Will higher Social Security benefits affect Medicaid eligibility with spend down for Alzheimer's care?

This is actually a really important question that affects your long-term care planning. The Medicaid spend-down process does consider your income level, and higher Social Security benefits will increase the amount you need to "spend down" each month to qualify. However, this doesn't automatically mean taking SS early is better! With Alzheimer's care potentially costing $9,000+ monthly in nursing facilities, even the difference between early and FRA benefits ($600 in your mother's case) is relatively small compared to the total care costs. The bigger consideration is how long you'll need care. Alzheimer's patients can live 8-10+ years after diagnosis. Taking benefits early permanently reduces what's available for that entire period. I'd suggest consulting with an elder law attorney who specializes in Medicaid planning. They can run the specific numbers for your state's Medicaid rules and your projected SS benefits at different ages.

my grandma did medicade spenddown with alzhimers too. she took SS at 65 i think. the nursing home took ALL her SS check except for $50 personal needs allowance anyway so it didnt matter if she got more or less. thats how it works in our state at least.

You're asking about a critical intersection of Social Security and Medicaid policy that affects many families dealing with long-term care needs. Here's what you need to understand: 1. Medicaid income limits: Each state has different income thresholds for Medicaid eligibility. In most states, the higher your income (including Social Security), the higher your "patient responsibility" or spend-down amount. 2. The key question is timing: If your mother's Alzheimer's diagnosis came AFTER she reached FRA, then waiting would have been better financially. But if she needed Medicaid BEFORE reaching FRA, taking early benefits might have been necessary. 3. For your own planning: Consider how early symptoms appeared in your family members. If they typically showed up after FRA, maximizing your benefit by waiting could be best. If they consistently appeared before FRA, you might need to factor in early filing. 4. Don't forget about SSI: If your Social Security benefit is very low, you might qualify for Supplemental Security Income as well, which has different interactions with Medicaid. I strongly recommend working with a financial advisor who specializes in elder care planning. This intersection of benefits requires careful navigation.

I'm in the exact same situation!!!! My dad has Alzheimer's, started showing signs at 72, and we had to get him on Medicaid last year. The nursing home costs are INSANE and Medicare covers NOTHING for long term care which is RIDICULOUS!!! The spend down is such a nightmare process. We had to spend through almost all his savings before he qualified. Now the nursing home takes most of his SS check and gives him like $60 for personal items. I worry constantly about what will happen to me because I've seen what this disease does. TERRIFIED I'll get it too. Does anyone know if there's special Medicaid rules for Alzheimer's patients compared to regular nursing home residents?

Try calling Claimyr if you need to actually talk to someone at Social Security about benefit projections. I spent WEEKS trying to get through to discuss my mom's benefits when she was diagnosed with dementia. Someone on this forum recommended Claimyr and they got me connected to an SSA agent in like 15 minutes. You can see how it works in this video: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU - the website is claimyr.com. They basically call SSA for you and then connect you when they reach an agent. I was able to get exact benefit estimates at different ages that helped me work with her elder law attorney on the best filing strategy considering her health situation.

Sending prayers for your mom and your family. This disease is so hard on everyone. My husband's father had Alzheimer's and we went through similar decisions. God bless you all.

Everyone keeps telling you about Medicaid spend-down but NOBODY is mentioning the 5-YEAR LOOKBACK PERIOD!!!!! This is CRITICAL information! Medicaid will check all financial transactions for 5 years before application. If they find gifts or transfers to family members, they WILL PENALIZE you and delay eligibility! My sister thought she was helping my dad protect some assets by putting them in her name when his Alzheimer's was diagnosed. BIG MISTAKE! Medicaid found this during the application process and created a penalty period where he wasn't eligible even though he had no money left! The rules are DESIGNED to make you go broke. Doesn't matter if you take SS at 62 or 70 - the nursing home gets it all anyway. The whole system is a TRAP for families dealing with long-term illness!

To directly answer your planning question: the optimal Social Security strategy when concerned about future cognitive decline often involves: 1. If you're married: Consider having the higher-earning spouse delay benefits until 70 while the lower-earning spouse claims earlier. This maximizes potential survivor benefits if one spouse requires long-term care. 2. For single individuals: The calculation depends on your specific state's Medicaid income limits and personal health indicators. If early-onset Alzheimer's (before 65-70) runs in your family, claiming earlier might make more sense. 3. Document preparation: Regardless of your claiming strategy, make sure you have a durable power of attorney, healthcare directive, and possibly a revocable trust in place BEFORE any cognitive decline begins. 4. Long-term care insurance: If you're 58 and concerned about Alzheimer's, explore long-term care insurance NOW while you're still insurable. Traditional policies or hybrid life insurance/LTC policies can provide significant protection and more care options than Medicaid alone.

I want to share some perspective as someone who works in eldercare social services. Your situation highlights why advance planning is so crucial for families with genetic predispositions to dementia. One thing not mentioned yet: consider consulting with a Certified Financial Planner who has experience with Special Needs Planning. They can model different Social Security claiming strategies alongside potential Medicaid scenarios specific to Ohio's rules. Also, since you're 58 and proactively planning, you might benefit from exploring Ohio's PASSPORT waiver program. This Medicaid waiver allows people to receive long-term care services at home or in community settings rather than nursing facilities. Having this knowledge now could influence your Social Security timing decisions later. The fact that you're thinking about this while still cognitively able puts you ahead of many families who face these decisions in crisis mode. Document your preferences clearly - not just legally, but your actual wishes for care settings, financial priorities, etc. This will help your family make decisions that align with your values if the time comes. Keep asking these hard questions. The intersection of Social Security timing and long-term care planning is complex, but understanding it now gives you real power to make informed choices.