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Can My Mom Pay Me Rent If She Will Be Applying for Medicaid?

  • January 17th, 2023
Q
My mother lives with me. Can she pay me rent and have it not count against her in the five-year Medicaid lookback period? Her monthly income is below poverty level, but she does have savings.
A

Yes, she can pay fair market rent, as well as for her share of costs for food and utilities. This should be done under a written agreement so there’s no confusion about the purpose of the payments or her obligation to pay. Again, the payments should reflect the costs in your community so they can be defended if challenged by the Medicaid agency.

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Last Modified: 01/17/2023

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