If you transfer assets within five years of applying for Medicaid, you will likely be subject to a period of ineligibility. There is an exception, however, if enforcing the penalty period would cause the applicant an “undue hardship.” This exception is difficult to prove and rarely granted, but it may be available in certain circumstances.

Under federal Medicaid law, the state Medicaid agency must determine whether an applicant transferred any assets for less than fair market value within the past five years. If there are any transfers, the state imposes a penalty period, which is a period of time in which the applicant will be ineligible for Medicaid benefits. The length of the penalty period is calculated by dividing the amount transferred by what Medicaid determines to be the average private pay cost of a nursing home in the state.

A Medicaid applicant can fight the penalty period by arguing that enforcing it will cause an undue hardship. Federal law provides that an undue hardship exists if the penalty period would deprive the applicant of: (1) medical care necessary to maintain the applicant’s health or life; or (2) food, clothing, shelter, or necessities of life. The burden is on the applicant to prove that hardship exists. A nursing home can pursue a hardship waiver on behalf of a resident.Proving an undue hardship is difficult because the applicant needs to show that he or she can’t afford nursing home care during the penalty period and that without nursing home care, his or her health will decline. In addition, states are free to define “hardship” as they see fit and courts vary on how they enforce the exception.

If you believe you may be entitled to an undue hardship waiver, contact your attorney.