Becoming payee for mentally challenged sister's Social Security survivor benefits - need help with forms and banking

You'll need to apply to be her Representative Payee. There's no form to fill out in advance - you'll need to call SSA at 1-800-772-1213 to schedule an appointment. At the appointment, they'll have you complete Form SSA-11 (Request to Be Selected as Payee). As for banking, there are a few options: 1. Direct deposit to an account in her name with you as representative payee 2. Direct Express debit card if she can't have a bank account The account should be set up in HER name with you noted as representative payee - NOT as a joint account. The account title should read something like "Jane Smith, representative payee for Susan Jones." For tracking expenses, SSA will send you an annual Representative Payee Report (Form SSA-623). Keep receipts for major expenses and maintain a simple ledger of how funds are spent. The money must be used for her needs - housing, food, clothing, medical care, personal items, etc.

my brothers disabled to and i had such a nightmere with the bank!! make sure u get a seperate account for this its not supposed to be mixed with ur money at all. and keep ALL receipts even for small stuff, the ssa can audit u and make u pay back if u cant prove where it went. its a huge pain but better than her not getting benefits.

I'm a representative payee for my adult son with disabilities. Here's what you need to know: You'll need Form SSA-11 to become a representative payee, but you can't just download it. You must apply in person or by phone. SSA will interview you to determine if you're suitable. For banking, most major banks offer representative payee accounts. The account must be in your sister's name with you as the payee, something like "[Your Name], representative payee for [Her Name]." This keeps her funds separate from yours, which is absolutely required by SSA. As for tracking expenses, I keep a simple spreadsheet with categories for housing, food, clothing, medical, transportation, personal care, and recreation. Save receipts for large purchases. You'll need to file Form SSA-623 each year reporting how you spent the benefits. Most importantly, SSA will determine if you're the appropriate person to serve as payee. They prefer family members but will want to ensure you have her best interests at heart and understand the responsibilities.

dealing with SSA is TORTURE! i spent 6 weeks trying to reach someone about my own benefits, getting hung up on or waiting 3+ hours only to be disconnected! good luck getting through on that 800 number!!!!!

Just to clarify something important - survivor benefits and representative payee are two separate processes. First, your sister needs to apply for survivor benefits as the widow of the deceased. Then, you apply to be her representative payee. For the survivor benefits application, you'll need: - Death certificate - Marriage certificate showing 13 years of marriage - Her birth certificate and Social Security card - His Social Security number - Information about any other benefits she receives Since your sister has cognitive disabilities, SSA might also want documentation of her condition (medical records, diagnosis, etc.). The fact that they were married over 10 years is good - she qualifies for full survivor benefits if she's at least 60 years old (or 50 if disabled). If she's younger and caring for his child under 16, different rules apply.

Yes, since your sister has a documented disability, she can potentially receive survivor benefits as early as age 50 instead of 60. This falls under what SSA calls "disabled widow's benefits." Make sure to specifically mention that you're applying for disabled widow's benefits during the application process. They'll need medical evidence that her disability began before or within 7 years of her husband's death. One more thing to be aware of: if she receives any other benefits like SSI (Supplemental Security Income), the survivor benefits might affect those amounts. SSA will help calculate this during the application process.

my cousin has down syndrome and gets ss benefits. his mom is the payee person and she has to keep a notebook of everything she buys with his money. the social security office checks it sometimes randomly. they told her if she messes up they can make her pay it all back so be real careful!!

One more important tip regarding banking: When you set up the representative payee account, bring documentation from SSA that confirms your payee status. Most banks will require this documentation before setting up the special account structure. Also, you asked if your sister needs to be present when opening the account. Most banks will require her to be present since it's ultimately her account, but you can call ahead to explain the situation and see if they can make accommodations for her anxiety. Some banks are more experienced with representative payee situations than others, so you might want to call around to find one that's handled similar circumstances before. Regarding the record-keeping requirements, they're not as intimidating as they might sound. A simple notebook or basic spreadsheet with categories is sufficient, along with keeping receipts for major expenses. The annual reporting form is relatively straightforward - it asks for amounts spent on categories like housing, food, clothing, medical expenses, personal items, etc.

another thing nobody mentioned is that if your sister gets survivor benefits it might mess up other benefits she has!!! my friend's daughter lost her medicaid when she started getting survivor benefits and it was a NIGHTMARE to fix!!! make sure you ask about this specifically!!!