Pros and cons of becoming representative payee?

Just a question, can you not go online and make address changes? If Mom never did, set up and account and then make any changes. How are they going to know who is making the changes.

I was lucky, besides Mom having direct deposit, she still had her house. So I received her mail there. Once in LTC, I allowed them to become payee.

My LO was already in AL and declared “unable......” when I applied. I was able to go to a SS OFFICE that was fortunately local. I went a total of three times for LONG visits.

SS has no “control“ that I can discern, because ALL of the payment goes to HER CARE because IT IS HERS.

I have her SS check direct deposited to her checking account. I had to fill out a four page statement at the end of 2019 acknowledging that all of her SS money was used for her care.

It was EASY! All I had to do was tell the truth.

It is a little time consuming

If you have to move her again it may require that you become representative payee.

It may also be better to have the money and statements come to your address and then you don't have to worry again.

I was told that I could use my address for my dad as long as it was a viable address for him. Meaning that the mail was not returned and I accepted it being delivered. This may be a good idea to do know before she is no longer able to provide the information.

I called Social Security to see if I could change the address her statements go to and was told no, she would have to call in herself, or I could apply to be her representative payee and then I would have the ability to make any changes such as that. In order for them to change her address in their system, she would have to call them and give them all kinds of personal information. We went through that last November when she moved to a new LTC facility and had to get them to stop sending her money to the old facility and into her bank account instead. It was a big ordeal because we had to make multiple phone calls as she couldn't remember all the details and had trouble reading them from a sheet I prepared for her. Anyway, in talking to Social Security yesterday, the person I spoke with was suggesting that I apply to be the representative payee, and I was just curious if it was worth the hassle. I'm thinking it's not. Thanks for the replies.

Always have run everything by my husband, even after I became rep-payee. It is Social Security's choice whether a rep-payee is needed or not. So, I am thinking of the hassle you would have if someone else became your Mom's rep-payee! There are no words to describe how awful that could be.
As the cognitive decline increases, it has been harder to gain his 'approval', and he sometimes demands things not covered in his SSDI budget.
It has been explained that on SSDI income, one receives housing, utilities, and food, medications, not much else. (Small allowance).

It works great when he is cooperative, but when he is not, I am between a rock and a hard place.

I would still be his rep-payee as long as I am able. The alternative is unacceptable.

I was told that I needed to become representative payee and I already was handling all of his finances, so I decided that I wasn't going to give social security the control over his money, because that is what it boils down to. If mom wants to buy something she no longer has the right to spend her money. You are completely responsible and you can not let her have any access. I think that this is ridiculous, especially if you are already dealing with the money.

I couldn't see telling my dad that he couldn't keep a few hundred dollars in his wallet when it is so important to him.

However, if she is making detrimental financial decisions and refuses to let you help it may be the best solution. It does require that all of her money only be spent on her care.

Read the rules with a dictionary and then decide if it is the correct course of action.

What exactly do you need to work on from Social Security. First of all, are you current POA for financial? And if so, is there a Trust account you manage. If Mom's Social Security is put into Trust accounts for her you don't need to be payee. If you choose to do this you must file yearly reports with the SS administration. If you currently manage Mom's affairs you should not need to be rep. payee, I think. Basically her SS check is what it is, is deposited monthly, and goes for her bills. Being payee will demand careful record keeping and filing, but then POA and Trustee does as well, just doesn't need filing.
I managed all my brother's affairs for a year with POA and being the Trustee of his Trust. There was nothing I had to do really with Social Security.
If you DO decide to do this SS will guide you through the process. Step one is that this can be done ONLY IF your Mom has been adjudged incompetent to handle her own affairs, OR has requested this. Either way it takes paperwork.
Do go to the SS site online and type in becoming representative payee. That will explain the process for you as well.