I have one parent in a nursing home and the other needing to go. I understand that Medicaid will take both S.S. checks but will my Dads small retirement pension of $476.00 be taken also? They have bits and pieces of ins. policies that after all these yrs they don't want them to lapse...therefore the retirement money will be needed to keep the polices in effect. Can they have any money in a savings account..is $2,000.00 too much?
Thank you for your helpful replies...I need them!
For VA- there is a widow's pension & Aid and Attendance, see VA.gov
If he dies, the VA has many benefits for surviving spouses. Look them up at VA.gov. especially widow's pension and "aid and attendance"
7348bill, you are lucky because NJ is one of the few states that will cover ALF under Medicaid! It IS fair, because the state picks up the rest of the tab. We have many posters here in other states that wish they were in NJ
The spouse not applying for Medicaid benefits is called the Community Spouse.
The Community Spouse is permitted to retain all of his/her own income regardless of the amount and is guaranteed a minimum of the couple's combined income if their own income falls below $1,939 and can receive a maximum of $2,931 (in 2014).
The income the Community Spouse is able to retain when the other spouse in receiving Medicaid nursing home benefits is called the Monthly Maintenance Needs Allowance (MMNA) and varies by state.
Using Massachusetts specific numbers below you will be able calculate the amount you will be able to keep for your needs.
The formula is this:
Add your rent + $608 Utility allowance (state mandated). This equals your "Shelter Cost".
From your shelter cost subtract $582 (state mandated shelter allowance).
The result is your "excess shelter costs".
This is added to the minimum Monthly Maintenance Needs Allowance of $1,939.
The result is the amount you will retain (up to a maximum of $2,931).
Example:
Your rent is $1,200 + $608 Utility Allowance = $1,808.
$1,808 - $582 = $1,226.
$1,226 + $1,939 = $3,165
In this example you will be able to retain $2,931
I hope this answers your question.
My question is what can I expect to keep for my rent and food, utility bills when I put him in a nursing home?
Can spouse survivor pension benefits be garnished for long term care bills after the pensioner has died?
Is she able to ask this on her own? Is someone else helping her handle her affairs, perhaps as POA?
That is just my layman's understanding. I hope that Ralph or another forum expert will pop back on and give you specific details.
My father William is in a nursing rehab center since last year.
He had setbacks with his health, that is why he is in there this long.
He is not going to be permanent there. My mother who passed away on March 5, 2012, before applied for medicaid for my father since they could not afford the rehab center's cost. Aetna medicare will not cover it. The medicaid went through this week but medicaid is saying that they want my father's social security and pension. I can see the social security, but the pension is used to keep his apartment running until he is able to return. Could you please advice me what to do?