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Client Testimonial by Cindy Powell

I am the court-appointed legal guardian and conservator for my mother, who has dementia. What an extreme blessing it was, to meet a (expert Certified Medicaid Planning Agency) Beneficent representative at a Halloween event at Fountain Valley Senior Center in October 2021.

I worked in Adult Assistance Payments at El Paso County DHS in the past, and I only knew about “spend down”. When I mentioned that I was working toward spending down Mom’s resources to $2000. (Which included cashing in on Mom’s life insurance policies, spending the cash surrender values toward Mom’s memory care), The Beneficent representative stated absolutely not, Mom could qualify for Long-term Care Medicaid without spending down, and Beneficent could instruct and assist me in applying for Long-term Care Medicaid on Mom’s behalf. 

At the Halloween event, I took Beneficent’s business card, made an appointment, and it was the very best thing I ever could have done for Mom, as her conservator. The resources that were preserved will definitely be helpful to pay legal fees to file Mom’s annual guardian and conservator reports, and an accountant to prepare and file her annual income tax returns. 

Long-term Care Medicaid recipients receive under $200/mo. personal care allowance. Being retired on a limited Social Security income, I certainly couldn’t afford those legal and accountant expenditures.

Another significant thing to mention is Mom’s combined incomes exceed income limits for Long-term Care Medicaid, yet, is insufficient to pay Mom’s memory care room and board. Without Beneficent’s expert guidance, I would have known nothing about Medicaid income trust accounts and might have been forced to bring Mom home after spending down all of her resources. I certainly couldn’t have safely provided care for Mom and could have prematurely died from the stress. 

Beneficent’s fee is a flat fee, there isn’t nickel and diming all along the way. The fee we paid was worth every penny, as the fee was a small percentage in comparison to the resources preserved.

Had I not enlisted Beneficent to apply for Long-term Care Medicaid on my mother’s behalf, Mom would have been destitute, with only $2000 maximum in remaining resources. I am extremely grateful to my Beneficent Case Manager for keeping me informed every step of the way throughout the application process. Even after my mother was approved for Long-term Care Medicaid, my Beneficent Case Manager welcomed my calls and emails, continuing to provide her expertise.

I will forever be grateful to Beneficent for enhancing the quality of the remainder of Mom’s (and my) life.