I am disabled & briefly received benefits from the state in 1989-approx. 1992 but only about 2 yrs. I had one child at the time with no assistance from his father. My family was in a cult that forbid me from going to college and from whom I am and was shunned for over 30 years causing extreme challenges. My father was the only person in my family not doing this or in this religion. He passed away last October. I just received 2 letters from the state saying that they are going to order repayment of benefits from my inheritance. Is there anything that I can do to mitigate this? I have a lawyer who is listed on the probate papers but the state has not contacted him. It really seems unfair that I never knew of this and would have paid what I could have when I was able to work but I didn't know about this clause. Can the amount be reduced or negotiated? I don't even know where they are getting their figures from. The amounts seem way high for the time when the payments were made. I now receive SSDA and pay for my own Medicare and supplemental insurance. It seems as though once you've received benefits you're alway going to have to if that is how it works and it is demeaning and belittling. I am in shock and don't even know what to do now or how to explain this as I have cognitive impairment from child abuse by my mother and brothers as well as emotional abuse from the same individuals and the religion causing me to have a break down and have to be hospitalized many times. This is very stressful and disheartening. Can you give me any advice on what I can do? They knew where I'd moved and that I'd gone to school and worked and never came after me before now...why is that? Why don't they tell you this upfront so that you can take care of obligations? It didn't show up when I had to go bankrupt in the past.
Don't panic. Either there will be a sensible explanation, and given the length of time that's elapsed there should be plenty of room for negotiating a manageable repayment schedule; or there may have been a mistake which you and the office concerned will be able to iron out.
In any case, do not go straight to having a nervous breakdown and guessing and assuming the worst; and above all DO NOT IGNORE THIS.
I gather there are some administrative hitches going on in governmental circles, are there still? So you might need to be extra patient. Look at the letter for the right number to call, get on the phone and speak to an actual person. Have the letter with you so you can read out references and so on. Have paper and a pen to take notes, including the name of the person you're speaking to.
All will be well, the important thing is to tackle it as soon as you can.
You need to set up an appointment to speak directly to Medicaid. Take all your health and income info.