Return to the Care Givers Forum
| Post a Follow-Up
About look back question
| | |
Posted by carrie630 (My Page) on Sat, Dec 17, 11 at 22:18
| Basically from what I gather, if you are elderly in your 80s you shouldn't be sending a Xmas check to your grandchildren because those gifts will be considered "spending down?" even if it's only 500 or 1000? What about long distance money gifts when it's too hard to send toys to grand kids?
See, that confuses me
|
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: About look back question
| | |
| It's perfectly reasonable for someone to give a gift. The amount of the gift is considered in an audit, but I think that what you are describing might be okay, unless she gives a $1000 each to 20 grandchildren. If she has a lot of people she gifts, $20 per person may be seen as reasonable. |
RE: About look back question
| | |
| if she has two - would 1000 each be okay? Just wondering - but thanks for the good answer |
RE: About look back question
| | |
| Who knows what the auditors would judge reasonable? Does she give $2000 away every Christmas? I'd guess that whatever she's given in the past would be regarded as her normal gift. |
RE: About look back question
| | |
| okay - I get it now... thanks |
RE: About look back question
| | |
| Rules about this will vary from State to State, but generally, there is an upper amount that can be considered a "gift." Any amount above that is looked at closely. Let's pretend a second or two. The upper limit in the State of Blank is $10,000. Therefore, a gift of 10,000 would pass. $10,000.05 would throw the whole amount into the "look back" amount. If you had given the grandchild that amount every year since birth, you MIGHT be OK, but if this was a once in a life time "gift" you MIGHT be in trouble. A big amount that was given only that one time before entry into a nursing home, would certainly be considered in the "look back" amount. So much depends on the mood and understanding of the agent/clerk handling the case. Bad night and a hangover, bad for you too. |
RE: About look back question
| | |
| Ah ha! So now even though a grandmother can give a grandchild a gift of 13,000 (which is tax free at that amount) it looks "suspicious" because it could be looking like a "spend down" rather than a gift? Yes, it sure is a tricky situation. You want to give a gift, but then you think - this could look like something else.... Thanks for the information |
RE: About look back question
| | |
| The trick would be to find out what the limit to a gift would be in your area......if it were 10,000, then give only 9,500. Also....the time limit. If it's within X number of years, try to plan ahead. |
Post a Follow-Up
Please Note: Only registered members are able to post messages to this forum. If you are a member, please log in. If you aren't yet a member, join now!
Return to the Care Givers Forum
|
|
|
