My Mom has recently qualified for social security benefits but the SNF wants her to send the check to them?

I think the easiest thing is to have the check sent to SNF, although I don't think they can require that. Why wouldn't you want it to be handled that way?

If she is on Medicaid, your mother will need to pay her share of cost now that she gets social security. You can have the SNF get check and have them return her allowance that she gets to keep monthly. You can put check in bank and write nursing home the check monthly for her share of cost. You cannot keep entire social security check and not turn it over to SNF. you might talk to her social worker to get $$ amount she owes per month.