Sometimes Your Home Can Be Transferred to a Child Without a Medicaid Penalty

By Fredrick P. Niemann, Esq. of Hanlon Niemann, a Freehold, NJ Medicaid Attorney

You are a daughter or son of a sick and aging parent. Assume you have been caring for your mother and/or father for a number of years. You may even live in their home. Mom has severe COPD and dad has dementia. What needs to be done to protect Mom and Dad’s home if one or both of them need to be placed in a nursing home?

There’s good news for you. If structured correctly and properly documented, your parents can transfer the house to you without a penalty under New Jersey Medicaid laws. Generally, a transfer causes up to five years of ineligibility for Medicaid coverage. However, you can qualify for the so-called “caretaker child” exception to Medicaid’s rules governing the transfer of the home. In states like NJ, to qualify for this exception you need documented medical proof and affidavits from a doctor saying that for at least the past two years were it not for the care you provided to your parents, they would have had to move to a nursing home. If you think you qualify, reach out to us to better understand your rights and what must be done to assert your claim.

To discuss your NJ Medicaid matter, please contact Fredrick P. Niemann, Esq. toll-free at (855) 376-5291 or email him at fniemann@hnlawfirm.com. Please ask us about our video conferencing consultations if you are unable to come to our office.