Would winning a big prize effect Medicaid/Food Stamps?

ilvmystical

ilvmystical

New member
I'm hoping someone knows the answer to this. I did a search and could only come up with info about SSI. I have been avoiding some sweeps due to being afraid of losing coverage. My husband got laid off from a great job and all he could find right now is part time work. We have Medicaid on our 2 year old and receive food stamps. My husband and I are completely uninsured and can get no help. So that is why I am so concerned about losing benefits. Let's just say I won 10,000 and used it to buy a used car (we desperately need another vehicle) do you think we would lose our daughter's medicaid? I was told by SS when I filed for help that we had to report any changes in income and they have our SS numbers so they would be able to see if we filed extra income. If anyone can answer my question or at least offer advice I would so much appreciate it. It would be great to do some big sweeps and maybe win some money!
 
SSI and Medicaid are both means tested programs so any money (earned income or not) over a certain point gets you thrown off. SSD is not means tested. However, cars are not counted in determining your assets, I just have no idea what happens when your winnings are in that state between "cash" and "car" :scratch:
You can often find advocates for the low income and disabled who can answer this sort of question-we have several volunteering at the Senior Center during tax season. I would say ask your Daughter's social worker but it can be unwise to rely on the advice of a Medicaid caseworker, as we discovered when a friend of mine was dying of cancer. If you could PM me your state, I could try to look up some resources...
 
I am not sure about your state, but I know from experience that any thing with a value over $500 counts. You are allowed up to $3000 for a married couple, then cash, cars, stocks ect. count up to your limit. the only thing not counted is the home in which you live. The only way any of it counts is if you have over 1 arce of land. They say that if you have these things you can sell them and buy what you need yourself. they even count if you have prepaid life insurance or burial plots. It is very strict where I live. I know all this because my daughter became ill and living alone needed assistance and had nothing. She has worked all her life, and all she had was a decent car that was paid for. Since she was single and the car was worth apx. 6,000 blue book, they turned her down and told her to sell the car and buy a cheaper one and use the rest of the money to live on. Also they would pro rate the money from the car out to last how ever long they think it should.You may want to sweep in someone elses name. Or maybe it is more lineant in your state. good luck. This all took place for my daughter apx. 1 year ago.
 
:sunny: The only problem with sweeping under someone else's name is that they would then be responsible for the income taxes on the prizes.
 
That is so not fair that you can be dirt poor and can't even try to win some money or else you have important benefits taken away. I tried to get Medicaid for myself since my husband and I lost our health insurance when he lost his job. I have a lot of health problems and have to see doctors often but I was denied cause we would have to make under $544 a month! We would be living on the street!! That is crazy! Thank God my 2 yr. old is covered at least. I guess if I enter a sweeps for money it would have to be major big bucks. Thanks for the help guys, I appreciate it. :)
 
Just my opinion, but I would go ahead & enter for the prizes if I were you. You can always turn down a prize if you win something that will hurt your benefits. With the time it takes for the sweeps to end, the winner to be chosen, the affy sent, and then the prize sent.... you have plenty of time. You can go with the hopes that your financial situation will radically change by the time you face such a wonderful "problem". Best of luck!
 
I'm on Social Security Disability and Medicare. I didn't have to file a tax return unless my disability money and "other income" (prizes) added up to $25,000+. However, I file jointly now that I'm remarried just because it works out better.
 
Thanks for everyone's input! I just found out that in order to keep my daughter's Medicaid we can't make over $21,400. So basically I can't enter anything over $13,000. Unless of course the sweeps is for a million dollars then I will no doubt enter that! :crazytongue:
 
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