We placed my dad in home hospice last year and we even sat down and spoke with hospice social worker a few times and representative payee was never mentioned and have had no knowledge of it until recently moved and want to change his address. She said as long as POA was activated with the bank, and we are on his account, which we have done, everything will be fine. We have been caring for him over a year and helping with his bills and he likes to shop online etc. If we apply to be representative payee will ssa ask for bank statements and go over what what spent during any payee interview? Just don't want to be accused of misuse of funds mistakenly because of misunderstanding.
Soc Security does not recognize your POA so it is best to get a Personal Representative. It does not mean that your person cannot decide how to spend their funds but might require some oversight.
If real estate is involved, I found out the hard way that the title companies would not honor the POA when I tried to sell my sister's real estate. This was despite the POA being very clear that real estate transactions were included. I was told to get a guardianship or conservatorship before they would honor the sales agreement. Several attorneys told me that as private companies they can do whatever they want. So it means delays, lots of extra expenses even though we all thought we had been responsible by having POA set up along with wills, etc. So if real estate is in the picture, talk with an attorney to find out what to do now in the event it will need to be sold.
Once provided and set up, get documentation that you have control over the account.
*Social Security Representative Payee.
- You need to sign up; fill out required forms and provide POA document.
- Ask they what their procedure is - they will do a financial evaluation (perhaps yearly).
- Keep track of expenditures as SS Office instructs you to do.
* Whatever legal authority you have needs to be documented / provided to banking institutions - or wherever his money goes (auto deposited?)
Keep copies of every document.
Request a copy of ANY +EVERYTHING you sign.
* You need to keep ACCURATE records of expenditures, keeping all receipts.
- if you do not have already, keep a journal / record in a book (a blank book you can write in) documenting the what, when, where, etc.
- I do this and keep receipts in an envelope 'per month" .
- Keep good records: Separate files for 1) Bank/POA and 2) Soc Sec Payee Rep
If you need help, ask financial institution management.
Gena / Touch Matters
Thanks for bringing it up.
Please also note that having PoA, being an authorized representative, or having a joint bank account with the beneficiary is not the same as being a payee. According to Social Security, these arrangements do not give you legal authority to negotiate and manage payments for someone receiving Social Security payments. In order to be a payee, you must apply for this position and be appointed as a payee by Social Security.
You have nothing to fear about being a representative payee for your father as long as you keep all receipts of anything you purchase with your father’s Social Security money just in case you are called in for an audit. If your father buys things online you can print the statements to show what he purchased. Social Security just wants to make sure that his money is used for his needs.
Good luck.
Aunt had advanced dementia so not sure if that made a difference in the ease of being her representative. Legal paperwork for us was JUST POA notarized and signed by her and witnessed by 2 financial institution associates.
Again....this is in CA.
Now, if your moving the acct to another bank, that may mean u becoming payee for his SS as already said. Me, if possible, I would leave the account where it is if the move is not taking the person miles away from their home. If Dad is capable of buying online I see no need for SS payee because like said, he would not be in charge of his money.
I don't see where an address change alone would have anything to do with becoming payee, as long as your not changing banks. And it seems if Dad can order on-line, he can speak for himself.
I chose not to do that because I refused to take his ability to spend his money anyway he wanted.
If your dad can shop online, he can verbally give SSA permission to speak with you and allow an address change.
Have you set up online access with SSA? Everyone should do this, it stops hackers from being able to do it.
They do not ask for bank accounts.
Prayers.