pay bills as a POA
How to handle checking accounts as a POA.
And etc.
If Mom is private pay, then of course she is still responsible for credit card debt. You can pay the minimum but that is really not going to bring the amt down that much.
Her account pays her bills.
Do not co-mingle your money.
Is she still using her credit card? If so for what?
The debt that she has at this point needs to be paid. Since you are in charge of that do your best to pay off what there is, again using HER funds.
She should probably not have access to her card if she is in a facility where security might be an issue.
As POA you need to make sound financial decisions while she can't. If the Skilled Nursing Home is a permanent residence for her you need to make sure that you are very careful about bills and finances in case the need arises to apply for Medicaid.