Is there a way to get assistance to help pay for Mom's bills since she has been approved by Medicaid in assisted living?

talking with a lawyer who specializes in elder care is the best option. in addition to making a list of questions, make a list of the bills your mother has with the specifics as to what they are for and due dates. Why is she still making purchases? Talk with attorney about doing a Will, power of attorney for finances and health care decisions. Are there other siblings involved? Is your mother competent to make decisions - would someone else challenge that?

No further input from Igood418?

well Aware that PA taxpayers are ultimately responsible for the FREE home care, meals, transport, social worker provided absolutely free of charge for friends parents as they age in place.

Get a consultation with an Elder Law Attorney. Write your questions down so you are ready. Can even do this on the phone. Just try & make sure the attorney you get knows about this stuff & is a reputable one. They may have answers you haven't even thought of.

Figure out now which bills can be cancelled.

I think the OP has left the conversation?

Do not pay any of her bills as you are not responsible.

Call all creditors and tell them she is unable to pay due to her circumstance don't give them any of your information.

You can submit her Bill's to Medicare they do pay back pay on Bill's just don't know how far back. give them a call

Sorry to ask but what are these bills each month that are for over $800? If she is buying things online, then she needs to stop it. If she is still paying for her house then sell it and use the money for her care.

I would send each creditor/account a letter stating mom is in NH and all her funds go to pay for her care. Send documentation that mom is in a home and tell them she cannot pay. Don't give a return address or phone number so they cannot contact you (although in this day and age you can find people pretty easily).

Hopefully that would make them go away.

First, your mom & you are beyond lucky that Medicaid in her state -Arizona- will pay for AL. For most states that is a total non starter, as it’s only skilled nursing facility aka NH that is required / dedicated funding by a state in order for them to get federal $ so states only do the absolute minimum required. Kudos to AZ!

As others have said, LTC Medicaid requires a copay or SOC of whatever her monthly income less a smallish personal needs allowance (varies by state from $35 -$115). In her Medicaid application, she or you /dPOA turned in a copy of her “awards letters” like from SS or retirements that state to the penny what she will be paid each month. That figure is a known fixed amount which her SOC is based on & must be paid to the NH unless she has a still living in the community spouse or other legal dependent OR there’s an extraordinary situation that your states Medicaid allows exemption for.

A lot of the time, the NH will press the elder / her DPOA to have the NH become her representative payee for SS so it’s a straight to NH for her $ with the NH setting up a personal needs trust fund as the NH that she or family can draw from..... like it’s used to deduct to pay for her to go to the on-site beauty shoppe at the NH or you go and sign out $59.64 to reimburse for undies & toiletries you bought her at Target

Once on LTC Medicaid realistically ALL other debt gets defaulted on, unless family wants to pay that debt OR family is a co-signer on the debt so it’s just as much theirs. Mom flat walks on her debt.

How to deal or perhaps better put NOT deal with her debt, to me, kinda depends on what the debt is....... so could you share just what that over $800 a month is going to?
dealing with credit cards is quite a different creature than dealing with a burial preneed monthly premium; mortgage different than car note...

Sorry, but once Medicaid is paying for LTC none of her money can be used for anything but her care. Does she have a house? Have you lived with her several years providing her care? If yes to both questions, you need to apply for a caregivers allowance to stay in the house. You will be responsible for taxes, upkeep and utilities. If you can't afford to do this, the house will need to be sold and the money used for Moms care. All of the proceeds.

If its monthly bills she has incurred, credit cards and such, Mom has no money to pay them. The money left after spend down can only be used for her personal needs same with her Personal Needs Acct.

You are not legally obligated to pay these bills.

It must be different for each state. Where was mom moved from before she entered the nursing home?
A coworkers parents stayed in their apartment, kept their SS checks, and were both approved for 24/7 aides, FREE. They also get meals delivered, a nurse who comes weekly to fill the pills, a visiting doctor, a social
worker who arranged everything, transportation... all free. Would that be an option/alternative to a nursing home? Check with your county office.

What kind of bills? DO NOT offer to pay them yourself. If they are a creditor, they will consider you responsible if you pay them once. Most companies will write off a debt, but you need to be firm and persevere, when they find out Medicaid is involved.

I have never heard of Medicaid paying for Assisted living only for Nursing Homes at least in PA. I have heard of the VA contribution g to assisted living if one qualified but never assisted living.

If your Mom has moved into an assisted-living facility, and is covered there by Medicaid, why or how does she have $800/month not covered? If you are talking about bills from creditors outside the AL facility, are these pre-existing from before? (I.e., credit cards, etc.?) Or are they recurring bills of another type, as in utilities, etc. from her prior residence? Medicaid should cover living expenses, food, meds, etc., with a very small monthly stipend for spending or (good luck!) to buy clothes, etc., but not other types of expenses...

There is no assistance for help with bills. Except for small personal allowance all pension and social security payments go toward the nursing home with Medicaid paying the rest of the nursing home bill. If you are trying to keep her house family will be responsible for all costs.

My understanding is that once you are approved for Medicaid, your whole income, less a small personal needs allowance that varies from state to state, goes to the facility to pay your share cost of care.  I know there have been many changes, but I suspect that the SOC will be around - you will be expected to contribute to your care cost.  What are the bills your mom owes? The poster who could best help you is igloo - VERY knowledgeable about Medicaid requirements.