What happens after I become POA?

mpang123

When I have full POA, how does the banks and other financial institutions and healthcare facilities know I'm POA?

M1

You give them a copy of the document. Should be necessary only once, in theory. I've had to give it to everyone from the healthcare institutions to our propane vendor and my partner's cellphone service provider. I have an electronic copy that I email.

harshedbuzz

Many folks keep a copy in their glove compartment for medical situations. It's important to also get mom to name you on HIPAA forms if she's still able as it can make things easier. Many companies will be happy with a copy as well.

For financial institutions of all kinds, it's best to contact each one and ask what their process it. We found that both the banks and Charles Schwab wanted a branch manager to make a copy of the original to send to their legal department for vetting which can take 2-3 weeks. Some places have their own form and will want that signed; I think my aunt ran into that with Vanguard but she was using court awarded guardianship which might be the difference.

SSA doesn't accept a POA; they will require you to become representative payee if you need to change banks or accounts.

When I managed the sale of my parents' homes (in 2 different states), the title company collected my original documents to send to the county in order to keep the transfer of the deed clear. I got them back a few weeks later by overnight courier.

mpang123

Wow. Thank you for the advice. I thought it was an easy process but it seems there's a lot to do.

BassetHoundAnn

For the first year I was caring for my mom I kept copies of the durable POA and medical POA with me at all times, usually in the car in a bag I dubbed the "mom bugout bag" with extra meds, clothes, Depends, plus snacks and things to entertain her. There was a constant stream of emergency doctor and dental visits, as well as occasional bank visits. I always had those documents at hand to whip out as needed to handle bills, business and medical affairs. I also kept copies on my phone and tablet so I could e-mail them as needed. And I carried her driver's license and Medicare and insurance cards with me in my purse. At home I keep a file with a dozen extra copies of the durable and medical POAs. Things have calmed down but for a while I was constantly mailing them out. I had to mail them out to the credit bureaus when I froze her credit records. I also had to bring a POA copy with me when I moved her into memory care. I always take a copy of the durable POA with me whenever I go to her bank to handle some issue. Some banks however want to see the original document so one must always ask about that.

mpang123

@harshedbuzz what do you mean by saying SSA doesn't accept POA?

BassetHoundAnn

https://alzconnected.org/discussion/comment/194956#Comment_194956

Social Security will not accept a POA. A rep explained to me that the POA is a state document while SSA is a federal agency and federal agencies will not accept POAs. In order to change my mom's mailing address with SSA and Medicare I had to become a representative payee for her. As I recall that entailed a simple phone interview and a form, but it did take several months to get that interview.

mpang123

@BassetHoundAnn I have SSDI. Does that mean I can't get POA? If not, I guess my nephew will take over but he is only 24 yo. I think he is capable. He is a manager of CVS pharmacy.

mpang123

Update... I just told my mom about not being able to be POA. It's ok. My nephew and sister will take over. But in the meantime my uncle in Canada is POA. I'm not too stressed about it anymore. But I'm the only one helping my parents on day to day errands.