Oh and it just hit me this might be an important clarification for others reading through this in the future, it is not meant to chastise. You have POA for her not over her, an important distinction when thinking and talking about it with officials. POA gives you the authority to act on the persons behalf and as they direct or want not to act against their will or make them do things they don't want to. When you sign a document as POA you are signing as your LO. DPOA gives you the right to act in their best interest even if they don't agree once they have been declared incompetent, unable to understand whats in their best interest. Acting with POA authority can be superseded by the primary anytime.
Yes and especially since you are POA. If there is no on-line account established yet it's actually pretty easy as long as you have all the pertinent info.
I was able to register my mother on every website that I needed to access in order to fulfill my duties as POA. My POA specifically states that I can use websites on my mother's behalf.
The only agency that makes it impossible is the VA; they do not recognize a POA; they have their own form that you have to fill out and have your mother sign and then send to the VA. And then......typically with the VA.....it will sit in someone's "to do" file for months.
Just a caution: Everyone who has a POA should go take it out and read it carefully. Laws change. My mother's POA in 2007 was about 7 pages. I made several copies and sent a copy with a cover letter to all her medical providers, insurance companies and credit card companies; anyone I wanted to be able to speak to on my mother's behalf. In 2012, her lawyer revised the POA and it turned into a 33 page POA. I was very angry ---- initially. Because copying and sending a 33 page document to all those places again was going to be very expensive. Very few of them would accept it by email. Then, I read the "new" POA, and I was glad that the lawyer revised it. That "website" clause was added, and several other clauses that reflect our more modern technology world, and it has been incredibly helpful to me.
Also, not every POA is the same. Some do not come into legal effect until your LO is incapacitated. That is a choice that your LO can make, but it doesn't have to be the choice. Some come into effect simply by virtue of your LO giving you --- literally, handing you ---- the "originally signed" document.
So, everyone, get out your POA and read and take notes. Or make a copy and use a yellow highlighter for sections you have questions about. [yellow highlighters do not show up when at all when copying.......true].
My reading of the rules is that in order to legally set up and account for someone else you have to first be listed for authorization on their accounts. The rules are online or you could call to get them.
My Dad was also throwing away bills thinking they were junk mail :P
My POA specifically states that I can use websites on my mother's behalf.
The only agency that makes it impossible is the VA; they do not recognize a POA; they have their own form that you have to fill out and have your mother sign and then send to the VA. And then......typically with the VA.....it will sit in someone's "to do" file for months.
Just a caution: Everyone who has a POA should go take it out and read it carefully. Laws change. My mother's POA in 2007 was about 7 pages. I made several copies and sent a copy with a cover letter to all her medical providers, insurance companies and credit card companies; anyone I wanted to be able to speak to on my mother's behalf. In 2012, her lawyer revised the POA and it turned into a 33 page POA. I was very angry ---- initially. Because copying and sending a 33 page document to all those places again was going to be very expensive. Very few of them would accept it by email. Then, I read the "new" POA, and I was glad that the lawyer revised it. That "website" clause was added, and several other clauses that reflect our more modern technology world, and it has been incredibly helpful to me.
Also, not every POA is the same. Some do not come into legal effect until your LO is incapacitated. That is a choice that your LO can make, but it doesn't have to be the choice. Some come into effect simply by virtue of your LO giving you --- literally, handing you ---- the "originally signed" document.
So, everyone, get out your POA and read and take notes. Or make a copy and use a yellow highlighter for sections you have questions about. [yellow highlighters do not show up when at all when copying.......true].