Is there a way for my 87 year old mom to qualify for Medi-Cal? She makes $356.00 more a month than allowed through social security and it isn't enough to take care of her long term. She receives $1837.00 a month and the cut off is $1481.25. She is spending down her savings which will last her for the next 4 month at an AL facility. I can't financially help her because my finances are limited. Hoping someone can provide advice.
Thanks in advance.
What Miller does is moves ownership of a stable, regular guaranteed income source from the individual applying for LTC Medicaid to the Miller Trust. It has to be vetted income, so SSA mo income is ok but a corporate pension may not be as it might could defund. Comprende?
So as the Miller now owns her SSA, it pays her whatever is the state Medicaid max for mo income and the rest of the $ gets retained in the Miller. The Miller then does 1 of 2 things (this part depends on state laws), it either pays the rest of the $ ea mo to the NH directly (so it’s zeros out mom’s $) OR it builds up in the the Miller that is in a bank account in the Trusts name and then when she dies, the $ in the Miller has the State as the primary beneficiary and her heirs as a secondary beneficiary (just in case there is extra $ left, LOL!)
Not all states do Miller. Some have something similar. Others your SOL if over the mom income max. You can try to DIY this or you need to find a elder law atty who has experience in Miller for CA to guide you on this. Some Area on Aging have seminars & info on this. There tends to be 1 or maybe 2 in state banks that do all the Millers in their state (so if you get a blank stare at your bank on this, this is why). There was a daughter who did one for her FL mom, who income was like $100 over, & it cost daughter p abt $1000 to set up & she felt it was just worthwhile to let the law firm just do what was needed instead of trying a DIY. Good luck and let us know what happens, ok?
Somebody?
You need to see either an Eldercare attorney or Medi-Cal planning professional.
Your mom needs to transfer to a nursing home. For NH/Institutional Medicaid there is no income limit. Meet with the social worker now to start planning the transition. Make sure the social worker understands mom will be out of money and will need to transition to a facility that will accept her under Medi-Cal.
Instead of a Qualified Income Trust, the recipient pays the "overage" of their income as their share of cost.
Have you spoken to the business office at the AL about this?
Do you know that they will accept Medicaid as payment when mom exhausts her funds?