Medicaid program that pays for some child care

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:op: If we are approved into the program, her timesheet will go to an agency that will pay her. This would mean that her paycheck from us would go down. I think she would be resentful. Even though the total would be the same.

Do you pay into SS/Medicare/UI for her now? Do you give her health insurance? If you don't, she would lose some of what she is taking home now because the agency would be deducting taxes from her pay.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:op: If we are approved into the program, her timesheet will go to an agency that will pay her. This would mean that her paycheck from us would go down. I think she would be resentful. Even though the total would be the same.

Why would her paycheck "go down" if the total would be the same? Wouldn't the difference just be that she was being paid by Medicaid rather than by you?

If you are not paying her social security and other taxes now, that is illegal and immoral and you need to start doing that regardless of whether you apply for this program.

[Anonymous]

OP, I would apply for the program before it goes away.

Consider calling your local Arc chapter to discuss your options:
http://www.thearc.org/what-we-do/public-policy

[Anonymous]

Arcs in NYS: http://www.thearc.org/find-a-chapter/new-york

[Anonymous]

op: She is totally on the books. Can't tell you how hard it was to find a nanny who agrees to be paid on the books. We pay most of her health care premium, she pays part. We only got her the healthcare when Obamacare set up the penalty for not having it. We pay her way too much for her to qualify for any subsidies from Obamacare.

[Anonymous]

op: Her check from us would go down, not her total. I think she would find this unfair. I don't think that would be justified, but I think it would occur.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:op: Her check from us would go down, not her total. I think she would find this unfair. I don't think that would be justified, but I think it would occur.

You need to think big picture. You are very attached to this nanny - which I get.

But you could lose her next month for any number of reasons - her own heath, her family situation, anything.

If your financial situation is such that you will never ever in the future want or need assistance in paying for caregivers, don't apply. If you can foresee ever needing help, apply for it now. These programs are likely to be curtailed severely soon, because of what is happening in Congress. And those who had benefits before they were cut may be less likely to lose them in the future.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:op: Her check from us would go down, not her total. I think she would find this unfair. I don't think that would be justified, but I think it would occur.

Why don't you just give her a little raise, then, since you'll be saving money overall (by getting some hours paid by Medicaid)?