As POA, do I have the authority to take out my mom's money in her nursing home trust account and put it in a savings account?

Mom is on Medicaid and I have considered becoming representative Payee

Is your mom on Medicaid? Let's start from there with an answer to that question.

i cannot find this thread or see other people's answers :(

You mentioned your moms funeral. Could you look into a pre need purchase of a funeral at a funeral home and then spend the money each month ( or quarter) as a payment on her funeral? Might be an easy solution.

Becoming the Representative Payee requires bookkeeping and answering to the SS administration. Plus, with someone who gets Medicaid, most of the money will go to the facility for her care. That leaves a small monthly amount to manage. Seems like a lot of time and energy investment, when the facility can do it.

If you spend those funds on her behalf for clothes, toiletries, personal items, etc., then, they should reimburse you. The total has to be kept down under a certain amount or she may lose her eligibility.

If the facility has her funds in trust, they have to keep a record and provide it to the POA upon request. Usually, Medicaid will ask for a copy at least once a year for their review of her eligibility.

I've never been in this situation but if there are issues of how the home is managing her money, I would think that it acts as a fiduciary and should have to account for its management of the funds to your mother.

I would also talk to your banker about setting up a savings account in your mother's name with you as an authorized signatory as proxy under a POA. At least then you wouldn't be obligated to spend it.

They gave me 3 receipts, and by no means did they total $200.00 ! Funny thing I found out yesterday mom had change $22.00 WOW 😞 !! The NH isn't being helpful at all

I just read your profile; you need to ask for either an accounting of or restitution for the two $200 withdrawals that were made from your mom's account.

You can become your mother's representative payee for SS. Go to the Soc. Sec. website and find out how.

I won't say how much is n her account! But it's almost impossible to take mother out sometimes! I would love to take her shopping etc but today mother insisted on helping me with my finances !!

No point in being representative payee, let the check go directly to the nursing home. You can legally spend down by getting her hair done monthly, buy some new clothes or furniture, but NOT by gifting.

I believe the NH made a mistake by telling her how much money is in her trust account! After visiting today I've heard rumors about NHs taking care of residents money and stealing from them ... I would rather do it myself but was told I had to be a representative payee ??? Is this true

kitty, mom is on. edicaid, yes? if you want the assistance paying for her care, the she has to be indigent.

I don't want my mothers money but I will not stand by and allow them to tell mom that she can't have her money that's in the trust I would rather put it n a account and save for her burial !!

If she is on medicaid you HAVE to spend it on her. Buy clothes , toiletries, haircut, stuff for her room, take her out to lunch. Keep the receipts, copy & save the copies, then bring them and have the NH reimburse you.
I try to keep up with this spending- I buy slippers, shoes, glasses,clothes by the ton. It is HARD to buy stuff when they are in the NH- but they will tell you how to spend it!

If mom is on Medicaid, she needs to spend down that money. Moving it to a savings account does not get the dollar amount under the limit. Putting it in a savings account in your name would cause a gift penalty and be a violation of POA laws. Ask the director for suggestions how to spend down.