Steps to become my SSI-eligible adult son's representative payee with Social Security

You'll need to fill out Form SSA-11 (Request to be Selected as Payee) and submit it to your local Social Security office. Since you already have legal guardianship, bring those court documents with you - that will definitely strengthen your case. Yes, they generally want to interview both you and your son as part of the process. The SSA tries to process these requests quickly, especially when there's an established guardianship relationship. Call your local office first to schedule an appointment rather than just walking in, as that can save a lot of time.

I went through this exact process with my sister last year. Beyond what the previous commenter mentioned, make sure you also bring: - Your ID and your son's ID - Your son's SSI award letter or any recent SSA correspondence - Proof of your address (they'll want to verify you live with or near him) - Your bank account info if you want direct deposit In my experience, having the guardianship papers really expedited things. It took about 2 weeks from our appointment for the change to process. Until it's official, your son will still receive his payments directly.

my mom is my payee cuz i got learning disability and the ssa people just asked me if i was ok with it. wasnt a big deal took like 20 min at the office. good luck!

I TRIED TO BECOME MY SONS PAYEE LAST YEAR AND SSA MADE IT IMPOSSIBLE!!!! They kept saying they "lost" my paperwork THREE TIMES and then assigned some agency as his payee instead of me. Now they take $45 a month in fees that my son needs for his medications!!! The system is RIGGED against families!!!! Ask for a supervisor immediately and get EVERYTHING in writing!!!

I helped my friend become her daughter's payee and we had to call SSA about 20 times before we got an appointment. It was so frustrating because we kept getting disconnected or told different things each time we called. Just be prepared for a lot of patience when dealing with them.

Just went thru this with my cousin. Make sure ur son is there for the appointment! We didn't bring him first time and had to reschedule the whole thing. Also they might do a home visit sometimes to check living situation just fyi.

To answer your question about the form - yes, you can download SSA-11 from the Social Security website and fill it out in advance. That will save time. Also, since you already have legal guardianship, you might want to bring a brief explanation of why you're only now applying to be the representative payee. It shouldn't be a problem, but it helps to address it proactively. Having documentation of the recent financial difficulties might help demonstrate the need for the change.

one more thing they might ask about ur sons condition and if he can work at all cuz they always ask me that at every meeting

They didn't interrogate my sister too intensely. Basic questions like: - Does she understand what a representative payee does? - Is she comfortable with you managing her money? - Does she want you to be her payee? It was pretty straightforward. The SSA representative was more focused on making sure she wasn't being coerced. Since you have guardianship papers, they'll understand there's already been a legal determination about decision-making capacity. Oh, and they'll also ask you questions about how you'll use the money for his benefit and keep track of expenses. They might ask for annual accounting of how the SSI funds were spent, so start keeping good records now.

Just wanted to add - when you go to your appointment, ask them about setting up online access to manage the representative payee account. They have a portal where you can view payment history and submit the annual reports electronically, which makes the ongoing management much easier. Also, if your son has any other benefits (like SNAP or Medicaid), becoming his rep payee shouldn't affect those, but it's worth mentioning to the SSA worker just to confirm everything stays coordinated. Good luck with the appointment!

One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet - if your son has a history of overdrafts, you might want to consider opening a new checking account specifically for his SSI payments once you become his payee. Some banks offer special accounts for people receiving government benefits that have lower fees or overdraft protections. Also, since you mentioned he almost lost his housing subsidy, make sure to prioritize rent payments once you're managing his funds. SSA will want to see that the money is being used for basic needs like housing, food, and medical expenses first. Keep receipts for everything - it'll make those annual reports much easier!

As someone who just went through this process with my adult daughter, I want to emphasize how important it is to bring multiple forms of ID for both you and your son. They were very strict about this at our local office. Also, if your son has any specific medical documentation about his intellectual disability (beyond what's already in his SSI file), consider bringing that too - it can help reinforce why representative payee services are needed. One thing that really helped us was calling ahead and asking what specific documents our local office preferred to see. Different offices sometimes have slight variations in what they want, so it's worth that quick phone call. The whole appointment took about 45 minutes for us, and they were very understanding about the financial management challenges. Don't stress too much - sounds like you're being a great advocate for your son!

I'm new to navigating SSI and representative payee issues, but I wanted to share something that might help with the appointment scheduling challenges others mentioned. When I was trying to get through to Social Security for my elderly mother's benefits, I found that calling right when they open (usually 7 AM local time) gave me the best chance of getting through quickly. Also, Tuesdays and Wednesdays seemed to have shorter wait times than Mondays or Fridays. One question for those who've been through this - do they typically process the representative payee change before the next monthly payment, or should you expect your son to receive one more direct payment while the paperwork is being processed? Just trying to help you plan for those upcoming bills you mentioned. This thread has been so informative for understanding the whole process!

I just wanted to add a perspective as someone who works with families navigating disability services. It's actually really common for parents to not realize they need to separately apply for representative payee status even when they have guardianship - you're definitely not alone in this! The two are separate legal processes that serve different purposes. One thing I'd suggest is bringing a letter from your son's doctor or case manager that documents his current functioning level and need for financial assistance. While your guardianship papers should be sufficient, having recent professional documentation can sometimes help speed up the process. Also, don't be surprised if they ask about your own financial stability - they want to make sure representative payees can manage funds responsibly. Basic questions about your income, debts, or any bankruptcies are standard. It's not personal, just part of their due diligence process. The fact that you're being proactive about this now shows you're looking out for your son's best interests. These financial skills don't always develop naturally for people with intellectual disabilities, and there's no shame in providing that structure and support.