Medicaid Nursing Home takes Stimulus check
Hi, Terry: My mom is in a nursing home. She has gone thru all her assets and now medicaid is paying her nursing home bills. The nursing home takes her social security check and gives her about $30 a month for personal items. My mom is now on hospice care and coming to the end of her life. She has no life insurance. We will need to pay for her funeral. I received a letter indicating she received the $1200 stimulus check. Does that check belong to the nursing home or my mom? We could use those funds to cover funeral costs. I would value your opinion.
Terry Says
While the payments are protected from Federal garnishment for things like back taxes or student loans, my IRS contact tells me that they are not protected from other creditors. In this case, the state Medicaid program seems eligible to take her check. I know that’s not what you wanted to hear, and seems very cruel. But legal.
