My father has dementia and is in a nursing home in VA. I have POA. His house has been sold and I live in PA. For income taxes etc. and his retirement benefits info for the company he worked for, is the nursing home in VA considered his offical/permanent address? I am in the process of proving to his "company" that I am POA but they are asking for...Permanent address, Pension check mailing address and alternative address. His pension check is auto deposit to his bank account.
Be aware that when you told his "company" that he is in a nursing home, they went into "business mode" and asked for his "permanent" address because they already know that his pension check, and all of his other monies should be sent to the nursing home. Your father's tax records must reflect that that's where his checks are sent also.
I notice others are replying about personal, and social mail. As POA, You can control where that goes. It doesn't matter.
But money and assets are a different "animal" to be dealt with according to state laws.
Take Care.
"Yes. The care facility is his permanent address."
Be aware that if his care is being paid for by state MEDICAID to any degree: (Or, if your father usn't getting medicaid, then perhaps the info below will help someone else who is on medicaid.)
1. ALL of your father's monies are supposed to be sent to the healthcare facility to pay his expenses there and offset some of the expense medicaid is paying. If you have POA and you don't send his monies DIRECTLY there, (you can't deposit it in his account then send them a check ir keep the money) it is considered a violation if medicaid rules and there could be a penality when it's discovered. (A full disclosure of all assets is required to deter.ine eligibility). Medicaid perfers to use all of the patient's money first, then they pay the balance.
2. MEDICAID WILL SEEK TO REIMBURSE ITSELF from your father's estate after he passes. They will look to collect from most all of his assets and especially from his home by placing a lein on it after ge passes. Even if it is sold, they still look back 5 years before his passing, for any assets that were sold during that time to see if they can find anything that was wrongfully sold to avoid them).
(A few things are exempt.)
3. To protect assets from medicaid before he passes, some assets may be transferred to his heirs now, and some can be put in an irrevocable trust for his heirs.
An estate attorney can better direct you on this. Or even your local medicaid office will give you sound advice on what you can and cannot do with assets.
Take care.
Everything is delivered to me.
And I managed everything so I had to get all his mail.
He was unable to manage mail for many years.
You may need to contact an attorney if taxes are involved.
I, too, was a POA and everything else - not no taxes involved.
Gena / Touch Matters
No… you don’t need to change anything with his social security at this point. In fact social security doesn’t recognize POAs. It is best to leave it as you have it for now. I would leave it all auto deposit for the time he is off medicaid.
Since you have some time, please do go and visit more than one facility. Also look for small care homes. With your dads VA benefits, pension and social security he might not have to go on Medicaid and his savings might last longer. Private pay in a nursing home is usually the most expensive alternative.
You will want to move Dad to a nursing home near you BEFORE he runs out of money so you can choose the nursing home . They want private pay for at least 6 months or maybe a year in order to get in the one you choose . ( Double check on that time frame with homes . I haven’t placed anyone in SNF in years ). Choose one that will take Medicaid after Dad eventually runs out of money . Probably should move him sooner rather than later .
He should not ever receive any piece of mail other than a greeting card or catalog at the nursing home.
His residence is the nursing home. His mailing address is wherever his POA says it is.
One other thought on this topic. After my DH aunt went Into the NH I failed to check with the NH admin to make sure they would only put personal mail like cards in her room and forward or hold any other mail for me. (someone has to open her cards and read them but she enjoys getting them).
I am POA and they have a copy of the POA. she has dementia. I kept thinking it was odd I hadn’t received certain documents. One day I asked the NH if they had any mail for aunt. Oh yes, here in this file they said. 🤨
My take on it was they are accustomed to receiving all the mail for many of their patients and didn’t think it was unusual that they received it. So you might ask what the procedure is for your father at his home if you haven’t already.
Often you will be told to provide them with his address, stipulating that this is a nursing home resident, and with the mailing address which should now be to your home.
I did this work for my brother as I was POA and Trustee of Trust and took over all accounts and finances for him. I lived at one end of California and he at the other. It took a good YEAR with a very very good POA written well by an attorney to get things ironing out as to mailing addresses and etc. IRS and SS and Medicare was the most difficult, as normal POA doesn't apply for them. My brother had to be competent enough to request mailings go to me. Other entities did recognize the POA but I was busy delivering and copying POA/Trusts for a year. Once done things ran more smoothly, but wow, what a job, and that with a very easily managed estate.
Your address is his mailing address.
As POA you can have his mail go to you . My father in law with dementia loses mail , so all his important mail comes to our house , my husband is POA. My husband made our house the mailing address.
I had a little experience with this for my DH Aunt but hers is not as complicated as both addresses were in the same state. I would not want anything as important as you describe being mailed to the NH. If everything can be done electronically, then that’s a thought.I would probably contact the IRS or CPA and ask and then contact the human resources or company benefits contact and find out your options. I suspect both will be your address.