Can I change my mom's Social Security address as her representative payee if I live in a different state?

Yes, as her representative payee you can absolutely go to your local SSA office to change her address! You don't need to be in the same state. Make sure to bring: 1. Your photo ID 2. Documentation showing you're her rep payee (your rep payee approval letter from SSA) 3. Your mom's Social Security number 4. The new address information You might want to call the office first to see if you need an appointment, though many offices now accept walk-ins for this type of service.

went thru this with my uncle last year. u need your rep payee paperwork 100%. they might ask for proof of her new address so bring something if u can like a lease but they didnt ask me for it when i went

As a rep payee, I've had to deal with SSA so many times for my brother who has disabilities. The phone lines are IMPOSSIBLE lately. I kept getting disconnected after 2+ hour waits too. Have you tried faxing in the address change request with your rep payee info? That actually worked for me once when I couldn't get through on the phones.

I had the same exact problem trying to call SSA about my dad's benefits last month. It's ridiculous how they disconnect you after waiting so long! I finally got through using a service called Claimyr - it holds your place in line and calls you back when an agent is available. Saved me hours of frustration! Their website is claimyr.com and they have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU But honestly, if you have the rep payee documentation and there's an office near you, going in person will probably be faster anyway. Just sharing what helped me when I was desperate to get through on the phone.

THEY WON'T LET YOU DO IT!!!! I tried doing the EXACT same thing for my sister last year (I'm in Texas, she's in Arizona) and they said I HAD to go to HER local office, not mine. The whole representative payee thing didn't matter to them AT ALL. Complete waste of time. The system is BROKEN!!!

just wondering why ur mom moved facilities? my grandma is about to move too and we're worried about all the paperwork and SS stuff. good luck with everything hope the check doesn't get lost

As others have said, you absolutely can handle this as her representative payee. One important detail to add: make sure you bring the most recent Representative Payee Accounting Report (Form SSA-623) that you submitted. This helps prove you're currently active as her payee. Also, while you're there, consider setting up her direct deposit if she doesn't already have it. This eliminates concerns about checks going to wrong addresses in the future. As her payee, you can designate either her account or a dedicated representative payee account for this purpose. One final tip: if you go to the office, try to arrive about 30 minutes before they open. Many offices have significant wait times, but being early in the morning typically reduces your wait substantially.

is ur mom on SSI or regular social security? cuz SSI has different rules about address changes

Just want to add - when you go to the SSA office, ask them to give you a receipt or confirmation of the address change. Sometimes these changes can take a few weeks to process in their system, and having documentation that you submitted the change on a specific date can be helpful if there are any issues. Also, if your mother's checks are already set up for direct deposit, the address change won't affect her payments. The address update is primarily for correspondence and tax forms (like the SSA-1099 she'll receive in January).

I work at a senior living facility and deal with this situation regularly for our residents' families. You're absolutely right to be proactive about this - address changes are crucial for tax documents and other important correspondence. One thing I'd suggest is also notifying the facility's administration that you've updated her address with SSA. Many facilities have protocols for helping residents with mail forwarding during the transition period, and they'll want to know that official correspondence should start going to the new address. Also, since your mom has arthritis and doesn't use computers, you might want to consider helping her set up a my Social Security account online once things settle. Even though you're her rep payee, having the account can make future correspondence easier and she can authorize you to access it on her behalf for simple things like viewing her benefit statements. Hope your visit to the SSA office goes smoothly! The staff there are usually very helpful once you get to speak with someone in person.

As someone who's navigated the SSA system for elderly family members, I can confirm that going in person is usually your best bet! The phone wait times are absolutely brutal right now. One thing I'd add to the great advice already given - if you run into any pushback at the office (which hopefully you won't), don't hesitate to politely ask for a supervisor. Sometimes front desk staff aren't fully familiar with rep payee procedures, but supervisors usually know the policies better. Also, since your mom just moved to a senior facility, you might want to ask the SSA representative about any other potential changes that could affect her benefits. Things like changes in living arrangements sometimes have implications for Medicare or other programs, and it's better to address everything in one visit. Good luck tomorrow morning! Let us know how it goes - your experience could help other families in similar situations.

I just wanted to chime in as someone who's been through this exact situation! My dad moved to assisted living last year and I had to update his address with SSA. I was so worried about it being complicated, but it really wasn't bad at all. I went to my local SSA office (I'm in Michigan, he's in Ohio) with my rep payee paperwork, his SSN, and proof of his new address. The whole thing took maybe 20 minutes once I got to speak with someone. They were actually really understanding about the situation and said they see this kind of thing all the time with families spread across different states. One tip - I brought a folder with copies of everything organized, including an extra copy of the rep payee approval letter. The clerk appreciated having everything neat and ready to go. Also, they did give me a receipt showing the address change was processed, which gave me peace of mind. Your mom is lucky to have you looking out for her! The phone wait times are absolutely ridiculous right now, so going in person is definitely the way to go.

I'm dealing with a very similar situation right now! My grandmother is 82 and just moved from independent living to memory care, and I'm her rep payee living two states away. The phone system is absolutely impossible - I've tried calling multiple times and either get disconnected or the wait times are just ridiculous. Reading through all these responses is so helpful. I had no idea I could handle the address change at my local office instead of having to travel to hers. I'm definitely going to try the in-person approach next week. One question for those who've done this successfully - did you need to bring any documentation about the new facility itself, like a copy of the admission paperwork or facility license? Or was the rep payee documentation and new address information sufficient? Thanks to everyone sharing their experiences - it's such a relief to know other families are navigating this same challenge!

I've been helping elderly family members with Social Security issues for years, and I can tell you that going in person as a rep payee is definitely the right approach! The phone system is completely overwhelmed right now - I've heard so many stories like yours about multi-hour waits ending in disconnections. A few additional tips from my experience: Call your local SSA office first to check if they're doing walk-ins or if you need an appointment. Some offices have different procedures post-COVID. Also, if you have a smartphone, take a photo of all your documents before you go - sometimes having backup copies on your phone can be helpful if there are any issues with the physical papers. Since your mom is 76 and has arthritis, you might also want to ask while you're there about any other services that could make future interactions easier for both of you. SSA has some accommodations for people with disabilities that could be helpful down the road. Hope everything goes smoothly for you! Your mom is fortunate to have someone so dedicated to helping her navigate these bureaucratic challenges.

I just wanted to add my experience as someone who recently went through this exact situation! My mom moved to assisted living in November and I needed to update her SSA address from out of state. The good news is that yes, you can absolutely handle this as her rep payee at your local Colorado office! I was nervous about it too, but the process was actually pretty smooth. Here's what worked for me: - Got there about 20 minutes before opening (highly recommend this!) - Brought my photo ID, rep payee approval letter, mom's SSN, and the facility's address - The whole thing took about 15 minutes once I got to the window - They gave me a receipt confirming the address change One thing I wish I'd known - they can also update her phone number on file at the same time if needed. Since she moved facilities, her contact info might have changed too. The staff was really understanding about the family situation and said they handle these cross-state rep payee requests frequently. Don't let that one negative experience someone mentioned earlier worry you - the policy definitely allows this, and most offices are familiar with the process. Hope your visit goes just as smoothly! Your mom is lucky to have you advocating for her through all this.

I'm a newcomer to this community but wanted to share that I recently helped my elderly neighbor navigate a similar situation. She's 78 and needed to update her address with SSA after moving to a nursing home. What really helped us was creating a simple checklist beforehand of all the documents to bring - it kept us organized and reduced stress on the day of the visit. Also, I'd suggest bringing a pen and small notepad to jot down any important information the SSA representative gives you, like confirmation numbers or follow-up steps. One thing that surprised me was how accommodating the staff was once we explained the situation. They even offered to print out some informational pamphlets about other services that might be helpful for elderly beneficiaries. Wishing you the best of luck with your visit tomorrow! It sounds like you've got all the right documentation and a solid plan. Your mom is fortunate to have such a caring and proactive advocate.

Welcome to the community! I'm new here too but wanted to share something that might help. I just went through a very similar situation with my grandfather last week. He's 84 and moved to a memory care facility, and I'm his rep payee living in a different state. I was terrified about the whole process after reading mixed experiences online, but it ended up being much more straightforward than I expected. The key things that made it smooth: 1. Called the SSA office the day before to confirm they accept walk-ins and what their busiest times are 2. Arrived 45 minutes early (yes, it sounds excessive, but I was third in line when they opened!) 3. Had everything organized in a manila folder with clear labels 4. Brought both originals and copies of everything, just in case The representative was actually really kind and said they see this situation constantly - adult children managing SSA business for elderly parents who've moved to care facilities. She processed the address change in about 10 minutes and gave me a confirmation receipt. One unexpected bonus: she also updated his emergency contact information to include my cell phone, which I hadn't even thought to ask about but turned out to be really important for future communications. Your mom is so lucky to have you handling this for her. The phone system really is impossible right now, so going in person is definitely the way to go. Best of luck tomorrow!

I'm new to this community but wanted to share my recent experience since it sounds exactly like what you're dealing with! My dad is 81 and just moved to assisted living last month. I live in Oregon, he's in Nevada, and I'm his rep payee. I was so stressed about the address change after spending literally 3 hours on hold with SSA over two different days, only to get disconnected both times. Finally went to my local SSA office here in Portland with all my rep payee documentation, and it was honestly easier than I expected. The clerk was super helpful and said cross-state rep payee requests are totally normal. She processed everything in about 12 minutes and even helped me update his direct deposit account information while I was there (his old bank had closed his branch). One thing that really helped was organizing all my documents in a clear folder beforehand - rep payee approval letter, my ID, his SSN written clearly on a piece of paper, and the new facility address. Having everything ready to go made the whole process much smoother. I know how stressful this is when you're worried about your parent's benefits, but you've got this! Going in person is definitely the right call. Good luck at your Colorado office tomorrow - I'd love to hear how it goes!

I'm new to this community but wanted to share my experience from just last month when I had to help my grandmother with a similar situation. She's 79 and moved from independent living to a nursing home, and I'm her rep payee living three states away. Like everyone else has mentioned, the phone system is absolutely impossible right now - I think I spent over 6 hours total across multiple days trying to get through, only to be disconnected every single time. So frustrating! I ended up going to my local SSA office and it was honestly one of the smoothest bureaucratic experiences I've had in years. The representative was incredibly understanding and said they handle these interstate rep payee situations daily. The whole thing took maybe 20 minutes from start to finish. What really helped me was calling the office the morning of my visit to confirm their walk-in procedures and peak hours. They told me to come right when they opened at 9 AM to avoid the afternoon rush, which was great advice. I brought my photo ID, the original rep payee approval letter, a copy of her new facility agreement showing the address, and her Social Security number written clearly on an index card. Having everything organized and ready made such a difference. One unexpected thing - they also offered to set up mail forwarding from her old address for SSA correspondence, which I hadn't even thought to ask about but was really helpful during the transition period. Your mom is so fortunate to have you advocating for her through this process. The in-person approach is definitely the way to go - you've got this! I'd love to hear how your visit goes tomorrow.