When Does New Jersey Treat an Asset as “Inaccessible” for Medicaid Purposes?

In order to be considered a countable asset in the determination of Medicaid eligibility, it must be “available.”  An asset is considered available to an individual when he/she has the right, authority, or power to liquidate it, or at least his or her share of it.  Assets may also be available, and thus countable, at a later time whenever  they are received by, or could be received by the applicant.  This could be, for example, the settlement of a lawsuit or an inheritance received once the estate gone through probate.