Elder Law Answers
Should My Sister Transfer My Mother's House to Herself to Protect It from Medicaid?
My mother is ill and requires long-term care, but hopes to retu...
Read moreCan My Grandmother Spend Down for Medicaid By Paying Off My Mother's House, Her Primary Residence?
- February 9th, 2018
Q
My mother was caring for my grandmother in my mother's home. My mother passed away and my grandmother had to go into a nursing facility. Can my grandmother pay off the debt of the house to spend down for Medicaid even though she does not own the house? It was her primary residence. The state is North Carolina
A
Unfortunately, the answer is probably no. Your grandmother can pay any debt as part of her spend down, but without an agreement that your grandmother had to pay rent to stay with your mother, she does not owe anything. That’s the general rule. You should consult with a North Carolina elder law attorney to make sure that this rule applies there or that there is no other remedy available. To find an attorney near you, go here: https://www.elderlawanswers.com/north-carolina-elder-law-attorneys.