Medicaid approval mess

You do not just add someone to your account with no documentation(her signature). When did they get this signature + is it legitimate? If it was me, I would do a little more digging about this.

How maddening! I feel your understandable anger and share it.

I agree with @terei: since you are your mom’s POA, you can ask the bank for comprehensive information about when your mother was added to the account and what her interactions with it have been. If it can be demonstrated that your mother never contributed funds to the account—and possibly never withdrew from the account either—then there may be arguments to be made to Medicaid that the funds should not be considered “hers,” especially if she signed her name to a signature card post-diagnosis. (I am just thinking aloud here.)

You know this already, but I will say it anyway: there is NO universe in which this is your fault. When a POA sets out to locate the principal’s funds, she doesn’t just go into random banks and ask if Mom has an account there. She starts with bank statements and tax returns and other records. How could any POA have learned about this? Your brother may see that he has done something truly stupid and is just lashing out at you because he needs to blame someone, and tag, you’re it. You did not need to hire anyone else. You are doing just fine as POA.

I am really sorry this has happened. But learning more from the bank—and even asking a banker’s advice—may be worthwhile.

Your brother has put his own funds at risk too, since now you have access to them—as your mother’s POA. I doubt he meant to do that. Ridiculous!

One more thing: it won’t be possible just to remove your mother from a joint account. If that becomes the goal, your brother will need a new account, funds will need to be transferred to it, and the old account can then be closed after he changes all autopay and direct deposits. (I went through a situation like this with my PWD who was in a joint account with a person who was susceptible to scammers.)

So sorry. Hang in there!

Possibly the bank statements will be sufficient evidence, especially if they include facsimiles of checks. Fingers crossed!

Oh, what a relief that your mom’s Medicaid approval came through! Whew. I hope you can sleep well tonight.

As for your brother… one of my teachers used to quote Friedrich Schiller: “Against stupidity the gods themselves contend in vain.” You are absolutely not at fault here, you have done what you can, and I hope this is the last terrifying surprise he will pull out of his hat.