She is on medicaid-lives in oregon. She has an Income Cap Trust Fund-I am told can not exceed $6400.00. I am told I can buy her clothes, give birthday money to grandkids, pay for her phone bill, out for lunch, etc. What else can I spend it on? It could not pay to have her taxes done, and it can not pay for someone who has a certificate to cut nails for a diabetic, (which I am told it has to be). I am confused!
Good luck. Medicaid can be confusing.
Carol
Do you mean that her assets exceed the max and you have to spend the excess on her behalf? Or are you talking about what you can buy for her from your own money?
How closely does Medicaid monitor her income? Do they ask for monthly or yearly reports? I cannot imagine that paying for small things that are directly for your Mom would be such a big deal. Here is an article from this site: https://www.agingcare.com/articles/Spending-Down-to-Medicaid-133289.htm
Btw, if she is on Medicaid, and meets their income limit, she should not have to pay taxes at all. Talk to an accountant or go to the IRS.gov site: http://www.irs.gov/individuals/article/0,,id=96623,00.html
http://www.irs.gov/individuals/article/0,,id=96623,00.html
Carol is right, none of this makes sense. I have found that each state interprets Medicaid care differently. Also, you will get a different answer, depending on who you ask. It is tiring. One good resource are social workers at your local hospital and in-home care nuses because they work directly with clients are really know the ins and outs.
good luck