Need help setting up financial authority for my 88-year-old mom with memory issues - Social Security representative payee?

You're asking exactly the right questions. For Social Security specifically, you'd want to become her "representative payee" - this lets you receive and manage her SS benefits. It's separate from power of attorney. To apply, you'll need to visit your local SSA office and file Form SSA-11. Bring your ID, your mom's Social Security number, and documentation about her condition. But honestly, you should also look into getting durable power of attorney for finances. The rep payee status ONLY covers her Social Security benefits, but POA would let you handle her bank accounts, investments, property, etc. Both are important to have in place.

When my dad started having cognitive issues, I waited too long to get the legal stuff figured out and it was a NIGHTMARE. Do BOTH the SSA rep payee AND the power of attorney NOW while she can still somewhat understand and consent. Trust me, you don't want to be trying to handle this after a major health crisis when everything is an emergency!!!

Just went through this with my aunt. Yes, you need representative payee status for Social Security (Form SSA-11), but ALSO get: 1. Durable Power of Attorney for finances 2. Medical Power of Attorney/Healthcare directive 3. Consider a living trust depending on her assets For the rep payee part, SSA usually wants to meet your mom. They'll ask questions to determine if she understands what's happening. Bring medical documentation of her condition if possible. They'll likely approve it if she clearly needs help. Then you'll need to complete an annual accounting form showing how you spent her benefits.

Getting through to SSA to schedule the representative payee interview is absolutely brutal right now. I tried for weeks to get an appointment for my husband after his stroke. I finally used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me through to a real person at SSA in about 30 minutes instead of trying for hours and getting disconnected. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU It was such a relief to finally get someone on the phone who could schedule us. The rep payee process itself wasn't too bad once we got the appointment.

SSA rep payee is diffrent from power of attorney!! My sister had POA but social security wouldn't let her handle moms benefits until she became rep payee too. its a seprate process

As someone who's been a representative payee for my mother for 3 years now, prepare for the annual Representative Payee Report (Form SSA-623). They'll ask you to account for every penny of her benefits. I keep a separate bank account just for her SS money to make tracking easier. Makes the annual reporting much simpler. Also, if your mother has any assets or non-SS income, the representative payee status won't help you manage those. That's where the financial POA becomes essential.

Another important consideration - if your mother receives SSI (Supplemental Security Income) rather than just regular Social Security retirement benefits, there are strict asset limits ($2,000). As her representative payee, you'll be responsible for ensuring she remains eligible by keeping her resources under the limit. This is different than if she only receives regular Social Security retirement benefits, which don't have asset limits.

my mom has alzheimers and its been 2 years that im her payee. get ready for paperwork!! they send the form every year and u have to show where the money went. keep reciepts for big purchases they might ask for proof

Here's a step-by-step process for becoming your mother's representative payee: 1. Call SSA at 1-800-772-1213 to schedule an appointment (or use their online appointment scheduler) 2. Complete Form SSA-11 (Representative Payee Application) 3. Gather supporting documents: your ID, your mother's ID, her Social Security card, and any medical documentation about her condition 4. Attend the interview (with your mother if possible) 5. If approved, SSA will begin sending her benefits to you, typically via direct deposit After approval, you'll need to: - Keep detailed records of how benefits are spent - Complete the annual Representative Payee Report - Notify SSA of any changes in either your or your mother's circumstances - Maintain a separate account for her benefits if possible This process specifically applies to Social Security benefits management.

I'm going through something similar with my elderly father right now. One thing I learned is that you should also ask about becoming an "organizational representative payee" if you're worried about your own future ability to manage her benefits. This lets you designate a backup organization (like a nonprofit or financial institution) to take over if something happens to you. Also, when you do get the rep payee status, make sure to ask SSA about setting up online access through my Social Security. As her representative payee, you can create an account to manage her benefits online, which makes things much easier than calling or visiting offices all the time. The whole process took about 6 weeks for us from application to receiving the first benefit payment in my name. Just wanted to give you a realistic timeline expectation!

I went through this exact situation with my grandmother last year. A few things I learned that might help: 1. You can actually start both processes simultaneously - apply for rep payee status AND get the POA documents done. They don't interfere with each other. 2. For the SSA interview, they were very understanding about my grandmother's anxiety. The caseworker kept it short and asked simple questions like "Do you know who this person is?" and "Are you okay with them helping you with your Social Security?" 3. One thing nobody warned me about - once you become rep payee, her benefits will stop going to her account and start coming to yours. Make sure you coordinate this timing with her bill payments so nothing gets missed during the transition. 4. Keep a simple spreadsheet from day one tracking her benefit amount, what you spend it on, and the remaining balance. The annual reporting is much easier if you've been tracking all along. The whole process was less scary than I expected, but definitely start now while your mom can still participate in the decision. Good luck!