AG Nessel cautions seniors against giving away stimulus payments

Michigan Attorney General, Dana Nessel, is reminding residents of nursing homes and other care facilities that the second stimulus payments belong to them, not the organization providing them care.

 In a press release on Thursday, Nessel said the second round of Economic Impact Payments (EIP) belong to the person named on the check, adding care facilities cannot take or require anyone to sign over their EIP payment. She warns residents against signing over their stimulus payment to anyone, under any circumstance.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) reported that during the first round of EIP's some nursing homes and assisted living communities were taking payments from their residents, particularly those on Medicaid. The residents were reportedly coerced into signing over their checks to the facility in which they were housed.  

“If someone qualifies for a stimulus payment, it is theirs to keep and is not owed to the care facility where they live. If someone suspects they are being coerced into signing over their payment, I urge you to report it to my office,” Nessel said. “We are committed to protecting Michigan’s vulnerable population and will thoroughly review any complaints we receive for wrongdoing and pursue additional legal action if warranted.” 

The Attorney General’s office has not received any reports of this happening in Michigan, but anyone with evidence of a facility demanding a senior resident’s EIP payment is asked to report it to the Attorney General’s office:

• Unliscensed Care Facilities: Financial Crimes Division at 517-335-7560
• Liscensed Care Facilities - Health Care Fraud Division at 800-242-2873