Can My Siblings Help Me Pay for Expenses While I Am on Medicaid?

This is something of a gray area. Medicaid has income rules and generally any money you receive directly is considered income and may put you over the income limits in your state. However, payments made on your behalf generally are not considered to be income for purposes of Medicaid. So, it may be possible for your siblings to help you out, but not give you funds directly. If you are also receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI), this is definitely the case – funds received directly need to be reported to the Social Security Administration and you are supposed to receive a dollar-for-dollar reduction in your monthly SSI benefit. Going back to Medicaid, the rules on income can differ from state to state. So, if you’re not receiving SSI, it’s important to consult with a benefits expert in your state to see whether there may be more flexibility in the rules.