My mother has been in the nursing home since October of 2018. She has dementia. Yesterday the nursing home informed my father that their joint account could now be a problem for Medicaid which they could have told us months ago. They said he needs to remove her name from the joint account and she should have an account with no more than $2000 in it. I am confused as to why she needs an account at all. She has no reason to access the account and does not have the ability to ask someone to do it for her. It seem that this account would become a constant nuisance. I assume that the remainder of her S.S. would have to be deposited into that account which would require constantly transferring or removing fund to keep the balance under the $2000 cutoff. What am I missing?
If no one has POA for her, you or your dad need to get it if Mom is capable of signing.
The only account mom would need is one kept by the nursing home for personal expenses, taken from HER social security, solely for her use.
Is the thought of removing your mother's name from a joint account, which perhaps they've had together for many years, upsetting for your father?
As for my mothers need while in the nursing home I just can't think of very much. She is in the dementia wing. She can't walk due to nerve damage which required three operation to keep the damage from making it's slow crawl toward her heart. When she speaks it's in noises more often than words and adult diapers are a permanent fixture for the rest of her life. A person needs very little when they have lost they grasp of the reality around them. In another six month she won't be able to have a hard candy for fear of choking. With little to nothing to spend down the money on it could become a problem. The only thing I can think of is possible donating to charity. At least the money would go to a good cause and they would get a tax deduction.
I would talk to Medicaid and a certified elder law attorney to ensure that dad is protected and if he is in need of part of moms social security check to continue to live.
This is not a DIY process, it will be well worth the money to pay for the attorney.