Reverse mortgage loans give you money, and you don't have to pay taxes on it or worry about it affecting your Social Security or Medicare benefits. You also get to keep the ownership of your home and don't have to make monthly payments. The loan only needs to be repaid when the last borrower passes away, sells the home, or stops living there as their main residence. In the HECM program, if you have to live in a nursing home or medical facility, you have up to 12 months before the loan needs to be paid back.