Each month your surplus is taken from your bank account on the agreed day and put into your trust account. Our fees come out first. You send us your bills, we check them and pay the company you owe, and you can ask for a statement. Once a year, when Medicaid reviews your case, we give you the proof of deposit it asks for.
A normal month
- Your deposit goes in. On the day we agreed, your monthly surplus is taken from your bank account and put into your account in the trust. The amount matches Medicaid's letter.
- Our fees come out first. They are explained on the first call and listed in the fee schedule you sign. See the fees.
- You send us your bills. Rent, utilities, phone and other bills in your name, by email, mail or fax. A bill that repeats every month can be set up once.
- We check and pay them. We pay the company you owe, never you. A bill needs to be in your name, show a date and be recent (within 90 days). We pay exactly the amount you ask for. If there is not enough in the account to cover a bill in full, we tell you rather than paying half, so you can decide whether to wait, lower the amount or pay it another way.
- A Visa card, if you want one. Money from your account goes onto a prepaid Visa card. Use it anywhere Visa is accepted, except for the things the trust cannot pay for: alcohol, tobacco, firearms, gifts and donations.
- You get a statement by mail or email, on request, showing what came in and what went out.
We work out your number on the first call. A person picks up.
What the trust does not pay for
The trust cannot pay you directly. Some things are not allowed: alcohol, tobacco, firearms, gifts, donations, and things Medicaid already covers. If you are unsure about a bill, ask us before you rely on it.
Once a year
Medicaid reviews your case. Send us every letter. When Medicaid asks for proof that your deposits were made, we provide a verification of deposit. If your surplus changes, we change your monthly deposit to match.
The online portal
Members and families can see the balance, send bills by photo and ask questions in the portal. See what the portal does.
Who you talk to
A team at ECS knows your account and is a phone call away. Call 718-701-7777, Monday to Thursday, 9 AM to 5 PM, and Friday, 9 AM to 12 PM in winter and 1 PM in summer, Eastern.
Common questions
What does a pooled income trust pay for?
Bills in your name that help you live: rent, utilities, phone, groceries, medical costs Medicaid does not cover, and many others. It pays the company you owe, not you.
Will the trust pay part of a bill?
No. We pay exactly the amount you ask for. If the account cannot cover it in full, we tell you so you can decide whether to wait, lower the amount or pay it another way.
Can I take cash out, or have money sent to my bank account?
No. The trust pays the companies you owe and loads your Visa card for purchases; it cannot send money to you or to your checking account, and the card cannot be used to take out cash.
What happens to the money if I pass away?
Money left in the account stays with the trust or goes to the state for Medicaid costs. It cannot be paid back to the family, the estate or a bank account. That is why the account is meant to be used for your bills each month, not saved up.
How old can a bill be?
The expense must have been incurred within 90 days of when you send it, and the bill must be in your own name.
What is a verification of deposit?
A statement from the trust showing your deposits. Medicaid asks for it at your yearly review to confirm the surplus was deposited.
All the questions people ask us, answered.