Revision 09-4; Effective December 1, 2009

If the home property is in an irrevocable or revocable trust ("Living Trust"), see Section F-3300, The Home as a Countable Resource.

F-3210 Treatment of a Home in a Revocable or Living Trust

Revision 09-4; Effective December 1, 2009

A home placed in a revocable or living trust (or similar type trust) loses the exclusion as a homestead and becomes a countable resource based on trust policy found in Section F-6400, Revocable Trusts.

Note: If the home is in an irrevocable trust, see Section F-6500, Irrevocable Trusts. Seek agency legal evaluation of the trusts and their treatment.

Presume the tax value as the countable value of the property in a revocable trust when making a determination of countable resources. The person has a right to rebut the presumed value and provide verification of the equity value.

Note: The fair market value (FMV) of a resource is the going price for which it can reasonably be expected to sell on the open market in the particular geographic area involved. Equity value (EV) is the FMV of a resource minus any encumbrance on it. An encumbrance is a legally binding debt against a specific property. Such a debt reduces the value of the encumbered property, but does not have to prevent the property owner from transferring ownership (selling) to a third party. However, if the owner of encumbered property does sell it, the creditor will nearly always require debt satisfaction from the proceeds of sale.

If the homestead property is removed from the revocable trust (or the trust is dissolved), the person may be able to re-establish the property as a homestead. Also see Section F-3121.1, Temporary Absence from the Home.

F-3211 Re-established Intent to Return Home

Revision 09-4; Effective December 1, 2009

Intent to return home must be re-established if the homestead property is removed from the revocable trust (or the trust is dissolved). A completed Form H1245, Statement of Intent to Return Home, or the response on the application is used to establish and designate the homestead property.

If the property is designated as homestead property, determine the home equity value of the property and follow policy in Section F-3600, Substantial Home Equity.

If the person takes action to remove the home property from the trust, the medical effective date cannot precede the first of the month after the date the home was officially removed from the trust.

Example: Due to the countable home property in a revocable trust, Mr. Jones has excess resources January of this year and is not eligible. Mr. Jones removes the home from the living trust on March 10 of this year. Mr. Jones re-applies for Medicaid on March 15 of this year. Due to the countable home property in a revocable trust, Mr. Jones has excess resources as of 12:01 a.m. on the first day of January, February and March. The medical effective date can be no earlier than April 1 of this year.