Section 520.023 - Trusts or Similar Legal Devices Created on or after August 11, 1993The trust and transfer rules at 42 U.S.C. 1396p apply to trusts or similar legal devices created on or after August 11, 1993, that are created or funded other than by a will. Generally, resources held in a trust are considered available if under any circumstances described in the terms of the trust, any of the resources can be made available to the individual.
(A)Look-back Period for Transfers into or from Trusts. (1)Look-back Period.(a) For transfers made before February 8, 2006, the look-back period is 36 months for trusts where all or any portion of the income or principal of an irrevocable trust can be paid to or for the benefit of the nursing-facility resident, but is paid instead to someone else.(b) The look-back period is 60 months1. for transfers made on or after February 8, 2006, subject to the phase-in described in 130 CMR 520.019(B)(2), if all or any portion of the income or principal of a trust can be paid to or for the benefit of the nursing-facility resident, but is instead paid to someone else;2. if payments are made from a revocable trust to other than the nursing-facility resident and are not for the benefit of the nursing-facility resident; or3. if payments are made into an irrevocable trust where all or a portion of the trust income or principal cannot under any circumstances be paid to or for the benefit of the nursing-facility resident.(2)Period of Ineligibility Due to a Disqualifying Transfer. The MassHealth agency determines the amount of the transfer and the period of ineligibility for payment of nursing- facility services in accordance with the rules at 130 CMR 520.019(G).(B)Revocable Trusts.(1) The entire principal in a revocable trust is a countable asset.(2) Payments from a revocable trust made to or for the benefit of the individual are countable income.(3) Payments from a revocable trust made other than to or for the benefit of the nursing- facility resident are considered transfers for less than fair-market value and are treated in accordance with the transfer rules at 130 CMR 520.019(G).(4) The home or former home of a nursing-facility resident or spouse held in a revocable trust is a countable asset. Where the home or former home is an asset of the trust, it is not subject to the exemptions of 130 CMR 520.007(G)(2) or (8).(C)Irrevocable Trusts.(1)Portion Payable.(a) Any portion of the principal or income from the principal (such as interest) of an irrevocable trust that could be paid under any circumstances to or for the benefit of the individual is a countable asset.(b) Payments from the income or from the principal of an irrevocable trust made to or for the benefit of the individual are countable income.(c) Payments from the income or from the principal of an irrevocable trust made to another and not to or for the benefit of the nursing-facility resident are considered transfers of resources for less than fair-market value and are treated in accordance with the transfer rules at 130 CMR 520.019(G).(d) The home or former home of a nursing-facility resident or spouse held in an irrevocable trust that is available according to the terms of the trust is a countable asset. Where the home or former home is an asset of the trust, it is not subject to the exemptions of 130 CMR 520.007(G)(2) or (8).(2)Portion not Payable. Any portion of the principal or income from the principal (such as interest) of an irrevocable trust that could not be paid under any circumstances to or for the benefit of the nursing-facility resident will be considered a transfer for less than fair-market value and treated in accordance with the transfer rules at 130 CMR 520.019(G).(D)Exemptions to the Trust Rules.(1)Special-needs Trusts and Pooled Trusts. Under federal trust exemption regulations at 42 U.S.C. 1396(p)(d)(4) special-needs trusts and pooled trusts as defined in 130 CMR 515.001: Definition of Terms are not subject to the income and asset countability rules at 130 CMR 520.023(B) and (C).(2)Revision of a Trust to Comply with the Criteria of a Special-needs or Pooled Trust. The MassHealth agency will not deny or terminate MassHealth due to excess assets if a trust is revised to comply with the criteria of a special-needs trust or a pooled trust in accordance with the rules at 130 CMR 520.019(J).(3)Burial Trust. A burial trust is a trust established to pay solely for various funeral and burial expenses of the individual or the spouse. An irrevocable burial trust meeting the criteria of 130 CMR 520.008(F) is not a countable asset.