Will the nursing home take my personal belongings?

This is a question we get often.  Under most circumstances, the state will ignore your personal belongings when making a determination whether you are eligible for Medicaid.  The exception to this rule is if you have personal belongings that are of "unusual value."  What constitutes "unusual value" probably depends largely on the interpretation of the county caseworker or the state, but unless you have an original Picasso hanging on the wall your personal belongings are probably safe.