US SSA does not recognize POA

ARIL · July 29

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 · July 29

Thank you for the information. It will help others.

H1235 · July 29

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 · July 29

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 · July 29

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 · July 30

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 · July 31

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.

tdroscha · August 4

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 · August 5

@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 · August 20

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?

Michele P · September 22

https://alzconnected.org/discussion/comment/251150#Comment_251150

it would be extremely helpful is there was a link on this website with a checklist of everything that needs to be done throughout the process. The people here have that list and constantly repeat it to help others. When a loved one gets diagnosed, we are thrown into the ocean with no life jacket.

Victoriaredux · September 22

Each family's financial and health situation is unique- age of children still in home , health of possible caregivers, type and location of family income ,assets, retirement funds and insurance —— an elder law attorney is the best source to get personalized advise and options.

There are usually no do overs so just getting forms with the right name on it it or following a Forum list could be a disaster. How assets are titled can have huge tax and inheritance implications. And laws and taxes change.

Banks, etc will give advise on what makes their systems or guidelines happy—-they are not doing planning for the family's best interests. You may get an issue handled and go- ha! saved a bundle on legal fee but that may not be the best way to handle the issue long term.

Having dementia hit your family really isn't the time to take the old saying "penny-wise and pound foolish" out for a spin. You need good personalized advise. That's the life jacket.

I can't describe my situation but was right on the brink of taking the frugal route and touched base with an attorney as a double check and still shudder at how big a mistake we could have made.

And the cost to trying to fix something after the fact can be multiples of what the original cost to do it up front would have been. And could involve going to court which is really not fun.

towhee · September 28

That is one reason the bank account where social security is deposited does not get closed unless absolutely necessary.

US SSA does not recognize POA

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