She has a monthly SS of under $800.00 a month and deposits to our joint account. Should I start a separate account where only her money goes or will a care facility of some kind draw my retirement along with hers to pay for her care when it becomes necessary? She is also a Military Vet of Vietnam war.
So, there are 3 types of Medicaid, Institution, Waiver and Regular. When people mention Medicaid, most do not understand there are different rules.
Since you are referring to institutional care, only your wife's income is considered in the application. You have not provided any of your income information so, I do not know where certain answers here come from. There is a provision called Monthly Maintenance Needs Allowance to protect not little old ladies but any spouse receiving less than $2177.50 a month. Based on housing expenses, you may be able to keep some of her SS. Then, there is what is called the Community Spouse Resouce Allowance which allows you to shelter some assets at a higher percentage up to $130,380. Home value to not be taken into consideration is $603,000.
No, you do not need to separate accounts, they will take her SS income from the statements you receive yearly.
What you might want to do is call your local Medicaid office and ask some questions. They can tell you how her cost of the nursing home will be determined while you are still living at home. Most states will not take all of the money to pay for facility because they don't want the spouse at home to be 'impoverished' to the point they have no place to live.
Definitely call VA to find out how they can help. You may even live close enough to a VA facility for the type of care she needs. VA offers certain in home help - and even some pay to the caregiver. Worth asking about. She earned these benefits many years ago and deserves to use them
Contact your local Veterans Assistance Commission and give them all the information you have.
The most recent change is that now a Spouse can get paid for caring for the Veteran. And they have expanded areas where exposure to chemicals may have led to specific medical conditions. (you would be surprised at what conditions are included)
That is the first place I would start. OR contact either a Social Worker or Patient Advocate at your VA hospital or CBOC (Community Based Outreach Clinic)
The nursing home will be the one who will collect her monthly income. Not Medicaid.
They take whatever cash assets she has in her name exclusively, or half of the ones you share jointly. Only her half, not yours. Medicaid will then pay for the rest of her facility costs.
If the married couple owns a house, Medicaid will allow a spouse to remain in their home if it's valued at under a certain amount.
The spouse can also keep a car too. Sometimes (not in your case), Medicaid also allows a spouse to keep a portion of the other's monthly income if it's the main support of the couple. Usually this applies to elderly women who didn't really work much or at all during their lifetimes and their husbands supported them and the family.
In your wife's case though, she might be able to get some help from the VA if she ever needs long term care.
Best of luck
No, you don't need to keep your SS separate, you are a married couple. But I would suggest if you have assets over and above your monthly income you consult with a lawyer. Medicaid will allow you to split your assets. Her split being used on her care and when spent down you can then apply for Medicaid. This is if you need to place her in LTC. You become the Community Spouse, stay in the home, have a car and are given enough out of your combined monthly income to live on.
Medicaid "In home" care may have a different criteria but both are based on combined marital income.
I suggest you call your County Office of Aging and ask if there is some one who can explain Medicaid with you.