<p>Mom2collegekids, it would be rent.
See mainelonghorns post #37.</p>
<p>The maximum SSI payment is $721 /month. Our DD’s SSI is REDUCED to $485/month because she lives with us rent free. So, we’re “saving” the SSA money each month. If she were living in an apt elsewhere or if we began charging her rent, the SSI would INCREASED to the standard $721/month. No one understands this stuff until you live it…its scary all the govermental complexities that I am kinda an expert in now, although I’d rather not be. NO WAY could my daughter navigate this onher own.</p>
<p>We do use her current $485/ month for medical deductibles, toiletries, clothing, some food, cell phone, transportation to programs, etc etc. It helps us take care of her but none of it goes to us to provide housing for her.</p>
<p>Yes, there is no way my son could have figured out how to collect SSI on his own. It took many months and two applications. Several phone calls from SS. Discussions with our financial advisor.</p>
<p>It was only recently that I discovered that my son is eligible for a case manager. That would have been nice to know two years ago! I found out when I attended a NAMI conference. Why didn’t the hospital tell us? He was there for over a month, so they had ample opportunity to inform us!</p>
<p>Makes you ponder how they expect folks to subsist on $721/mo if that’s the max amount in HI, it would be tough to find a decent rental OR pay groceries and utilities. Can’t figure out how anyone could do both with that modest sum. It’s fortunate that many have loved ones who help as they are able, or the situation would be much tougher for these folks. </p>
<p>My niece is 20. She cannot stand by herself, cannot speak, has a feeding tube and she will never be anything but 100% dependent. She is wonderful. She can communicate to a limited extent, can use an iPad, has favorite snacks and loves to feel the wind on her face. She recognizes and loves when her sisters come home.She also has a favorite magazine that is given to her every Christmas. She loves the feel of the pages.
I have no idea if my sister charges her rent to increase her SSI but if she doesn’t she should.</p>
<p>Its amazing how much i still don’t know after all these years. (As much as i claim to be an expert!))
We have a phenomenal special needs parent group that meets monthly at our county library and also maintains a google goup online for members. Ive gotten accessible transportation tips and recommendations for mental health providers through the group. Info i can trust from people in the loop.</p>
<p>MaineLonghorn, your son is lucky to have you. Sounds like your son’s issues are relatively recent?
If so, dont worry, the pieces will come together. I think each experience is so unique and yours is probably considerably different from ours as our daughter was diagnosed at age 2.</p>
<p>So, I’m not a tax professional, and you should certainly talk to one. But, we have a financially similar situation, in that we rent a condo to my mother-in-law for a substantially lower price than market rate. (She pays what she paid in Indiana to rent before moving to CA.) So, the total yearly rent is under $10,000. </p>
<p>If you haven’t already, look at IRS publication 527 (Residential Rental Property). Note that on page 18, in the section on “Dwelling unit used as a home” it says that any day you rent to someone at less than the fair rental price is considered a day of personal use, and if more than 10% of the days is personal use, it is considered a “used as a home”. Later, it says that if a property is rented less than 15 days/year, you are not require to report rental income and expenses.</p>
<p>An example on page 18 says, “Example 5. You rent an apartment to your mother at less than a fair rental price. You are using the apartment for personal purposes on the days that your mother rents it because you rent it for less than a fair rental price.”</p>
<p>On page 17 it says, "Fair rental price. A fair rental price for your property generally is the amount of rent that a person who is not related to you would be willing to pay. The rent you charge is not a fair rental price if it is substantially less than the rents charged for other properties that are similar to your property in your area.</p>
<p>Ask yourself the following questions when comparing another property with yours.
Is it used for the same purpose?
Is it approximately the same size?
Is it in approximately the same condition?
Does it have similar furnishings?
Is it in a similar location?"</p>
<p>Ynotgo, thanks!
Ive read some of this several times but it keeps mushing in my brain.
Every time i try to methodically work through the steps, i arrive at a different answer.
I guess thats why there are tax pros out there for me!</p>