The Family Assistance Program
Grandparents or relatives caring for children can receive FAP or a Foster Care Stipend. This program provides cash and Medicaid. A family caregivers income is not considered as part of the child/childrens income. Cash assistance amounts are determined by the number of children in the household. Contact the Department of Human Health and Human Services to apply. You can also apply online. Apply online
How Much Does Medicaid Cost
For most health care services, you won’t pay anything, or you’ll have just a small copayment at the time of your visit. Most often, you show your Medicaid coverage card, and the state pays the full cost of your care to your doctor directly.
Some states, under a federal waiver, charge a monthly premium for certain eligibility categories.
What Is The Kinship Navigator Program
More than 2.5 million children currently are being raised by their grandparents and other relatives, both formally through the child welfare system and informally through private family arrangements. When these caregivers take on this responsibility, they often receive little to no financial support or advice regarding how to navigate the many systems they might need to access to meet the needs of the children in their care. Kinship Navigator programs help fill that gap by providing caregivers with information, education, and referrals to a wide range of services and supports. The Navigators goal is to maximize the caregivers ability to provide safety and stability and, if needed, permanency for the children placed in their home.
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Lawfully Residing Immigrant Children
are eligible to apply for Florida KidCare health and dental coverage. A parents immigration status is not required on the Florida KidCare application, nor is it ever asked.
The Florida Legislature passed a law that has helped many immigrant children who in Florida obtain health insurance coverage since it became effective on July 1, 2016.
Prior to this change, some non-citizen children living in Florida had to be lawfully in the United States at least five years before they qualified for health insurance through the Florida KidCare program.
Children who were previously denied Florida KidCare subsidized coverage because of the five-year waiting period need to reapply online, or by calling 1-888-540-5437.
Some children previously denied because of the five-year rule may be currently enrolled in a health plan through www.healthcare.gov. Their families can transfer to Florida KidCare by updating their information with the federal marketplace at www.healthcare.gov or by calling 1-800-318-2596.
If a child is enrolled through employer-based or other private coverage, they can apply at any time, however, Florida KidCare coverage will not begin until the other coverage has ended.
For more information about the legislation, please visit .
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Who does the law passed on July 1, 2016 apply to?
2. My child was previously denied because of the five-year rule. What should I do to find out if he/she qualifies now?
Questions About The Material Contained In Today’s Blog Post Contact The Law Office Of Bryan Fagan
If you have any questions about the material contained in today’s blog post, please do not hesitate to contact the Law Office of Bryan Fagan. Our licensed family law attorneys offer free of charge consultations six days a week in person, over the phone, and via video. These consultations are an excellent way for you to learn more about the world of Texas family law and how your family circumstances may be impacted by the filing of a divorce or child custody case.
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Purchasing Items & Paying Bills On Someones Behalf
If the daughter pays Moms bills herself, for example, pays the assisted living community directly for the difference between a shared and a private room, then the money will be considered an in-kind payment. In-kind payments impact Supplemental Security Income and could lower public assistance payments made to the mother by up to one-third.
Depending on the state in which the mother resides, the daughters assistance could also make her mother ineligible for Medicaid. However, in some other states, known as Family Supplementation states, the daughter is allowed to help her mother and her assistance has no impact on her mothers Medicaid eligibility.
Family supplementation was created to enable families to help in these situations without jeopardizing the elderly family members Medicaid eligibility. What can be paid for is restricted by state. So while family supplementation is an effective way to give Mom or Dad money to help pay their bills, it could cause some problems. Furthermore, not all states allow for family supplementation. It is best to check with a Medicaid expert in your state before purchasing items or paying bills for a loved one who is receiving Medicaid-funded care.
Effective Date Of Coverage
Once an individual is determined eligible for Medicaid, coverage is effective either on the date of application or the first day of the month of application. Benefits also may be covered retroactively for up to three months prior to the month of application, if the individual would have been eligible during that period had he or she applied. Coverage generally stops at the end of the month in which a person no longer meets the requirements for eligibility.
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Do I Qualify For Medicaid
Medicaid provides free or low-cost health coverage to some low-income people, families and children, pregnant women, the elderly, and people with disabilities. Many states have expanded their Medicaid programs to cover all people below certain income levels. Medicaid qualifications depend partly on whether your state has expanded its program.
How Does Caring For Grandchildren Affect Social Security
There will be no reduction in benefits because a grandparent cares for a grandchild in any arrangement . In cases of formal adoption, the grandparent may receive additional benefits because of the existence of the minor child. If the grandparent dies after an adoption is final but before the grandchild is 18-years-old, a Social Security benefit will be paid for the grandchild until he/she is 18-years. If one of the natural birth parents was qualified for Social Security and has died, the grandparents who are caring for the grandchild may be able to collect the natural birth parent’s social security.
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What Is Kinship Foster Care
Kinship care is just what it sounds like. It is when a family member takes over the care of children in the family. If a child has been placed into the foster care system, a family member can become a foster parent. Fostering ends when the parent can care for the child or until the child is 18. However, you must qualify for licensing like any other non-related adult looking to foster a child. As foster parents, grandparents raising grandchildren are entitled to financial help for the childs living expenses.
Financial Challenges Of Grandparent Guardianship
Grandparents are likely to encounter many financial challenges when raising grandchildren. Especially for grandparents who do not have a significant disposable income, supporting others can be costly. Many older adults already live on a fixed income of Social Security checks and pensions. Others have limited retirement savings or get by on a lower income.
Some older adults may not be actively driving due to health-related concerns to take their grandchildren to school or other places, while some need to change their auto insurance policy to help save some money.
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More From This Series Insuring Your Health
If the kids dont qualify for Medicaid or CHIP, all three of them may qualify for subsidized family coverage on the state marketplace, says Karen Pollitz, a senior fellow at the Kaiser Family Foundation . Under the health law, your sons loss of on-the-job health insurance creates a special enrollment period for him to sign up for coverage there. If his estimated income for this year will be less than 400 percent of the federal poverty level he may qualify for subsidies.
If its just the kids coverage youre concerned about, you can investigate child-only policies on the state marketplace. Log onto healthcare.gov to get connected to your state marketplace and find details about child-only plans as well as family coverage and Medicaid/CHIP.
Finally, if you have private retiree coverage, its possiblebut unlikelythat you could insure your grandchildren as dependents on your own plan, says Pollitz.
Please contact Kaiser Health News to send comments or ideas for future topics for the Insuring Your Health column.
Why Was This Program Implemented
Children may be unable to live with their parents because of…
- Parental substance abuse
- Teenager not ready to be a parent
- Military Deployment
- Protect Children and Strengthen Families
- Comprehensive assessment of adults, families, and children designed to enhance strengths and address challenges
- Support and enhance relationships between children, families, and the community
- Connect children & families to immediate, time-limited, and lifelong supports
- All partners work together as part of a professional team
*Adapted from CWLA New Generation PRIDE
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Benefits For Your Grandchild Only
As a grandparent, you might also be able to get temporary assistance for needy families benefits for your grandchild without your income or resources being reviewed first-period income that your grandchild receives from child support for survivorsâ benefits will be inspected, however. As a grandparent, you might be able to get temporary assistance for needy families benefits for yourself and your grandchild if your monthly income and resource amounts along with your grandchild’s meet the threshold limits of the program.
The Kinship Navigator Program
When a grandparent has to raise a grandchild, it adds additional stress on older people. It is not easy to become a parent to your grandchildren. You are not only a caregiver but a mentor to help the children avoid the pitfalls in life. If you need help finding support, please contact the Kinship. Navigator Program in your state. They can help guide you to the services needed to support the children. Apply here.
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How Does Medicaid Treat The 529 Plans For My Grandchildren
A 529 plan is a very common planning technique used by grandparents to fund a grandchilds college education. Simply stated, contributions to a 529 plan grow tax-free over the life of the plan and if used for qualified tuition costs, the distributions from the plan are also tax-free.
Notwithstanding the beneficial tax treatment of a 529 plan, they are not given favorable treatment under the Medicaid rules. If you are the owner of a 529 plan and seek eligibility for Medicaid to cover the cost of your care, whether at home or in a nursing home, the value of the account is treated as your asset.
This could have a disastrous effect on your plan to help finance a grandchilds college education. If you are someone who intends to assist a grandchild through college, you may want to consider alternatives to owning a 529. One viable option would be to transfer the money to your child who can then contribute the funds to a 529 plan owned by them. Moreover, in New York, your child might benefit from a deduction on his tax return which, depending on the amount and type of income you have, might not benefit you.
Questions may also be submitted to for a response.
How Moving In With A Family Member Affects Medicaid Eligibility
In order to qualify for Medicaid to cover long-term care in a nursing home, an individual elder is not allowed to own more than $2,000 in countable assets.
So what can a senior do if they have quite a bit of money and are facing long-term care in the not-too-distant future?
If they simply give the money away , and they need to apply for Medicaid within five years of the date of the gift, Medicaid will disqualify them for some period of time. The larger the gift, the longer this penalty period will be. Exact calculations vary from state to state and it’s important for caregivers and seniors to understand the difference between Medicaid’s lookback and penalty periods.
Certain assets are exempt from Medicaid qualification calculations and thus do not factor in to the $2,000 limit or the gifting restrictions. If a senior invests their money in an asset that is exempt, then it is not considered a gift and there will be no penalty period to worry about. These non-countable assets include such items as personal effects , the elder’s primary residence , a single motor vehicle and prepaid funeral arrangements.
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How Can I Get Appropriate Affordable Housing For Myself And My Grandchildren
The answer to this question varies by county and state in which you live. Many states and counties have agencies such as housing authorities which offer lower-income housing and may be able to help you find appropriate housing for older adults. Check with your local Housing Authority www.hud.gov/local/co/renting/hawebsites.cfm to get connected with housing resources in your area.
I Do Not Have The Financial Resources To Cover A Hospital Expense For A Grandchild Living With Me I Am In The Process Of Applying For Medicaid For My Grandchild But The Hospital Is Threatening To Go To Collections What Can I Do
You need to contact the collection agency and inform them of the fact you are applying for Medicaid for the child. Depending upon when you applied, and when the medical treatment was provided, you need to talk to your worker about backdating the Medicaid. The Medicaid can only be backdated three months from the date of the application, so you need to take that into consideration when you contact the Collection Agency. If the child was on Medicaid in another household, that could also be taken into consideration.
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Support For Grandparents Raising Grandchildren
Elena Gutierrez
A growing number of grandparents are taking on an unexpected new challenge in their later years: raising their grandchildren. Grandparents are often raising their grandchildren after tragic circumstances, such as the death or incarceration of their children. With more responsibility, grandparents also have more financial burdens. They can find financial help and support as they are raising their grandkids.
How To Give Gifts To Your Grandchildren
Gifting assets to your grandchildren can do more than help your descendants get a good start in life — it can also reduce the size of your estate and the tax that will be due upon your death.
Perhaps the simplest approach to gifting is to give the grandchild an outright gift. You may give each grandchild up to $16,000 a year without having to report the gifts. If you’re married, both you and your spouse can make such gifts. For example, a married couple with four grandchildren may give away up to $128,000 a year with no gift tax implications. In addition, the gifts will not count as taxable income to your grandchildren . Just remember that any gift can interfere with Medicaid eligibility.
Local Elder Law Attorneys in Your City
City, State
But you may have some misgivings about making outright gifts to your grandchildren. There is no guarantee that the money will be used in the way you may have wished. Money that you hoped would be saved for educational expenses may instead be spent on a fact-finding mission to Fort Lauderdale. Fortunately, there are a number of options to protect against misuse of the funds by grandchildren:
To determine the best way to provide for your grandchildren, contact your attorney. To find an attorney near you, .
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Gain Temporary Custody In Case Of Medical Emergencies
If you arent the childrens legal guardian, youll want to get a custodial consent form so that you are able to handle any medical emergencies that may occur. The temporary custody form will need to be signed by the legal guardians/parents and notarized. You could also have the parents give you power of attorney, but in many states the consent form is all you need. Eventually, this could be a step on the path to getting permanent custody of a grandchild or grandchildren.
Can You Claim Your Grandchild On Your Taxes
Grandparents can claim grandchildren on their taxes but must meet some requirements first. For starters, grandparents must determine if they can claim their grandchildren as dependents. Below are some additional rules:
- The grandparents grandchild must be the birth, foster, or stepchild of their own child.
- The grandchild must be under 19. If they are older than 19, they must be disabled.
- The grandchild cannot file their own tax return.
- A grandchild must have lived with their grandparents for at least six months.
- A grandparent cannot be claimed as a dependent by another relative.
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Things To Do If Youre A Grandparent Caring For Your Grandkids
- 5 Minute Read
Are you part of a grandfamily, a term used for grandparents being the primary caregivers for their grandchildren? If you are taking care of your grandkids, you may have realized that it comes with unique benefits and challenges.
Unless you have gone to court to get legal custody, guardianship or to adopt your grandkids, you dont automatically have the same legal rights as parents to protect your grandchildren, physically and financially. Thats why its so important to understand grandparents rights.
Here are seven things you can do to navigate the additional challenges that come with being a grandfamily:
