I have a Revocable Trust for my mom’s money. She uses that money to pay for rent at her apartment. She lives on her SS check and I give her enough money to cover rent for several months. She can’t have more than $2,000 in her account or she would be disqualified for Medicaid should she need it. How do I pay her rent but not raise any future questions that could arise if she needed Medicaid suddenly? She doesn’t have a lot of money but I would like to protect it for medications, laundry needs or even a private room for her in a nursing facility if the need comes up.
You should not be using your own money unless you are independently wealthy and by that I mean way over a million. You will need every single cent you can save for your own future. Your Mother's money should bed used for her own care during her own life. As Cali says, when she is on the State because her money is gone then things will be taken care of for her to the level they are. While she is younger it would be better she use her money to insure she has a good quality of life. When she passes the State will come to you and you will be beholden to tell them what your mother has in assets, and they will inform you about recovery of medicaid funds. Do not ever attempt to hide assets.It is not only a huge mistake, but it is not very moral. If you are her POA then you are responsible to keep meticulous records of all her assets, of monies coming into her accounts and of money outgoing.
If she needs Medicaid it should only be after her resources are exhausted. She doesn't get to have special privileges on taxpayer money. And you don't get to have an inheritance.
Her money is for her care, period. When it is gone then she is entitled to public assistance, not before.
If/when she goes into the SNF on Medicaid, I will use my OWN money to get her things she wants like snacks. All the rest of her needs including medication will be paid for by Medicaid.