Can I redirect my sister's Social Security check to her nursing home as her POA? She's on Medicaid & non-mobile

Yes, the SSA will allow you to redirect your sister's benefits as her POA, but you need to follow specific steps. This is actually common for Medicaid nursing home residents - it's called the "Representative Payee" process. As her POA, you'll need to: 1. Complete form SSA-11 (Request to be Representative Payee) 2. Bring your POA documentation, your ID, and your sister's Social Security card if available 3. Explain that she's unable to manage her benefits due to her condition The nursing home should provide their payment information. They likely need this because Medicaid requires most of her income to go toward her care costs, with only a small personal needs allowance remaining for her.

When my father went into a nursing home last year, I had to do the EXACT same thing. It was a NIGHTMARE getting through to Social Security!!! I spent WEEKS trying to get someone on the phone. The rep payee form isn't difficult but you absolutely HAVE to talk to someone at SSA to process it correctly. The nursing home should be more helpful in explaining this - they deal with it all the time!!!

I work with families in similar situations frequently. To clarify some important points: 1. Having Power of Attorney is not the same as being a Representative Payee for Social Security purposes. Even with POA, you still need to apply to be the Rep Payee. 2. For Medicaid nursing home residents, most states require that the resident's income (minus a small personal needs allowance of $30-70 depending on your state) goes to the facility for their cost of care. 3. The Rep Payee application (SSA-11) needs to be submitted in person or through the mail with supporting documentation about your sister's incapacity. Don't wait on this - facilities can discharge residents for non-payment issues, even if they're on Medicaid.

my mom was in nursing home 4 years n i had same thing... they want the check cuz of the medicad spend down rules. u still can keep small amount for her personal stuff like maybe $50 or somthing. medicad rules not ss rules making this happen

When I went through this with my husband, I spent 4 days trying to reach someone at Social Security. After getting disconnected multiple times, I discovered a service called Claimyr that got me connected to an SSA agent in about 15 minutes. Saved me so much frustration! Their website is claimyr.com and they have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU Once I actually got through to Social Security, the process was straightforward. I submitted the Rep Payee application and provided documentation of my husband's condition. The SSA agent explained that even though I had POA, Social Security requires the separate Rep Payee designation for control of benefits. The nursing home got their direct deposit set up within about 2 weeks.

To answer your follow-up question: Yes, SSA has procedures for handling cases where the beneficiary can't appear in person due to medical reasons. You'll need to explain your sister's condition on the Rep Payee application. Bring medical documentation confirming her inability to manage her benefits or appear in person. And correct, Rep Payee status is entirely different from POA. POA is a legal designation under state law, while Rep Payee is specific to Social Security and gives you authority to receive and manage her benefits on her behalf.

hope you get this sorted out quick! my aunt's nursing home got really pushy about this too

Wait - has anyone mentioned that if you redirect the check to the nursing home, make absolutely SURE they're providing the personal allowance to your sister!!! My dad's facility was terrible about this and we had to fight to get his personal money for his basic needs! They acted like they were doing us a favor giving him HIS OWN MONEY!!!

Regarding ensuring your sister receives her personal needs allowance: The best practice is to have a written agreement with the facility about how they'll provide her personal allowance. Some facilities give residents a monthly check, others maintain an internal resident account where they credit the allowance amount. You should clarify: 1. How and when she'll receive her personal allowance 2. How she'll access those funds for personal items 3. What documentation you'll receive showing the proper allocation As her advocate, you have the right to request monthly statements showing how her Social Security payment was applied.

make sure u get everythin in writing!!! nursing homes mess up billing ALL THE TIME trust me

As someone who just went through this process with my grandmother last month, I wanted to add a few practical tips that helped us: 1. When you call SSA, try calling right when they open (8am local time) - much better chance of getting through 2. Have ALL your documents ready before you go: POA paperwork, your sister's SS card, birth certificate, medical records showing her incapacity, and the nursing home's payment details 3. Ask the nursing home for their "Social Security Representative Payee Information Sheet" - most facilities have a standard form with their banking details specifically for this purpose Also, don't let them pressure you into rushing this! Yes, it needs to be done, but you have rights as her advocate. The facility should work with you on timing, especially since Medicaid is still covering her care costs. My grandmother's facility gave us a reasonable timeline once we explained we were actively working on the Rep Payee application. The whole process took about 3 weeks from application to the first redirected payment, so plan accordingly!

I went through this exact situation with my father-in-law two years ago when he had dementia and went into a nursing home. The Representative Payee process is definitely the right path, but I wanted to share a few things that might help speed this up: 1. Call your state's Medicaid office first - they often have liaisons who work specifically with nursing homes and can explain the income rules clearly. This helped me understand WHY the redirect was necessary. 2. If you have trouble reaching SSA by phone, try going to your local office first thing in the morning without an appointment. I had better luck getting face-to-face help than phone support. 3. Ask the nursing home's social worker or financial coordinator to walk you through their specific process. Every facility handles the personal needs allowance differently, and getting clarity upfront saved us headaches later. The nursing home should absolutely be more helpful in explaining this process since they deal with it constantly. Don't feel bad about asking them to slow down and explain everything clearly - you're doing your best in a complicated situation while caring for your sister.

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this stressful situation on top of everything else with your sister's care. I went through something very similar when my mom had her stroke and needed nursing home placement. One thing that really helped me was understanding that this isn't just about Social Security - it's actually about Medicaid's "spend down" requirements. Essentially, Medicaid requires that almost all of your sister's income goes toward her cost of care, except for that small personal needs allowance (usually $30-70/month depending on your state). Here's what worked for me: I called my state's Area Agency on Aging first - they have counselors who specialize in exactly these situations and can walk you through both the Medicaid rules AND the Social Security Representative Payee process. They often know which local SSA offices are most helpful and can sometimes even help you get connected faster. Also, don't let the nursing home make you feel like you're behind or doing something wrong. This is a complex process that many families aren't prepared for, and you're handling it responsibly by seeking information. The fact that Medicaid is covering her care means there's no immediate crisis - you just need to get the payment structure aligned with Medicaid's requirements. Hang in there - once you get through the Rep Payee application, this will all be much more manageable!

I'm a newcomer to this community but wanted to share what I learned when helping my uncle with a similar situation last year. One thing that really helped us was downloading the SSA-11 form ahead of time from the Social Security website and filling it out completely before going to the office. This saved us a lot of time and the SSA staff seemed to appreciate that we came prepared. Also, I'd suggest asking the nursing home for a written statement explaining exactly how much they expect to receive monthly and how they'll handle the personal needs allowance. Having this documentation helped us when we met with the SSA representative - they wanted to see that we understood the financial arrangement. The whole process felt overwhelming at first, but breaking it down into steps made it manageable: 1) Get all documents together, 2) Fill out the form, 3) Visit SSA office, 4) Coordinate with nursing home. Don't hesitate to ask questions at each step - everyone we worked with was more helpful once they saw we were actively trying to do things correctly.