Can I place all the money from the proceeds of the car sale into a Funeral Trust Fund I opened for her?

When she qualified for Medicaid they already knew she
had a car. So if you turn it into money, or turn it into a
funeral trust fund it is still under the $6000 allowed.

Medicaid is uniquely administered by each state. So you need to find out what the limits are for your moms state. Assets are usually always at 2k for those in a facility. For funeral & burial those can be an exemot asset up to 8k/10k but done as a preneed NCV (no cash value) policy done at funeral home. Some allow for a small separate account for funeral to be set aside instead of a NCV policy. If your finances are themselves tight, having mom get a NCV preneed policy done now and within her current funds from car sale is probably going to be the lowest possible cost for either a cremation or traditional funeral.

States do annual renewals that can require documentation on the standing on these as well as banking & other asset info each year too.

Vehicles need to be sold based on Kelly blue book value. If its way lower there needs to be a sensible reason why (like there is significant body damage which you have pictures of or repair estimates) the car is devalued. Sale should be reported to caseworker the month of the sale with the proceeds deposited and spent within the month so that they start the month and end the month within Medicaid eligibility limits if at all possible. Also when you cancel moms auto insurance there could be a refund which counts into the $ as well.

As previously mentioned, Medicaid rules vary from state to state. Your first step is to find out what the rules are in the state your dealing with. My Mom's DFAX Case Worker (Department of Family and Children's Services) proved

Proved to be the best resource on how to handle any situation I faced. Some would say not so, but I was honest, upfront & in all matters she was the same. When it came to the vehicles, she advised that I could bring in a copy of all current tax & tag statements which showed the current assessed value & I could buy them, then I needed to bring in the receipts from the Nursing Home showing I deposited the money in her Patient Trust Fund. Then spend it on her leaving her a balance well within the allowable amount. I did exactly as
she said & it all worked out just fine.
Again, let me stress Rules vary from state to state. I had a great case worker & was ever so grateful. Best to you as you travel down this road.
May be difficult for you at times, but Remember, You Are Not Alone. This web site has provided much-needed information & a place where you will find others who Care. Stay strong & be sure you take care of Yoursel!

Once I bought the vehicles I had to get them retitled into my name. Once that was done, legally they were mine to do with as I saw fit. Again, best to you.

While one auto of any value is exempt from Medicaid, once it is sold the proceeds are countable as cash. If that cash puts the Medicaid applicant over the $2,000 threshold, it must be spent down or converted into some asset that is exempt (such as a funeral/burial policy) before the end of the month in which the car was sold.

The state of Massachusetts' Medicaid allowed amount is $2K and under. Be prepared for the 5-year lookback.

I'm still in the process of getting Mom "spent down" ($2,000 Oregon), which has been painful because she's 96, was a "depression baby", so she saved & saved to make sure she always had a nest egg to fall back on - instead of enjoying her money and doing things for herself. Now, it's truly sad to spend it on hospital & medical bills, nursing facilities, medications, ambulances, etc. (She does not have Medicare Part B, and has a private insurance plan which doesn't include long-term care.). So, now, she's almost destitute enough, and I've met with the Medicaid people - including as required providing them with the original contract for the pre-paid cremation plan she bought some years ago. They had to verify it couldn't be cashed in for more State money! I am beyond tired of all of this... The last thing I have to do before she's "qualified" is have the bank set up an "Income Trust Account", because she makes more with her retirement annuity than the acceptable monthly income, so it has to be set aside for the State. At least they'll let her have $60/month spending money - eesh... That wouldn't even cover a cup of coffee a day... Sorry, I'm feeling pretty bitter at this point? I'm not planning on leaving a nest egg myself...

Medicaid is tedious. Be prepared for the 5-year lookback, too, Image. You're NOT planning on leaving a nest egg for yourself? You should have your investment counselor put into a part of your portfolio, assuming you have one, long-term care.

I applaud your mother for saving to take care of herself in her old age. The money spent on medical is for her use and she will get the best care because of it. I have seen medicare long-term facilities. They are human storage facilities. I praise your mother for how she handled her money and not making special efforts to fall back on the government (for it is the taxpayers that foot the bill). My mother also was a notch baby (older than your mother). She was fugal with her money and now has a good nest egg. The difference is she remains healthy (sort-of) and has a daughter that is a retired nurse that cares for her. The fewer people on medicaid, the better for the people in general. Please don't avoid accumulating a nest-egg for your future old age. Don't fall back on the government if you don't have to. You will regret it. Don't do it if you can at all help it.

Unless you're one of the few of the very wealthy, saving money for old age means using our own savings to pay medical costs not covered by Medicare. Also, living to a ripe old age is great, IF you don't outlive your savings. Hitting the 90's, well, for many if not most of us, MediCAID is in our future.

Thanks to people for commenting, but I'm really having trouble seeing any advantage at all to keeping a private savings fund, because no one can afford to pay the amounts necessary out of pocket forever, and then it's onto Medicaid! Charges are much higher for services when the patient is paying out of pocket rather than the State - $9,000 a month for a nursing home is obscene, and certainly eats any savings pretty quickly, and that's just the basic "room & board" in the situation. Mom is in supposedly one of the better "homes", but even when I visit almost every day I'm frustrated all the time... They've manhandled/broken her elevating leg rests for her wheel chair (which she needs medically, but that's another story...), and for the last month have assured me they're taking care of the repair. I pick her up for doctors' appointments and she's not ready, or she's in dirty clothes, or someone else's clothes (I guess the 1X purple sweatshirt is hers now, because her name is sewn into it? She weighs 105 ...) Well, it's good it's so big & baggy, because when we were at the doc's ofc, she had her arms crossed in front of her chest - and when I asked whether she hurt or why she was doing that, she answered "I don't have a bra on - they couldn't find one - and I've never gone out of the house without one in my whole life!" (She has 4 bras at the facility) I bought her a small nice chest or drawers, to be used for her items only - no facility stuff - and 5 times in the last 2 weeks I've retrieved large, plastic, open packages of heavily-scented "personal wipes" from the top drawer - in with the cookies and snacks I bring her. PLEASE! No one needs butt wipes in with their goodies! There is now a sign on the wall behind her dresser - doesn't matter. Anyway, I don't think the savings she scrimped and saved have done anything except delay the time she'll get "official help" - which we're doing now - so I just wish she'd used her money before to have a better life... I am just tired, angry, and heartbroken...

Imagine: You SHOULD save for yourself.