Follow
Share

Is it ok to pay for assisted living rent from a LTC policy and use the rep payee bank account to add the funds Into the rep payee account and then take it out to pay for the rent? Funds from Social Security benefits go into this account also to pay for daily living expenses.

This question has been closed for answers. Ask a New Question.
Find Care & Housing
Michael, are you the POA. I think that would be a question for Social Security. I know you have to go there with your Doctor letters and etc to be maid the payee. Now you need their advice. I am the Trustee of my brother's Trust. Made so by him. His Social Security is paid into his Trust Checking Account. I pay all his bills out of this account. I have not been maid payee for his social security. As I understand it I cannot control where that check goes. And can change where it goes, as his "designated other" to get information, only if it goes into a Trust account of his. As I am Trustee of his Trust I then pay all his bills out of that account.
I had to wait forever on the phone for Social Security to talk to them, but when I did talk to them they were enormously helpful. I had to wait another time in our SF Social Security office for half the day for them, but when I got them they were great with answers.
Don't take our word for anything important at this stuff on the forum unless we DO work for S.S. Because it is unique in its rules and qualifications, as is the IRS with its special forms.
Good luck. If you have good info for us to share here please do update because I would love to know the certain, for sure, answer to what you asked.
Helpful Answer (1)
Report
Michael89 Oct 2019
Thank you Alvadeer. Yes everything is very complicated. I got more information regarding the bank account for the rep payee. Yes you can deposit funds from LTC into the same account and pay the rent for assisted living. As long as the funds are my moms going into the account and going out of the account for her needs. You can also use a credit card for expenses as long as you are an authorized user under the beneficiary name (my mom in this case) and pay the credit card back from the rep payee account.
(1)
Report
See 1 more reply
Who is the rep payee for the social security? I would think that so long as the bank account is in the name of the person receiving the social security, with xxx person as rep payee, that same account ought to be able to be used to receive other funds, e.g., the LTC insurance, and then the bills paid out of that. Otherwise, there would have to be 2 bank accounts and separate checks drawn on each to pay the rent. You might want to check with the bank and see if it's allowable to have other funds deposited in a rep payee account.

My husband is POA for his brother, and brother's social security, pension, etc. are direct deposited into brother's bank account. My husband pays the nursing home from that account, using brother's checkbook with but with his name signed as POA for brother. Brother is self pay for now, but once he's on Medicaid I'm presuming it will be handled the same way.
Helpful Answer (0)
Report
AlvaDeer Oct 2019
I am the Trustee of Trust and POA for my bro per his request. His SS comes into his Trust account. I pay all bills out of the Trust account. I am not his representative payee. So as long as no changes are requested on sending his ss check somewhere else we are fine. We also filled out the Social Security forms requesting me as a person to be given information regarding him, per the suggest of Social Security, so they are aware I am involved in his care. Now we can go together (as he is in right mind) to make me payee if we choose or I can address it if he is ever not able to make his own decisions, with letters from MD to be maid payee. So far I am choosing not to be payee. As payee you have to, or can be asked to file paperwork yearly of accounting to prove your actions taken on his funds. Now I owe accounting to no one but my brother. It is all complicated. And it gets more complicated when you do IRS. Everything, it seems is different. Everyone wants something different. And the Credit reporting agencies, if you use POA to try to freeze credit and prevent identity theft even want your POA to be filed. So it can be somewhat a nightmare. I say give yourself a good solid year to accompish what you have to accomplish with each entity.
(0)
Report
Social Security doesn’t honor POAs.
I had GREAT luck when I applied at the social security office to be my LO’s “designated payee”, but bring War and Peace and Gone with the Wind, because although they’ve been streamlined, there’s still a wait.
ALL of my LO’s funds go into one account in her name and the name of her 2 POAs, and no other business except her care is done through that account.
Helpful Answer (1)
Report
AlvaDeer Oct 2019
They should bring letters from the physicians that the person is no longer able to make their own decisions, as well.
And I agree with the War and Peace!
(1)
Report
I would recommend that you keep detailed records, SSA requires that all of those funds be used solely for the care and support of the recipient. They require that you file annual accounting records so they can verify that the money is being used for it's intended purpose.

I don't fully understand what you are asking so I won't try to answer. I just wanted you to know that the SSA does watch how SS benefits are being used.
Helpful Answer (0)
Report

This question has been closed for answers. Ask a New Question.
Ask a Question
Subscribe to
Our Newsletter