Any chance this is applicable ?
Gift Cards. Most Medicaid agencies don’t seem to have a problem with a gift card, as long as they are not tracking the SSI regulation. If Beth doesn’t have SSI but has SSDI instead, the gift card may work.
Anybody to whom you could make a quick phone call and find out ?
That’s an interesting idea. I honestly don’t think it would work but I have an Oculus 2 and I’m seeing him this weekend so I’ll take mine with me and see if it’s feasible.
I’d go with tickets to an OU game. 50 yard line first row. It would absolutely eat the whole 600 probably for two tickets but he’d probably enjoy it.
Brewster’s hundreds.
New bedding for his room? New sheets, blankets, pillows can feel so great. Higher end products can be fairly expensive, so it could be a nice treat.
Hookers and blow. If not for him, then for yourself!
Even though you mentioned he doesn’t need furniture, you could get something which could be for the group home. Perhaps a hanging chair, hammock, patio furniture, BBQ grill, a fountain, or something like that. Something he could get some use out of as well as other people in the home. For example:
A charitable donation to a cause he supports?
A bird feeder and supply of seed for the group home?
Would he be allowed to have a small fish tank? Pay for a monthly visit from a fish minder to clean tank and change the water?
A supply of Legos, perhaps Star Wars themed ones? I know plenty of adults who enjoy Lego building.
Is there a museum or zoo near him you could buy a membership for and prepay for a driver/companion to take him every month? A sports hall of fame. Or a racetrack?
A prepaid very simple flip phone that he could use to call you or his girlfriend?
Dance lessons for him and his girlfriend? Many cities have parks and recreation Depts with special programming for people with intellectual challenges. Dig around and see if anything is offered he would like. YMCA’s might also have lessons or clubs as well. Doing with a friend makes it that much more fun.
Season tickets to a sport he would watch. It would get him out of the home for a spell.
Or tickets to symphony concerts, or other concerts he would enjoy.
How about a City Pass for a few days in a big city, viewing its attractions and events.
Or an armload of new clothes and a visit to a spa. Something for the inner self. Hot tub, legit massage, dinner.
Perhaps spend it on any medical needs like glasses or dental work that Medicaid doesn’t cover.
Thank you. That’s a very informative site which I will definitely be bookmarking. Unfortunately, (not really, but you know what I mean), he receives SSI.
They had a charity drive not too long ago where they bought stuff like that with the proceeds but I’ll check with the house manager to see if there’s anything else that they need.
Generally speaking, purchasing activities isn’t a good fit. Their home is really in the middle of nowhere. There is no public transportation and there really isn’t much in the way of things to do.
Taking him to an OU football game is an interesting idea (and it would be great for me) but I’m not sure how he would react to being in a raucous crowd like that. I take him to Special Olympics opening ceremonies every year which are held at OSU’s field house and after about 30 minutes, I can tell by the look on his face that he’s getting overwhelmed and he starts to withdraw. But it’s not OU football so I really don’t know.
I recommend you consider setting up a STABLE account for him. STABLE accounts are bank accounts that allow people in Oklahoma to save money without jeopardizing their benefits. (Obviously, do your due diligence in researching this, but it sounds like MarylandABLE, which is legit.) New Oklahoma STABLE accounts will make it easier for Oklahomans with disabilities to save for the future (Guest Post: Amy Smith) - Oklahoma Policy Institute
How about… buy gift cards.
Are there stores he likes?
You could buy relatively low value gift cards and hold them in reserve so they won’t get stolen or lost, and hand him a new one as he spends the old one.
Maybe a couple gift cards for restaurants he likes/wants to take his girlfriend to.
Would that work?
The generic version is the ABLE account. Information from Social Security on these: SPOTLIGHT ON ACHIEVING A BETTER LIFE EXPERIENCE (ABLE) ACCOUNTS
They are not like bank accounts. They are like 529 college savings accounts, HSA accounts, or 401(k) retirement plans. If you take money out, you get a 1099-QA form the next January showing you the amount of earnings allocated to the withdraw, which you have to report on your tax return and claim that the money was spent on necessary things related to the disability (although what counts is pretty wide-encompassing) or get taxed on the earnings.
The first $100,000 in such accounts are not counted towards the asset limits for SSI and Medicaid.
Do you think he’d like a robot pet?
After looking up the requirements, it’s a more difficult problem than it seems on the face of it. You already know what’s in this article. based on your OP. This is the article I read on it after reading your OP.
You’re an awesome brother for doing all of the things you mentioned in this thread for your brother.
Thanks. I appreciate it. We lost our mom and dad to COVID last November so things have been kind of rough lately. Fortunately, my lawyer insisted that I be named Stephen’s guardian last summer so at least we didn’t have to deal with that as well.
What’s frustrating, and I know that this sounds like a first world problem, is that my wife and I both have good paying jobs and on many occasions I’ve wanted to just to buy things for him or handle his dental issues but I can’t because of Medicaid. He could really use dental implants but they’re not covered. I’d move him closer to me but he really likes his home and his housemates. I think moving him would be really traumatic and he’s been through enough.
Sorry. Just venting.