My sister is in a nursing home in MO. Her care is paid for by her Social Security and Medicaid. Can she refuse a share in a settlement?

DollyMe,

Thanks for sharing information on removing someone from a settlement disbursement.

I'm curious as to how it was accomplished.   Was there a court order dismissing him as a party plaintiff?  Or a letter from a doctor?

Deanna, if I'm understanding this discussion correctly: *if* your sister is "off" Medicaid for a while due to the settlement monies make sure she uses some of the funds to create a pre-paid funeral trust. Setting this up outside of Medicaid allows for a much higher protected amount. Once she's back on Medicaid it's less than $2K allowable (where I live anyway). The trust can ONLY be used for the funeral expenses that are designated by Medicaid rules as approved. Also deposit funds into the NH Resident's Trust account for your sister. They have a max amount, here it's $250.

Deanna, your sister can use her share of the settlement to help pay for her nursing home care, and then she can return back to Medicaid.

I would think it wouldn't be fair to the taxpayers who are paying for your sister's care if such money is available for her to use, but instead she "gifts" her share to other family members.

Worried, I was just trying to provide some background on the issue of withdrawing as a Plaintiff.   I do understand the Medicaid concern, but wanted to make it clear that withdrawal isn't an option that would apply at this point.  Ergo, other options need to be considered, since the settlement portion will more than likely be paid and have to be addressed.  

The Medicaid issue needs to be addressed "head on", but the withdrawal issue needed to be put aside as it's not an appropriate route to take.

GA the OP is More concerned with medicaid eligibility, not whether or not her mother can legally withdraw. She May or may not be able to withdraw at this point but even if she can, she could still lose her Medicaid. Medicaid doesn’t necessarily allow recipients to refuse a settlement.

Caveat:   my response is based on court rules for a specific jurisdiction, as they existed when I last worked in litigation, some decades ago.    There may be specific rules in Deanna9's locale and state  that should be consulted.

I don't think that "withdrawing" from a lawsuit is feasible at this point.   There may be time limits on when parties (plaintiff or defendant) could be added or dismissed.

I believe that she would have to have filed a motion to dismiss as to her alone, and the court would have to act on that, issuing an Order to Dismiss her as Party Plaintiff.

Since the case has reached a settlement stage, I doubt that the Court would consider the need for anyone to withdraw, even if a specific Motion to Withdraw as a Party Plaintiff were to be filed.

An out of court settlement to me means that an agreement has been reached, the funds will be transferred to the plaintiffs' attorney for disbursement as a Stipulation to Dismiss is signed, (and the Plaintiffs acknowledge Receipt of the funds), then an Order to Dismiss is entered.  

Your sister might be able to refuse, assigning (in writing) her portion to one of the other plaintiffs, but I'm not at all certain how this would be addressed in terms of the Releases, as she most likely would still have to acknowledge receipt of the funds, then transfer them.

Still, there could be residual issues since she would be "giving away" funds.    I think Glad is right, that this could be considered gifting.   And that would I assume affect her Medicaid qualifications.

I would consult 2 attorneys:  first, the attorney who handled the suit on behalf of the Plaintiffs, to determine if there are any legitimate alternatives, and secondly, an elder law attorney practicing in the Medicaid field to address any alternatives, and how to handle notifications, etc. to the nursing home where your sister resides.   You might also raise the feasibility of some kind of trust for the award, from which the nursing home's share would be deducted.  

Better to be on the legal,safe side than to attempt any actions that might cause problems down the line.

You need to speak a lawyer well versed in Medicaid because you are getting wrong answers hers. She can’t just refuse her part of the settlement.

Medicaid would, i would think, consider that gifting. So, she would be ineligible for Medicaid until she spends down her portion of the settlement.

Withdrawing her name from the suit seems like it she should not have been included to begin with. Too late now.

Better check with an elder law attorney.

Yes, she can, withdraw her name from the law suit. If there is no money placed in her account, she is good. Perhaps some consideration should be given, to have her portion invested in another family members name, so if she needs some funds later they are there for her, she can take small amounts at a time.