Handling SS and Medicare addresses when moving into facility

paperrockscissors

Hi, What do you do with your LO's Social Security address when s/he moves to a facility? My "understanding" is that it's linked to Medicare, so using any address other than the residence of the recipient will cause problems with the Medicare supplement and Part D plans in place that rely on the residence zip code. (I tried to make this change a while back so SS letters would come to me, but it caused her Part D plan to drop her because I live in a different state.

I've also heard a number of times not to use Social Security's "representative" option, because they will create a lot of unnecessary headaches for you.

Meanwhile, if I leave it all as it is, important mail wouuld go to her at hte facility which doesn't make sense. Am I missing something?

Grateful for any insight …

Carl46

I have been representative payee for my son's Social Security benefits for many years. I get copies of his notices, so I know what's going on and can act for him. The only "hassle" is having to complete an annual form with about a dozen questions regarding my fitness to continue to serve as payee and my use of his funds. Every few years I get a form asking whether he is still disabled, has he been in hospital lately, etc.

The advantage is the ability to talk to SSA and get answers, because as representative payee I have the right to know. I can appeal adverse actions SSA plans to take, such as reducing his benefits because he worked in a sheltered workshop for a couple of months. And, of course, my mailing address and his residence address are different on their records.

As far as managing his funds, I write two checks a month. One to the RCF in which he resides, and one to the pharmacy to cover his copays. I take him shopping for clothing and such, but I would be doing that if I weren't payee.

I manage my wife's funds as well but haven't needed to apply to serve as representative payee because she lives with me.

In your case, applying to serve as representative payee would probably cause you fewer headaches than you now experience.