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I know they are very strict on how the money is spent so is it OK to go buy Christmas present from her to her family? She wants me to take her tomorrow and I don't want to do anything I will get in trouble for. It is her money and I think I should be able to do that. I just took this over so I am not sure of what is right or wrong. I just don't want to anything to get me in trouble. Also she just has Medicare so there isn't a limit she needs to keep in bank is there. Like with Medicaid, you can only have 2,000.

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Auntikiki This is a good question. I believe as representative Payee your responsibility is to make sure your Mom gets what she needs and/or spend her money on things she would want if she could do it herself. If your Mom wants to buy presents as she would always have done, it does not sound like a crime to me. Keep clean records of spending to clarify where her money goes and log book of care as well. The only thing I think you need to be... is trustworthy, honest and caring in her benefit. What I get from how you asked your question I think you are all of these things. If you want to know exactly how your requirement of duties, as rep payee should be handled, I would go to S.S. info page it will explain in full.
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wuvsicecream, thank you I try to be. I am going to go to the SS page and read. When I went to SS office they didn't tell me much we just filed the forms and that was about it.
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Auntkiki, isn't your mother's SSI check automatically deposited into her bank? My mother-in-law's check is, and as her POA I am planning on just writing out checks to the grandkids and her boys for Christmas for her. Same as I've been doing for the last 5 years. I get the cards and write out the checks, and she signs the cards 'love grandma' or whatever. I guess I don't see the problem.
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Nancy, yes it is auto deposited into the bank but I have Representative Payee on her SS check and they want to know how the money is spent. I also am POA on financial and medical but Rep Payee is different. To my understanding is every year I will be audit by SS office to see where her money went and show I wasn't taking it for myself.
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My MIL really wanted her Christmas checks to her children and grandchildren to continue. She is on self pay at a SNF and the checks are small- $30.00. My husband is her guardian.

The amounts are small enough that if they do cause a penalty when she applies for Medicaid in a few years, it won't be substantial.
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If she gets a limited stipend out of the SSI (usually the case), I don't think I would do it. It also may depend on her resources. My mother needed a lift chair and a new dresser/tv. these items decimated her small amount of savings. It might be wise to consider her future needs. If she is very well off financially it could be a different story.
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