Senior mother caring for Senior child

@AnnM126711 

You aren’t giving enough info about the situation to even answer your question specifically.

SSI is Supplemental Security Income, a welfare program administered by the Social Security Administration.  It is for those who are very low to no income who are one of the following or multiples

• Blind
• Declared Disabled by SSA
• Over age 65 and who cannot qualify for a Social Security benefit or only a minimal one.

 SSI pays a little less than $ 1000 a month but that is also offset by in-kind payments like if your sister is not paying your mom a rent - market rent with an agreement.  That will knock off a bit over $ 300 a month if your sister does not have this type of rental agreement and pays rent to your mom.

Does your sister have a disability?  

Has she been declared disabled by the Social Security Admin.?

Has your sister worked during her lifetime and paid into the Social Security system at all ?  How many years? 

Actually a child that has a disability gets SSI if their caretakers are low income.  When that child ages with the disability, their benefit changes to what is deemed Disabled Adult Child and they get benefits off their parent’s Social Security if the parent is retired or deceased.  This DAC benefit would last until the child dies.

The amount is based off a % of the Social Security benefit one of the parent’s is receiving or did receive, if the parent is deceased.

Someone is usually appointed as a Representative Payee for managing these funds for the disabled person if they cannot do it.

At 54, the only option would be to file for SSI as a disabled person - there has to be substantial ongoing medical documentation of her condition and why she cannot work - work any job.  The disability can be mental or physical but it has to be diagnosed and with records from doctors substantiating the problems and on going treatment.  

What other benefits are your talking about?  Food Stamps - that’s based on household income. Same with other type benefits of this type - household income based. 

Medicaid would be available to your sister if she is disabled. MAGI Medicaid (expanded Medicaid)  is available to her IF they live in a state that expanded Medicaid under the ACA. However if your sister who is less than 65 is not disable or can file for a work exception, getting Medicaid is going to have a requirement beginning very soon on requiring this type of Medicaid recipient to work / volunteer or go to school 80 hours a month.  Details will be state specific.

Unless you can give more details, this is about all I can give with limited info.

AnnM126711, Gail has replied with outstanding info. I will try to add another approach that may be helpful. My suggestion is to reach out to your State's Health and Human Services (department/agency). Some State's may call this service the Department of Rehabilitation. I believe the services are connected to Medicaid approval and will offer the disabled person or their legal representative the ability to hire individuals to assist with daily needs. This type of service is generally offered by the State in lieu of paying for institutional care, home health care, etc. which is more expensive. The caregivers or personal assistants selected by the disabled person/legal representative are paid by the State based on an individual assessment of needs determined by representatives from the State. Generally, family members are selected by the disabled person/legal representative to serve as caregivers/personal assistants. Compensation varies from State to State. I suspect there may be States that do not offer such programs. Hope this helps.

I don't think there's a simple yes or no answer because a lot depends on your sister's medical condition and what programs she already qualifies for. Even if your mom isn't paid directly as a caregiver, your sister may be eligible for services that could take some of the pressure off. I'd start by contacting your local Area Agency on Aging or a social worker who can review your situation.