Tag Archives: PENALTIES

WE WANT GIFT PARENTS MONEY TO 7 GRANDCHILDREN BEFORE MEDICAID GETS IT

Q: HOW DOES THIS WORK. I HAVE A PARENT WHO IS IN A FACILITY. WE WANT TO APPY FOR MEDICAID. WE WANT TO GIFT MONEY TO 7 GRANDCHILDREN. WE WANT TO APPLY FOR MEDICAID BUT IN ORDER TO DO SO WE HAVE TO SPEND HIS MONEY DOWN TO BELOW A CERTAIN NUMBER. THE PARENT WANTS TO GIFT SOME TO HIS GRANDCHILDREN. HOW DOES THAT LOOK TO WHEN MEDICAID IS LOOKING BACK 5 YEARS INTO HIS ACCOUNTS? WHEN ALL BILLS ARE PAID DOWN AND FUNERAL IS PRE-ARRANGED. IS THAT POSSIBLE? (NEW KENSINGTON, PA)

A: the short answer is do not do this yourself. It sounds like it would be a flagrant violation of medicaid regulations and could cause your parent to be ineligible for medicaid and spend their remaining days in a run-down, flea-ridden, warehouse for the elderly. there are certain ways to spend-down with the procurement of medicaid exempt necessities and perhaps to even shelter some of this money. however, only do this through an attorney versed in medicaid regulations

Can mom transfer $10K to me without IRS problems?

Q: I am investing my money (trying to grow it beyond being in a regular savings account) and my mom has around $10K that she would also like to add to my money but we are afraid it may raise red flags with the IRS. The transition would be from one bank to a different bank. Also, I am in Pittsburgh, she is in South Carolina. (Regent Square, Pittsburgh, PA)

A: I think you should ask the bank you plan on depositing these funds in to. My recollection is that businesses must fill out an IRS form for every check or cash in the amount of $10,000.00 or over. I believe banks only report deposits from individuals to the IRS if it is cash or of a suspicious nature. These types of deposits occur frequently and the bank doesn’t like to turn in their own good customers. Another consideration is Federal Gift Tax. This amount is under the Federal Gift Tax limit and therefore there would be no concerns regarding your mother’s income taxes. Also, you may want to consider the potential consequences of this transfer if mom needs to apply for Medicaid in the next five years. If she does, this transfer may be render her ineligible for the value of the transfer to you.

When should I file my parent’s Medicaid application?

Q: When should I file my parent’s Medicaid application for long term care? He should qualify as medically necessary, but only after we spend his 40k savings on private care. Should I file now or after he spends the money?

A: It is highly advisable not to do this on your own. If there is $40,000.00 in assets to spend down, you need to do this with the advice of an experienced elder law attorney. There are ways to shelter some of these assets and it will be well worth the legal fee as it will likely save a portion of your father’s money which will otherwise go to Medicaid.