a helping hand for you and your family.

Don't navigate Medicaid alone.

As a professional social worker, my goal is to use a holistic approach to assist you and your family with the difficult process of care management.

  • Medicaid Application
  • Pooled Income Trust Setup
  • community program referrals
  • nursing home placement

Medicaid Home Care Alert

GREAT NEWS!!!!!

You Still have time!!! Act now!!

The look back period for community Medicaid was pushed back to 2025. You have more time to apply for Medicaid and recieve the services you need for yourself and/or a loved one. In addition, the eligibility guidelines have changed, as well. Please see the information below.

Medicaid Resource (Asset) Levels
Medicaid Recipient - one person (Community and Nursing Home)
$31,175
Medicaid Recipient - household of two persons (Community and Nursing Home)
$42,312
Maximum Federal Community Spouse Resource Allowance (CSRA)
$154,140
Minimum NYS CSRA
$74,820
SSI Resource Level for an individual
$2,000
SSI Resource Level for a couple
$3,000
Home Equity excluded as a Medicaid resource
$1,071,000
Medicaid Income Levels
One recipient (Community)
$1,732
Household of two recipients (Community)
$2,351
Community Spouse Minimum Monthly Maintenance Needs Allowance (MMMNA) (Nursing Home)
$3,853.50

The New York State Budget that was passed makes dramatic changes in the eligibility rules for Medicaid Home Care, which makes it more in line with rules for Medicaid nursing home care. This includes a "look back" and a penalty period imposed for any transfers of assets.

When the new "look back" is implemented, gifts or uncompensated transfers made on or after October 1, 2020 will result in a "penalty period" of ineligibility for benefits.

Medicaid paperwork is tedious and overwhelming.
I am your helping hand.

The focus of my career has concentrated on assisting elderly, disabled clients as well as the caregivers who have become overwhelmed with managing the care for their loved one. As a Social Worker, I am trained to assess and evaluate a client’s needs. After an in-depth assessment, I will counsel and advise you of your best options. Together we will establish a unique and safe plan, and then I will walk you through the process in a caring and compassionate manner. With my guidance I can help both the client and their loved ones feel more at ease.

The assistance I can provide encompasses all facets of case management, including the Medicaid application process, Pooled Income Trust set up, referrals to community programs and nursing home placement. If needed to better assist you, I have a working knowledge of Italian and Spanish, as well.

This is what I can do for you.

This process can be very emotional and frustrating for the client, as well as their loved ones. These are the services I can offer.

In-Home safety assessment
I can provide a complete and thorough home assessment, including:
  • Cognitive and Emotional status
  • Environmental safety
  • Equipment needs
  • long-term planning

Service recommendations:

  • Personal care aids
  • meals on wheels / nutrition program
  • transportation
  • in-home doctor referrals
  • housing - independent / assisted living
  • personal response system
  • supportive counseling
Supportive counseling from beginning to end
With empathy and a caring hand, I will guide you through the entire Medicaid process from beginning to end. I will provide therapeutic services, as needed, to both the client and caregiver.
Determining Medicaid eligibility and assisting with the application process
I will assess and inform you about your Medicaid eligibility. Once determined, I will complete the entire Medicaid application for either Community Home Care or Nursing Home Medicaid.
Assessing and explaining Medicaid excess income
“Excess Income”, also referred to as the "Spenddown" or "Surplus Income", is the difference between the monthly Medicaid income limit and your countable income. I can immediately assess if one has Excess Income and then determine an estimated amount. However, once the application has been submitted, the Medicaid caseworker will determine the exact amount. Then this amount can either be paid to Medicaid, provide medical bills totaling the exact amount or more than the surplus amount, or establish a Pooled Income Trust (SNT).
Assessing the need for a Pooled Income Trust
A Pooled Income Trust is a special type of trust that allows disabled individuals of any age to become financially eligible for Medicaid home care, while preserving their monthly income in trust for living expenses and supplemental needs. I will explain and assist in establishing the Pooled Trust application from beginning to end.
Case Management Services
Through communication and available resources, I will assess, plan, facilitate and advocate for options and services to meet an individual's health/care needs. My process promotes quality, cost-effective outcomes, and if needed, one can request a continuation of my services.
Legal Notary Service

Certain documents must be notarized in order to have legal effect. Given the significance of legal documents that must be notarized, state governments have deemed it necessary to enlist a trained individual to assist with their execution.

As a public notary, I am authorized to carry out this service.

For a fee, I can travel to your location and provide proper execution of these important documents for you.

I will support you.

I understand and empathize with how emotional long-term planning can be.

On a daily basis I meet with clients, caregivers, and family members who need guidance and a listening ear from a knowledgeable professional. Someone who can hold their hand and help them navigate through this process with respect, empathy, and compassion. My approach is more personal, and I consider it a privilege to be able to work directly with you and your family to make certain all your needs are met and all your questions are answered.

Are you struggling to work with a loved one with dementia? I can provide a helping hand.

Living With Dementia
  • Agree, never argue.
  • Divert, never reason.
  • Distract, never shame.
  • Reassure, never lecture.
  • Reminisce, never say "remember".
  • Repeat, never say "I told you so".
  • Do what they can do, never say "you can't".
  • Ask, never demand.
  • Encourage, never condescend.
  • Reinforce, never force.

My clients are happy and satisfied.

J. Leone

"Dealing with nuances of Medicaid and Social Services can be a daunting and intimidating task. I cannot say enough about the expert guidance MaryJo provided to me and my family in navigating the process of applying for Medicaid for my senior parents.

MaryJo provided start to finish service filling all paperwork, obtaining approvals, setting up a Spend Down Trust, something that is beyond a novice.

Most important, is MaryJo's caring and personal approach to this process, which was perhaps as important to me and my family as her professional knowledge. I wholeheartedly recommend MaryJo, without reservation, to anyone in need of her special services."

George I.
"When I needed help getting care for my father I was lost. I found MaryJo through a friend, and what a find. She really knows the system and was effective at getting me the care my dad needed. MaryJo is service oriented, honest and caring. I couldn't have done it without her, a real angel."
Larry G.
"MaryJo is responsive, caring and knowledgeable. She was a great help to my family."
Nancy B.
"Great service. Her attention to details shows how much she cares for her clients."
Thomas D.
"I was dealing with my mother-in-law and didn't know where to turn. I was given MaryJo Mastrogiacomo's name and called her. She was a pleasure to deal with and steered me in the right direction. She took care of all the paperwork. MaryJo put my wife and I at ease and was a great help. Very professional."
Janine G.
After my initial phone conversation with MaryJo about needing to apply for Medicaid, I knew immediately she was the right person for the task at hand. She took the time to personally meet with me and my family at my home and explained in more detail about the entire application process. Her caring and understanding of the home health care my family member would need, her Medicaid knowledge, including the application process and the spend down, her Medicaid contacts, and her promptness in completing the Medicaid application was EXCELLENT! Because MaryJo supplied all the needed detailed information to Medicaid, it made my experience with Medicaid and VNS smooth and hassle free from beginning to end.

I highly recommend MaryJo for anyone applying for Medicaid as she knows exactly what is needed. MaryJo took the time and had the patience to answer ALL my questions. MaryJo has a vast knowledge of the Medicaid process. MaryJo is professional, knowledgeable, caring, friendly, patient, thorough, and went above and beyond in taking care of the entire application process! I highly recommend MaryJo Mastrogiacomo and would definitely seek out her services again should the need arise. Thank you MaryJo!

When you or a loved one is in need of long term care, numerous challenges can be expected. The added stress of these challenges, in conjunction with the Medicaid application process, can become extremely overwhelming.

My guidance and expertise will make the process smooth and comforting.

Contact And Locations


I welcome you to contact me to discuss your needs.

Westchester County, NY | Bronx County, NY | Lower Connecticut

914-364-6915

[email protected]


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