DHA Case No. MDV 13/106538 (Wis. Div. Hearings and Appeals Jan. 4, 2010) (DHS) ↓ Download PDF A transfer to an irrevocable trust is generally a divestment if the trust cannot make payments back to (or for the benefit of) the grantor under any circumstances, but a divestment can be cured if the full value […] Read more

DHA Case No. MGE 157892 (Wis. Div. of Hearings and Appeals July 30, 2014) (DHS) ↓ Download PDF County agencies may not over-verify; they may only require the verification needed to determine eligibility. In this case, the agency requested verification of an old family trust that had been depleted and the value of a Wispact […] Read more

DHA Case No. MED 70/82111 (Wis. Div. of Hearings and Appeals February 28, 2007) (DHS) ↓ Download PDF The asset limit for Institutional MA is $2,000. In this case, the petitioner misidentified a savings account as life insurance on her application. The county worker, who was “simply scanning the application” at the time, advised the […] Read more

DHA Case No. MGE 198675 (Wis. Div. of Hearings and Appeals August 5, 2020) (DHS) ↓ Download PDF An asset is unavailable if a member lacks the ability to provide legal access, no one else can access the asset, and a process has been started to get legal access. In this case, the petitioner was […] Read more

DHA Case No. MGE 213476 (Wis. Div. of Hearings and Appeals July 8, 2024) (DHS) ↓ Download PDF The county agency must give individuals adequate written notice of verification requests. In this case, the requests “became numerous and internally inconsistent,” confusing the petitioner. ALJ Kenneth Duren concluded the agency failed to follow proper verification procedures […] Read more

DHA Case No. MDV 213193 (Wis. Div. of Hearings and Appeals June 17, 2024) (DHS) ↓ Download PDF The surrender value of life insurance is generally available if the owner has the right to surrender it and the proceeds will be made available in less than 30 days. In this case, the petitioner divested and […] Read more

DHA Case No. MGE 212254 (Wis. Div. of Hearings and Appeals April 29, 2024) (DHS) ↓ Download PDF The cash value of annuities that can be surrendered is a countable asset. In this case, the petitioner’s annuity had a cash value of about $24,000 but was scheduled to annuitize in less than a year, at […] Read more

DHA Case No. MAP 211814 (Wis. Div. of Hearings and Appeals April 8, 2024) (DHS) ↓ Download PDF A trust is not an available asset if it was funded by a third party and the Medicaid applicant or member cannot, by the terms of the trust, require the trustee to make distributions. In this case, […] Read more

DHA Case No. MAP 212141 (Wis. Div. of Hearings and Appeals March 27, 2024) (DHS) ↓ Download PDF An asset is considered unavailable if the owner documents that it will not be available for 30 days or more and a process has been started to obtain the assets. In this case, the petitioner could access […] Read more

DHA Case No. MGE 211566 (Wis. Div. of Hearings and Appeals March 15, 2024) (DHS) ↓ Download PDF Countable assets do not include income received that month and money that is not available. In this case, the petitioner’s eligibility for July was denied because the agency counted $1,599 in Social Security (deposited July 3) and […] Read more

DHA Case No. MDV 210958 (Wis. Div. of Hearings and Appeals March 13, 2024) (DHS) ↓ Download PDF The fair market value of real estate may be established by assessment, statements from realtors, or a comparative market analysis. In this case, the agency relied solely on the fair market value estimate it found on Zillow […] Read more

DHA Case No. MAP 211494 (Wis. Div. of Hearings and Appeals March 6, 2024) (DHS) ↓ Download PDF To be exempt homestead property, the property must serve as the individual’s primary place of residence. In this case, the petitioner owned real estate worth $25,000 and claimed he lived there in a tent, providing documents and […] Read more

DHA Case No. MGE 211382 (Wis. Div. of Hearings and Appeals February 29, 2024) (DHS) ↓ Download PDF The asset limit for SSI-related Medicaid is $2,000.00. In this case, the petitioner (a realtor) was able to exempt one vehicle, his homestead, and various properties used for self-employment; but the value of a few small, landlocked […] Read more

DHA Case No. MGE 209717 (Wis. Div. of Hearings and Appeals January 5, 2024) (DHS) ↓ Download PDF To be eligible for SSI-related Medicaid, an unmarried individual’s countable assets must be less than $2,000. The individual must also provide the necessary verification. In this case, the petitioner received a VA lump sum payment and was […] Read more