Does anyone know if caregivers are entitled to receive pay? My dad has lived with us for the past 5 years and we have never claimed him as a dependent because I didn’t even know you could do that! Then I read somewhere....and of course I can’t find it now.... that caregivers can receive stimulus money for parents living with them. Anyone know if this is true? And how would I go about it? We don’t receive any financial help for him. He has his SS each month but with prescriptions, boost, depends and his secondary insurance payment each month, it’s pretty much gone.
https://www.agingcare.com/articles/how-to-get-paid-for-being-a-caregiver-135476.htm
I'm not sure if claiming him as a dependent is advisable... if he ever needs Medicaid (and he seems a likely candidate) then this may impact his ability to qualify. Please be aware there is a Medicaid app "look back" period of finances that differs from state to state. In my state it is 5 years. You must be very careful about co-mingle funds, co-signing loans or credit cards, etc. Anything that may be interpreted as "gifting" of assets. Medicaid gets to decide what is "gifting" based on "appearances".
As far as the stimulus check question: if you haven't had a written employment contract for any amount of the time you've been caregiving him, there there's no proof you were actually working for him. Others on this forum may have a more insightful answer, but I think the government stimulus checks are going out to individuals based on their annual income, but not totally positive on this.
FYI you can contact social services online at the Dept of Health and Human Resources for your county to see if your father qualifies for any in-home services that might be helpful in your situation. You can also contact your area's Agency on Aging for other guidance.
Coronavirus Stimulus Checks April 2020 Article on Aging Care . com
U.S. residents who have a work-eligible Social Security number and are not a dependent of another taxpayer will receive COVID-19 financial relief payments as long as they meet certain income limits.
So Lisa, maybe it is a good thing your Dad is not your dependent?
Does he pay his own way, and pay 'rent' to you?
You may need a consultation with an attorney, using Dad's income/stimulus to advise you.
1) the Stimulus checks are not declared as income for the recipient.
2) If a person is on Medicaid, the asset needs to be used up by one year, (or, it could have been 18 mos.), because of the asset limit.
3) The Stimulus can be spent however the recipient wants, even gifted. Pls recheck this as a fact, for the latest stimulus. (source was legal but for NH residents.).
You would do well to get some education and advice, perhaps from a Geriatric Care Manager, on the resources available to your Dad. This could include food stamps (EBT) for low income, which have an added amount during Covid-a little known support from the government. Every state is different. This could help you care for him. However, if no one talks about it.....
In Florida:
On average, SNAP households received about $246 a month in fiscal year 2020. The average SNAP benefit per person was about $125 per month, which works out to about $1.39 per person per meal. Sep 1, 2020.
As to anything that is earmarked specifically for caregivers, if there is such a provision in this check I am not certain what it is.
Your checks are not considered income, nor is your father's check considered income.
If you wish to create a care contract for pay it is not too late to do it now, though it is of course not retroactive. See an Elder Law Attorney for this.