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My mom passed away this past Sunday. She had Uterine Cancer, kidney failure, blood clots. For the past 5 years, I took care of my mom. I helped pay the bills, cook the meals, take care of the house as she couldn't walk. I would even help her get up so she could go to the bathroom. I lived with my mom and am unemployed and have no Driver's License. Everything is in her name as far as checking accounts, bills etc. She fell in the house landing her in the Hospital. She was there and then went to Hospice where she passed away. Sorry for the rant, but is there anyway I can get some type of benefit or benefits for taking care of my mom? I'm afraid I'm going to lose my home. I'm trying to get a job but it takes time. I am really desperate. Can anybody help me or at least point me in the right direction?

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So sorry for your loss, Mets.
You are going to need some time.
Don't panic, there will be people coming alongside to offer suggestions.

We will need more information, it was your Mom's home?

Is it likely that you can get a job to sustain the expenses of the home?
Or, are you disabled, or nearing retirement yourself?

Have you found a will, are there other siblings?

Who was the POA, you know that role ends, and the executor of the will takes over.

Is there a mortgage, have you missed a payment?
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Thank You very much for responding. I will answer the questions.

It was my mom's home. The thing is I'm kind of torn because I can work but I am disabled. I was diagnosed with OCD and Hallucinations years ago. But I do have Husky Health D to offset my medication but I still need to go to counseling and my Shrink. I had to stop doing that to take care of my mom.

There is no will and I have no other siblings. There never was a POA or anything. I haven't missed a mortgage payment yet.
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Dear Mets--
I'm sorry for the sudden loss of your mom. This is a rotten time of year to lose a loved one, but I think we all have, once or twice had that happen.

Take some time to get over the shock and sudden dynamic change. This is HUGE. You do have a lot of options, do you have friends or one particular friend you trust and can talk to, to help you walk through this?

If you inherit everything, that is good.

Get back into counseling ASAP. You'll need that help.

Eat healthy this holiday--take walks, don't try to do too much at once.

Look into working again. How old are you? I don't think you can retroactively get any monetary reimbursement for caring for mom, it just doesn't exist, that's why people have wills and trusts, to help offset the costs of what a toll caregiving can bring--esp when there are more siblings involved, but you are an only child, so you should inherit it all.

Did mom have a lawyer or someone who set up a will/trust for her? You should notify them of her passing. My FIL's lawyer was a great help.

Good luck to you, and my sympathies.
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Mets, sorry for your loss. Here are some steps to take. Make sure you get enough death certificates --- one for each financial account, the house, car, etc Was your Mom on Medicaid?
1) You must notify social security and any pension plans of your Mom's passing. They will both require the return of any payments made to her beyond what she was due.
2) Get an approximate value of all of her financial investments, the house etc. Make an appointment with the Surrogate Court in your County and they will guide you for the steps to take after Mom's passing. (Sometimes there is information on your county website about the process).
3) Ultimately, the Surrogates court will provide you with 'Letters of Administration' . This will allow you to access accounts and transfer ownership. Despite there being no Will, each state has rules of Intestacy. You can google your states rules.
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Thank You guys. I just feel like I'm going to lose my home and have no money. That makes me very scared.
And my mom was on Medicaid.
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If you are disabled, do you receive Medicaid, and an income from Social Security, or SSI?
If not, go to the Social Security Office start filling out applications for SS, (do you have a work history?), or SSI income for low-income disabled.
Go to the welfare office for food stamps until this clears up for you financially.

If you receive enough income to pay the mortgage, that will help. Did your Mother have Mortgage Insurance that will pay off the mortgage? The bank will know, but I would find the paperwork on that now. Still, lots of options.
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Well, they told me that if I'm well enough to dress and cook for myself then I'm not that disabled.
I don't receive Medicaid, Social Security or SSI?

I filled out Social Security Disability online. My mom didn't have Mortgage Insurance as we were able to get The Mortgage lowered with Loan Modification.
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If your Mom was on Medicaid (as you stated), and you cared for her for five years, and there is no will, you need to see an attorney ASAP. You will quickly find that all of her assets will become frozen when the death notification reaches the bank.
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"Well, they told me that if I'm well enough to dress and cook for myself then I'm not that disabled."

That is not true for I'm on disability and so is my wife. We can do those two things.
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I'm sorry for the loss of your mom mets82
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So, what do I do next?
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Your Mom was on Medicaid but was she in a facility?
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Enter this in your searchbar. (which is the 3 short bars on the blue line above:
"The grief over my dad's death has snuck up on me." by eyerishlass.

Take some time.
See your therapist NOW, don't wait for a normal appointment.
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The thing is that I'm ok with my mom's death. I'm scared having no income. , I tried to enter that in the searchbar and it didnt work.
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I just read the link. I understand grieving and all, I really do, but I'm talking about income. I'm going to lose everything.
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So, before mom got sick, how did you support yourself and live?
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How did you pay her bills if you were not her POA? Did she make her accounts joint with your name on it? If so, you automatically have that money.
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Everything was in my mom's name. I was paying the bills.
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Mets, what is confusing is -- how were you paying the bills if you weren't working? Your mom's money must have been paying the bills... and now that your mom is deceased, you don't have access to that money, is that it? Do you have siblings? Is there a will? I get it that you need income right away but... other than applying to any and every job out there... is there not a store or fast food restaurant within walking distance or can you take a bus? What about valuables or useful objects in the house? Is there anything you can sell through online marketplaces? 

There is no program to pay you for helping out your mother AFTER she has passed away, and there are precious few that may have paid you before she passed away. But now that she is deceased, no, there is no option for that.
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Yes, I was paying the bills with her money. I don't have any siblings and there is no will.
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Sometimes a local church will have resources to help thru times like this, as well as someone who can help you navigate the legal issues to attempt to retain the house. Even if it's limited help, perhaps you can piece together enough financially to get thru a very short period.
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Getting approved for Disability can take some time. Maybe you could go on welfare and get food stamps?
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I sent mets a private message with a link, but here is another www.211.org/services/housing-and-utilities
I would see Social Services adult social worker and get welfare, food stamps, etc. Ask about a pro bono attorney in your state. You should apply for disability. You can get help with utility bills, mortgages, etc. The social worker should be able to help with that.
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Well, I called 211 and applying for Food Stamps. I don't know if I will get SNAP Benefits but this is something. They are sending me an application to fill out.
211 gave me assistance and a couple of phone numbers for assistance in paying my Oil bill. I have an appointment on Jan. 24.

I also have a phone call placed into helping pay my UI Bill. So, that's something so far.
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I have also applied for Disability and in fact 211 gave me a phone number to call about Disability. It's called The Center of Disability Rights. So, they will let me know as I sent them an Email about my situation. Only thing is they said they would get back to me Tuesday. I don't know if they mean Dec. 26 or Jan. 2.
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Dear mets82,

My deepest sympathies and condolences. I'm so sorry for your loss. I know its an extremely difficult time. It sounds like you are taking the right steps with making all these applications. Maybe a church has some resources that will help you bridge the gap till some of these applications takes effect. Thinking of you.
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Why that means a lot, Thank You. I hope your having a Good Holiday.
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So, I just talked to The Center of Disability Rights. They basically told me that you can apply for Disability but it will take 6 months to 1 year. I don't think that's fair, but the nice woman I talked basically told me I should find a job. I will look for a job now.
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It may take longer than that. Cases here in MD run 2-3 yrs for state disability. Not to mention the volumes of medical records they want.

Sorry to hear about your mom. 
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