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?
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.
And my mom was 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.
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.
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.
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?