US SSA does not recognize POA

ARIL

This may be well known to most of you, but it was news to me only a few days ago.

Social Security agents could not talk to me about my dad’s benefits, since SSA does not accept DPOA. I had to apply directly to the SSA to be a “representative payee.” It would have helped if I had known that term! The process was not that difficult; I had to present a letter from his doctor certifying the dementia, answer a lot of questions about his situation and my own, and submit to a criminal background check. I then waited for a letter appointing me rep. payee.

I thought it might help others earlier in this journey to know that a DPOA won’t cut it with the SSA. That’s something else to add to the list of important legal/financial matters for caregivers in the US.

SDianeL

Thank you for the information. It will help others.

H1235

I am wondering if this is something I should do to just be prepared. I really cant see any reason I would need to do anything for her regarding social security. It is direct deposit and I don’t plan to change banks. Any advice?

ARIL

I didn’t expect ever to need to speak to SSA on my father’s behalf, but then his Medicare billing changed, Medicare told me that the SSA had done it, and I hit a brick wall until after becoming “representative payee.” That took nearly two weeks. Now they will talk to me freely.

So you might be fine to let it go. Just know that if you ever need to talk to them, there will be a few weeks’ delay before you can get answers.

tboard

https://alzconnected.org/discussion/73615/us-ssa-does-not-recognize-poa

I had POA for both of my parents. I had to become their social security representative payee. That gave me permission to spend their money on their care. At the end of each year I had to submit a form that showed what the money was spent on. Go to SSA.gov and you will find info about how to become a social security payee. https://www.ssa.gov/payee/.

JulietteBee

I had to call them to report my mother's change of address. They told me they needed to speak with her. Fortunately, we were together. I put her on the phone. They asked her her name & SSN, then asked if she authorized me to speak to them. She said, "yes" and I gave them the information I CALLED to give them.

It was quite stupid, really, because we sound alike and I know her SSN. They would have had no way of knowing if I had stayed on the phone & gave them permission to speak to me.🤯

janeedee

This can be done online. Sign in or create the SS account and designate yourself as the representative payee. SS will send a letter addressed to the recipient notifying of the change, however my DH is no longer interested in the mail. I do hold a DPOA, so the change is within my authority.

weareallunique

Suggestion — because SS isn't the easiest to deal with- protect the bank account into which the SSI deposits are going.

Have another account , titled in accordance with how the funds should be held by the elder lawyer that was consulted and if you have to write checks - like to a gardener, or have auto withdrawals for utilities etc -use that account so if it's hacked, a check is stolen etc - you don't have to go through the whole deal with SSA. You'd just get a new junior account and when it's active transfer funds into it from the main account.

tdroscha

I just found this out, as well, as my parents' checking account was hacked after someone stole some of my dad's checks. Bank closed the account, but it's the account all direct deposits/auto-pays were set for… SSA is a real issue, as Mom is in the late state of Alzheimer's - can't communicate or do anything but eat and sleep. Have an appointment w/SSA tomorrow to try to become Mom's representative payee.

ARIL

@tdroscha So sorry about the hacking!

I wish you well with the SSA tomorrow. Once I became authorized as representative payee, the agents were helpful and even kind. Getting to authorization took a bit of effort, but it did work out. In my case it took about ten days after my in-person appointment to get the official letter.

HollyBerry

One more thing for the to do list. Has anyone ever made a checklist for all the things we need to do before memory care, or before things get past a certain point?