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I still do everything for myself. I currently pay him $1750 per mo. Free room and board. He is free to pursue a social life and spends one week a month with his lady friend at her home 500 miles away. I pay utilities and for anything else I need.

Hi Joe, as you’re calculating this out, take into consideration the fact that if caring for you his only employment, your son may not be acquiring an adequate work history which will impact his social security. He will be less able to contribute to an IRA to save for his own care needs in the future. He will likely have a hard time establishing credit if he someday wants to buy a home. There are probably a zillion other things you both need to think about before signing the dotted line on this arrangement. Hopefully the more financially savvy on this forum will chime in.
If you are doing everything for yourself, why do you need him to live with you? What, exactly does he do for you that is worth him giving up his ability to make a secure future for himself?
I’m sure there are extenuating circumstances here that are not in your post but sometimes young people make poor decisions because they are easy. It’s up to their parent to set them straight - or try to. Best of luck to you both.
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Reply to Peasuep
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Joe318 Dec 20, 2024
Thank you for your rapid response. I think it is more a case of he needs me. I only started paying him when his unemployment ran out. So he feels he is my caregiver. A big mistake on my part. It was the middle of the pandemic
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It sounds like you're actually hurting your son more than you're helping him, as he needs to be working a real job and paying into his social security for when he is older and will need it and won't have you around to enable him.
I'm sure you meant well initially, but since you yourself say that you don't need any of his help, but instead are doing this more for him than you, it may be time to tell him that this free ride he's been getting is coming to an end sooner than later.
It's time your son grows up and gets out on his own, gets a job, and starts paying his way in life, because that's what grown-ups do.
I know how easy it is for us parents to enable our children because we think we're helping them, when again in reality all we're doing is hurting them.
I do hope you want the best for your son, and now want him to spread his wings and fly away from you, as that is what is most healthy for all involved.
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Reply to funkygrandma59
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Your son needs to get a job outside of the home. If you are self sufficient at the moment I think free room and board so you do have someone around in case of an emergency is enough. If he isn't actually taking care of you then what are you paying him for? What does he do around the house that you are unable to do yourself?
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MargaretMcKen Dec 20, 2024
Free room perhaps, but not board. He needs to feed himself out of money he earns himself.
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You shouldn't pay him anything if this "caregiver" "job" is a cover for the fact that he hasn't been working for years. What's his job description?

Most people who have a job pay rent or room and board somewhere. Also, if you are his employer, you need to be withholding for his taxes, social security and so on. You need to file forms and provide IRS forms to him at the end of the year so he can claim the income. Also, how about insurance (of all sorts)?

What it looks like to me is that he's doing his thing, comes and goes as he pleases, and you're stuck with subsidizing his no-job lifestyle. Keeping him dependent on you is the worst thing you could do for this young man. He needs to pay taxes like a grown-up, amass credits with Social Security so that he won't be short-changed sometime in the future when he needs SS benefits for disability or to retire with a decent income, and learn how to live on his own and make responsible decisions.

The whole point of raising children is to make them strong enough to be independent from us so that they don't fall flat on their faces when we're not around anymore. I'd say your son is about 12 inches from planting his nose on the ground.
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Reply to Fawnby
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So I am clear, you pay him as caregiver but no caregiving is given? Does he handle the mowing and snow removal if applicable? And if truly no caregiving is happening what is the reason for the monthly stipend?
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Reply to AMZebbC
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You are free to make any contract for any amount you choose, can afford, and wish with your son. Just remember it should be a solid contract with rights to reassess if it is working for BOTH of you every six months or so. You cannot simply "give" this money to him. That would look like gifting. Then let us say son decides to move out and move on and perhaps marry and leave the states, where would would be left would be with no care and the fact you "gifted" money. So you would be self caring in care while your money lasted but if it didn't last for 5 years they would not grant you Medicaid funding due to your having given your son money.

So if you make a care contract then you need a good paper trail which starts in an ATTORNEY OFFICE and has a monthly file to prove who you paid and for what. That way if he leaves the payments stop and you can enter care safely with your remaining funds, and apply for Medicaid when you run out.

Very important you do this the legal way. VERY.
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