I have until May to spend the $1200 before it affects the $2000 monthly limit in her checking account. I’ve checked with her facility to see if she needs anything as far as equipment or things to make life better for her and she doesn’t. A TV is provided in her room and she doesn’t watch it anyway. Her funeral expenses are all paid for. I can buy her new clothes, but not $1200 worth. Does anyone have any suggestions as to what I can spend it on? I have to keep all receipts, so I can’t gift it away either. I’m at a loss. Thanks!!
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I googled the quote joann gave and it went to this article.
I just looked at information from websites including IRS/ Medicaid/Medicare/AARP/Federal Trade Commission/CBS News and others. Your asking about articles or website got me interested in checking this out. I actually learned something in this exercise, so thanks for putting the question out there.
Among other comments from these sources: "Technically, a stimulus payment is an advance on a 2020 tax credit, and tax law states that these credits don't count as “resources” for federal benefit programs such as Medicaid...When Congress calls these payments ‘tax credits’ in the CARES Act, that means the government can't seize them".
"Taxable income can be taken by a nursing home...however, lawmakers said Congress structured the payments as a tax credit, not as taxable income". After month 12 these funds, should there be any remaining, would change from "tax credits" to "assets".
According to sources I'm reading there are no restrictions on how or where the tax credit funds are spent under usual and ordinary circumstances. After 12 months, this tax credit is still not income, but it becomes a resource for Medicaid purposes.
Under ordinary circumstances Medicaid classifies anything that can be spent or traded as an asset. If the tax credit has not been spent down by the end of 12 months, it's an unspent asset. An unspent asset, for Medicaid, is owed to Medicaid.
My Answer To Your Question Is: I might explore getting a hand-held computer or phone device if you can keep it secure. Bring it with you and bring it back home after you visit. A portable phone that you can bring to her when you visit and take home when you leave. Since she doesn't watch the tv or use the phone on her own, you would be buying something for communication purposes. The device would be her property, safeguarded by you.
I often brought items into/out of my spouse's room and there was not a thing the snf could do. Other families did likewise. I'm sure if a family simply took the resident's items and obviously never returned them for the visit or the room, that could be abusive or neglectful and might be questioned. They have a duty also to protect the resident's from bad people.
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What does your reply have to do with the stimulus check? Replying to the wrong post?
"Nursing facilities will not receive any additional private payments. Pre-COVID patient and resident income and asset protections remain in place for the stimulus payments.” ... “In general, a resident can spend the stimulus money as they wish, including gifts and charitable contributions,” the center said.May 21, 2020"