Transfers of Assets and Treatment of Trusts

3257. TRANSFERS OF ASSETS AND TREATMENT OF TRUSTS A. General.--Section 13611 of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993 (OBRA 1993) amended §1917 of the Act by incorporating in §§1917(c) and (d) new requirements for treatment of transfers of assets for less than fair market value and for treatment of trusts. The following instructions apply only to transfers made and trusts established after the effective date explained in §3258.2. For transfers made and trusts established before that effective date, the old policies regarding treatment of trusts and transfers apply. See §§3215 and 3250 for instructions on the treatment of trusts established and transfers made before August 11, 1993. B. Definitions.--The following definitions apply, as appropriate, to both transfers of assets and trusts: 1. Individual.--As used in this instruction, the term "individual" includes the individual himself or herself, as well as: o The individual''s spouse, where the spouse is acting in the place of or on behalf of the individual; o A person, including a court or administrative body, with legal authority to act in place of or on behalf of the individual or the individual''s spouse; and o Any person, including a court or administrative body, acting at the direction or upon the request of the individual or the individual''s spouse. 2. Spouse.--This is a person who is considered legally married to an individual under the laws of the State in which the individual is applying for or receiving Medicaid. 3. Assets.--For purposes of this section, assets include all income and resources of the individual and of the individual''s spouse. This includes income or resources which the individual or the individual''s spouse is entitled to but does not receive because of any action by: o The individual or the individual''s spouse; o A person, including a court or administrative body, with legal authority to act in place of or on behalf of the individual or the individual''s spouse; or o Any person, including a court or administrative body, acting at the direction or upon the request of the individual or the individual''s spouse. For purposes of this section, the term "assets an individual or spouse is entitled to" includes assets to which the individual is entitled or would be entitled if action had not been taken to avoid receiving the assets. The following are examples of actions which would cause income or resources not to be received: o Irrevocably waiving pension income; o Waiving the right to receive an inheritance; o Not accepting or accessing injury settlements; o Tort settlements which are diverted by the defendant into a trust or similar device to be held for the benefit of an individual who is a plaintiff; and o Refusal to take legal action to obtain a court ordered payment that is not being paid, such as child support or alimony. However, failure to cause assets to be received does not entail a transfer of assets for less than fair market value in all instances. For example, the individual may not be able to afford to take the necessary action to obtain the assets. Or, the cost of obtaining the assets may be greater than the assets are worth, thus effectively rendering the assets worthless to the individual. Examine the specific circumstances of each case before making a decision whether an uncompensated asset transfer occurred. 4. Resources.--For purposes of this section, the definition of resources is the same definition used by the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program, except that the home is not excluded for institutionalized individuals. In determining whether a transfer of assets or a trust involves an SSI-countable resource, use those resource exclusions and disregards used by the SSI program, except for the exclusion of the home for institutionalized individuals. In determining whether resources have been transferred for less than fair market value, you may not apply more liberal definitions of resources which you may be using under §1902(r)(2) of the Act. For transfer of assets purposes, if you are a 209(b) State, you cannot use more restrictive definitions of resources that you may have in your State plan. However, in determining whether and how a trust is counted in determining eligibility, you may apply more liberal methodologies for resources which you may be using under §1902(r)(2) of the Act. For trust purposes, if you are a 209(b) State, you may use more restrictive definitions of resources that you may have in your State plan. For noninstitutionalized individuals, the home remains an exempt resource. 5. Income.--For purposes of this section, the definition of income is the same definition used by the SSI program. In determining whether a transfer of assets involves SSI-countable income, take into account those income exclusions and disregards used by the SSI program. You may not, for transfer of assets purposes, apply more liberal definitions of income that you may be using under §1902(r)(2) of the Act. If you are a 209(b) State, you cannot use more restrictive definitions of income that you may have in your State plan. However, in determining whether and how a trust is counted in determining eligibility, you may apply more liberal methodologies for income which you may be using under §1902(r)(2) of the Act. Also, for trust purposes, if you are a 209(b) State, you may use more restrictive definitions of income that you may have in your State plan. 6. For the Sole Benefit of.--A transfer is considered to be for the sole benefit of a spouse, blind or disabled child, or a disabled individual if the transfer is arranged in such a way that no individual or entity except the spouse, blind or disabled child, or disabled individual can benefit from the assets transferred in any way, whether at the time of the transfer or at any time in the future. Similarly, a trust is considered to be established for the sole benefit of a spouse, blind or disabled child, or disabled individual if the trust benefits no one but that individual, whether at the time the trust is established or any time in the future. However, the trust may provide for reasonable compensation, as defined by the State, for a trustee or trustees to manage the trust, as well as for reasonable costs associated with investing or otherwise managing the funds or property in the trust. In defining what is reasonable compensation, consider the amount of time and effort involved in managing a trust of the size involved, as well as the prevailing rate of compensation, if any, for managing a trust of similar size and complexity. A transfer, transfer instrument, or trust that provides for funds or property to pass to a beneficiary who is not the spouse, blind or disabled child, or disabled individual is not considered to be established for the sole benefit of one of these individuals. In order for a transfer or trust to be considered to be for the sole benefit of one of these individuals, the instrument or document must provide for the spending of the funds involved for the benefit of the individual on a basis that is actuarially sound based on the life expectancy of the individual involved. When the instrument or document does not so provide, any potential exemption from penalty or consideration for eligibility purposes is void. An exception to this requirement exists for trusts discussed in §3259.7. Under these exceptions, the trust instrument must provide that any funds remaining in the trust upon the death of the individual must go to the State, up to the amount of Medicaid benefits paid on the individual''s behalf. When these exceptions require that the trust be for the sole benefit of an individual, the restriction discussed in the previous paragraph does not apply when the trust instrument designates the State as the recipient of funds from the trust. Also, the trust may provide for disbursal of funds to other beneficiaries, provided the trust does not permit such disbursals until the State''s claim is satisfied. Finally, "pooled" trusts may provide that the trust can retain a certain percentage of the funds in the trust account upon the death of the beneficiary.