I have a signed reversal of this action, however if I have to apply her for Medicaid reversing this action could cause problems so I am told by others. Any thoughts or advise? Her dementia is getting worse. I worry Medicaid will be the only option for long term care. Input please, I am drowning in decisions and 6500. Per month for memory care just isn’t in our budget if it isn’t tax deductible.
9 Answers
Helpful Newest
First Oldest
First
Nonexempt assets for an individual applicant for most states is capped at $2,000.00. Yep, Two thousand dollars. That property, however it is titled - whether just her name or 50% her&50% you - will likely be a nonexempt asset. Medicaid is going to want it sold and the proceeds used in a spend down 1st and foremost till she is impoverished and under 2K in nonexempt assets. Medicaid is going to want rent to be income to her & her income must be used as a copay to the facility. Medicaid may, again may, allow for her to be Medicaid Pending as long as there is a MLS Realtor agreement and active listing for a set period of time. I know for some States, they will do this but you really need to clearly speak with a atty experienced in LTC Medicaid in your mom’s state as to what state allows if it’s a commercial property that owned rather than a residential property. Not all places do Medicaid Pending.
I’d try to find all this out & soon from an attorney, cause…Selling a property & getting it market ready can be in & of itself quite a project in time & $$$. If she has no $ to herself pay for whatever needs to be done, are you prepared to do, buy, spend? ((This in addition to the $6500 it seems that you are paying on her care right now?!?!?)) Plus you know title issues, so if you realistically will never ever be an owner, you may find yourself doing all & cannot easily ever be reimbursed when it sells as it looks like “gifting” from her 2 you. Really you want to get clear guidance on all this b4 u do & spend even further from an CELA level of atty in her State.
Also if you have been fronting $6500 MC costs, omg please stop paying. She needs to use whatever $ & rental income she has to self pay. I’m guessing that you are 24/26? That’s my kids age, absolutely no way I would ever want him saddled with paying for my or his dads care. This is the time for you to be going, doing, exploring before you yourself decide to start a family or buy a place if you even want all that….. no way should you be on the hook legally for $6500 a mo for her care.
If you think mom will likely also have other financial issues (I get it my late Mil was a real financial terrorist if there was a obvious bad path she took it), dealing with all of this will totally be on you. Plus you live in another state, so may need to have local atty do filings or hire a property management Co to oversee upkeep while it’s under Realtor contract.
Please Find an atty in moms state, gather together all the financials on her and whatever documentation on the property and the MC contract and go over all this w the atty as to best options for you. You have already done a lot for her; you have shown love,concern & devotion. But there are limits. Good luck and do not let her “guiltify” you.
ADVERTISEMENT
Yes, she is special !
2. More details on the "reversal" would help, especially to determine if it rescinded the earlier action.
3. Have you consulted a real estate attorney to determine if the reversal completely negated the earlier transfer w/o your signature?
Evidently, she decided if I wasn’t going to pay these expenses, she wasn’t giving this inherited property back to me. A subject I never followed up on until recently. I have a signed document to transfer it back, however I am not at all certain this is a good move for either, it does not say reversal, so in the end Medicaid will most likely take the property, as she has no other option for long term care. Thus my meager inheritance from my adopted Grandmother/ Mother is gone. Yet I have the responsibility of caring for this schizophrenic that birthed me.
Any direction regarding this situation is greatly appreciated. Elder Law attorneys are nonexistent in her area and I live in another state.
But, remember half of that house value is still mom's and will have to be spent down. Are you able to buy mom out at fair market value?
Am I foolish for even pursuing this?
Medicaid is highly state-specific and it is well worth the investment of some of mom's money to get guidance.
From your profile, it sounds like your mom is her own worst enemy. In any circumstance, you should NOT PAY for her care; her resources are what get used for that.
To get Mom help, you may have to wait for something to happen like a Hospital stay and even better going to Rehab. If Mom goes to Rehab, you can have her evaluated for 24/7 care. If its found she needs it, once her Rehab is done she can be sent to LTC. You tell the hospital and rehab that sending her home would be an "unsafe" discharge. That there is no money for caregivers and you cannot care for her.
As Barb says, an Elder Lawyer can help you maneuver medicaid.