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My mother who has dementia needed a ss verification letter for her residence. SS denied me access saying she had to request it. She is incapable of requesting it. I took my POA/ and Health Car Proxy to SS and they still refused how do I get SS to deal with me on behalf of my mother

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Wow I never had any problems with either parent but I was signed on to their accounts and we had set it up to have their payments direct deposited into their accounts. I am glad to know I dodged a bullet there but also be aware in case anything should happen in the future.
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In IL, I was told that POA's for financial are not honored by the Soc. Sec. Office and that if the person is declared incompetent, are you the, their guardian?
I agree with trycope51, you can do it all without a lawyer, if you are the only child and it should be straightforward, if other children are involved and they find out, it could cost bucks. Let's hope you are an only child or you have siblings who aren't going to question you or fight your intentions.
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Ok, LightHealer, I'll bite...you are basically quite right, and I do believe Divine guidance was the main factor in my figuring out anything...but on here, we are all pretty busy trying to figure out what actually is right, because what our loved ones think is right may not be possible. And God knows, what the government tries to get right is a bit of a jumble to put it kindly! Just going with the flow may not quite work out as well as you might hope, you're going to have to muck through some rules and regs on behalf of your loved one who can't muck through it themselves.

To put it another way....Serenely swimming swans are still gonna poop somewhere, in the real world. My Divine guidance includes the idea that you have to take up your cross, bear one another's burdens and all that. And, always remember, the easy problems have been solved already :-)
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I had a similar problem. I am my mom's POA. As per SSA, I had to get a letter from her doctor stating that she is not able to make decisions and that I and my brother are responsible for her affairs. I had to become her payee. What initiated this was that I wanted to change our mailing address to a P.O. Box. We were and still are having problems with our mail. The post office have been sending our mail to whomever and most of our neighbors and the people in the area can not be trusted to do the right thing. Representing our mom is becoming more difficult, even though we have gone to a senior lawyer and have the appropriate papers. Also, HiPPA laws has made it more difficult for caregivers. Oh this journey.....
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Just Do What Is Right By Your LOVED ONE! Make your decisions based on your "Divine Guidance"......LOVE.... Then it will ALL FLOW!
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I was surprised too when I found out my Dad's POA did not mean anything to SSA. I had to go to the SSA office where I was, and have a face to face interview and fill out forms to get it, otherwise his nursing home would have gotten to be representative payee instead. Dad had Medicaid, and if they got his whole income, there would not have been enough to help Mom. We kept up with the patient pay part of his costs once we had the Medicaid, but that is a long story...now that I sit here looking back at it all, I can hardly believe I ever managed to negotiate any of it correctly...it is a darn complicated mess.
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Usually, a social security verification "notice" that she is getting social security is needed for housing. That is the statement (not really a letter) sent us every January indicating what the medical deductions are, then the amount that is deposited/mailed to her. All the housing resident owners want to know is that her income will meet the government's criteria. Look through her documents and see if you can find it, then present that. Whether or not she has dementia is not really the issue, I don't believe. Have you asked specifically at her housing exactly what kind of document they want?
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Can she write her name. Have her sign whatever they want.....
....Love the automated phone suggestions or do it online. Great ideas.
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You will need representative payee status which you can get by applying through SS. I have had to do it too for several family members. SS is a monster on many ways. Just try getting disability for someone with dementia or serious physical problems like brain damage to see how much of a monster they are.
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I have a POA for my husband and I also had to have a letter from his Dr. stating he has Dimentia and not capable to make his own decisions. When I took it back to the SS office, I was made his representative and can answer for him. I do get a letter each year from SS making asking what I spent his monthly SS check on. I send the letter back stating money was spent on living expenses, medications, etc. etc. I don't try and break it down monthly and they have accepted this.
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Thanks, LadeeC. I can really use your coding tips!
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A word of caution about writing down passwords. If you write them down, ANYone can access them. I code all of mine. I use a letter and number combination. For example: Bevwest might mean, Coke1234 ... where Bev=Coke (note the Cap) and 1234 is a number combo that I'll always remember == NOT a birthday!! I use a pin number from a long ago closed bank account. Most 'secure' passwords require at least 8 digits with a combination of Upper/lower case letters, numbers and some force a character. In that case, I use the actual character in the code, like: Bev&1234.

If I need to remember pin numbers, I make an address book entry: 1234 Main St (the 1234 represents the ACTUAL pin number and the street name can be any random street name, maybe make the initials match the institution where it's used. For instance, if it's Mutual Bank, it would be 1234 Maple Bark Lane. Do NOT list it under the institution's name in the address book. Make up some contacts, instead, that help you remember what it's for.

If you're setting up accounts and you want someone to know them, clue them into your code and send it registered mail. Most of these accounts are your life's bread. Protect them. There are really greedy, evil people out there.
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Ok, and when SS do their audit, and that one detailed auditor realize...mom was incompetent at the time/date all this was done online...then what..who's to blame, or be charged w/fraud..who filled this out online for your mom....you did all this online in her name...who's to blame when you are questioned or the letter comes to your mail box, stating that your being charged... Records or not, you broke the law and can be charged. I was pretty much at a stand still w/DPOA as mom did all that distructive stuff...(when she actually appt'd me years ago on the DPOA, I thought that took care of medical also, "Not"). As far as ss bureaucracy, backlog, or any bad feelings dealing w/them; I have to speak up for them, the ss office was very cooperative, and I was appointed in 2 weeks from the time I put in for rep-payee. There was no red tape, backlog, or bureaucracy...I don't know maybe I had a good rep that day, because everything went smoothly; and I didn't expect them to do all in a day when they deal w/thousands of applications per day. It really doesn't take long since your mom is already recieving ss benefits; if it was a initial application for ss, I'm not sure how long that takes... I still say legally is the way to go...i's dotted and t's crossed..
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basically you want to - as DPOA, MPOA - is to do everything you can to do it as them and on-line and direct deposit everything. Having to interface with the bureaucracy of SSA or the fed's on anything is time-consuming and inefficient for you and job security for them. One over-zealous low level fed and you will be stuck in paperwork hell and your elder's $ in limbo. Not pretty and maddening.

Keep your data and input stuff always the same and same passwords, keep it simple and keep a binder or notebook on everything filed with date and password.
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Chicago1954 your right, cable tv told me I have to actually come down there w/my court appt guardianship paper to put in their files to access my moms acct in my name for her...that's includes her other basic utility companies/creditors. My bro suggested I put all in my name, but I don't want any mix ups, so leaving all in her name so ss will see it's not my accts or i'm not paying my bills w/her ss $s; I prefer keeping all of her affairs separate from mine... With her demensia etc..she's already accused me of various untrue stuff (which is part of demensia); and don't want anymore drama, this way everything is verifiable in he name/her accts.
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Another place that won't take your authority as POA, is cable tv companies. Go figure. Mother can't hear on the phone, so we have to answer the questions for her, quite often.
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Oh, and ss also states that my mom can't have any access to the rep-payee acct. It's in your name for her but she has no access to do anything with that new acct.
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If you create a acct for your mom on that sight, and then saying she's incapable...who know when, but they might eventually come back and say who setted up that account "she's incapable". I don't know, I just like being legal on all accounts, I don't want something to come up laterr and then I'm in trouble.
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The SS Office stated that I had to open a separate acct for my mom's ss only, not joint w/anybody. They clearly stated that the acct must be in my name for my mom ie..."My Name as representitive for Her Name". All the banks are familiar w/this procedure from SS Office, so they know how it must be set up, all you have to do is state that it's a ss representive payee acct. Never do a joint acct w/your mom as a rep-payee.
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Since reading "elantz" response, and I thought it would be helpful since i'm now my mom's legal ss rep-payee/guardian. I thought maybe I could create a ss acct for my mom, but if you read what's posted on that ss create a acct it clealy states criminal "Consequences/Effects" even if your a rep-payee's to setup this acct for somebody else, see below I just got and cut/paste from create ss account::

You must be able to verify some information about yourself and:•Have a valid E-mail address,
•Have a Social Security number,
•Have a U.S. mailing address, and
•Be at least 18 years of age.

You can create an account only to gain access to your own personal information. You cannot use this online service to access the records of a person: •With whom you have a business relationship;
•For whom you are a representative payee; or
•For whom you are an appointed representative.
Unauthorized use of this service may subject you to criminal or civil penalties, or both.
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Thank you all very much for the information it has been very helpful. When we opened a Joint
Bank Account Mom had to do a Rep Payee for the Accountbecause her SS is a direct deposit. Would that rep payee be the same as the one reqired to get information on her Benefits.
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Cont: or Verification Letters etc..., because you might need something else in the future from SS, so do it all legally and finalized.
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I notice that some recommend doing online as her, but for you to become her rep-payee; "she" has to recommend you her rep-payee; and not impersonating as her; especially if she's competent...I'm the scairy type and don't do impersonating of nobody. If competent and she goes to the ss/contact them and state that she didn't do this herself ...your the one in trouble. I don't know all the facts of her or your situation..but I personnally wouldn't impersonate nobody. I like doing everything the legal way, if it takes a month, so be it.....
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Oh and yes, as the CChase stated above, the docter has to have diagnosed (letter/statement signed) your mom as having Demensia etc.. Which is the strongest evidence for the incompetence/guardianship court hearing. I personally didn't hire a lawyer, I did it "myself", lawyers are expensive, and why in your case would you hire a lawyer, when you already have the health proxy/poa to get the evidence "yourself"; from her doc that's needed ie..a doc statement/letter that's verifiable proof of your mom's demensia. As the court clerk told me, when I first filed the paperwk to petition for her incompetence/guardianship "the strongest evidence is one or two statements/letters from her doc's stating "Demensia etc..., and they reccomend her having a guardian to taker care of her financial/medical affairs". The court will automatically appoint your mom a lawyer (free), and that's where my strongest evidence came from "her court appointed lawyers/guardian". They interviewed her doc's, my mom, and my witnesses; and they got the needed docters diagnosis/reports stating she has demensia/sckizophenia w/paronoid features; and they reported to the court that my mom needed a guardian (mom was pissed at me and them). I had evidence of how she was living and not paying basic household bills, scammers, bank statement, and witnesses affidavits for the hearing; but her court appointed lawyers/temp guardians hadmthe strongest evidence from her doc"s. I reccomend: 1. You do this yourself w/your POA/Health authorization to get the signed statement/letter from her doc stating she has "Demensia". 2. Take that statement with you to the county court special proceedings, and fill out the forms to file for incompetence/guardianship of your mom (costed me $120.00 in NC). 3. Do the court hearing (usually 2wks out, or you can do the emergency hearing (cost extra $20, for 1wk). It also costed me an $30 to have have the sheriff serve my mom w/notification (mandatory here that sheriff serves her). 4. Once hearing over and your ruled as her guardian. 5. Take the incompetency/guardianship papers to SSN Office and do the rep-payee interview. This all took me a total of 1 month to become her rep-payee. If at all possible, do all of this yourself, if your backgrd is clean, and your records don't have a bunch of red flags against you, you will be appointed her rep-payee
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You need to call SS and pretend you are your mother. Have all of her info. in front of you. There is an automated service. You don't need to speak to anyone.
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Last year, I applied to begin receiving SS benefits. I did this all online, and had to create an online account, whereby I can get all sorts of info about my own account, and also make changes. There is also a Benefit Verification Letter in my account, that I can customize to select the info I want included, and then print out. No beaurocratic quicksand!
If you have not already created online access for your mother's social security account, go to http://www.socialsecurity.gov. (Create the account, as if you were her, using her information.). Once you have done that, go to the "my Social Security" tab, and you can get the Benefits Verification Letter.
Good luck!
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If your mom is competent, she can sign for you to be her ss rep-payee at the local ss office. If she is ruled incompetent, and you are appointed as her guardian by the court; you can apply at ss to be her rep-payee. When you go to ss to apply for the rep-payee, you must have your photo id, you moms ssn, your court papers ie..incompetent, appointment of guardianship etc... Even though you put in for rep-payee ss will still ck "you" out ie...credit/background check, and "are you financially responsible" too take care of your moms finances. The reason I know, is because I just went through this with SS May 2013, and was granted as my mom's rep-payee. The above replies are correct they do not recognize just POA/Health Proxy etc..... I heard you can fill out the form online for rep-payee, but I actually did face to face w/ss representive. I did a walk in (w/verifiable court papers/justification in hand), but got their early, prior to them opening due to long lines and their wierd hours....ended up being #10 in line, so it didn't take long. Once called did a 10 minute questions/answer interview w/the ss representitive; and ther rep typed/filled in the forms...Questions they asked: Why do your mom need rep-payee ie... Mental Impaired, Demensia/Guardianship etc..; Why would you be best person to be your moms rep-payee ie.... daughter/guardian, and I see her daily or 3 to 5 days a wk; Who else has interest in your mom ie..in my case my brother and they will want the persons name/address/phone#; Are you her natural/adoptive relative?; Have you ever been convicted of a felony, imprisoned for more than yr or have a warrant; Where are you employed?....; Do your mom owe you money? What is your monthly income/other household income?; You will also have to show them your drivers license or state id card (they will make a copy of it, court or justifiable papers, not POA/Proxy)... Bottom line they want to see if your a qualified candidate to be your mom's rep-payee. The easiest way is if your mom request you as rep-payee... But in my case my mom didn't want a rep-payee, so I had to do what had to be done; to include the prior to going to ss going to court having her ruled incompetent/and me/bro as her guardian.
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Maybe you need a certified letter from her Dr./Geriatrics deeming her not competent any longer to handle her own. What age is your mother is she eligible for her SS?
If that fails I would contact an elder care lawyer. I don't get how they are denying her.The only other thing that could be going on is there a chance that someone else maybe using her #? If this is the case you are definitely going to need a lawyer.
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(It would be nice to edit responses!)

Part two - once guardianship is approved, SS has a specific set of procedures and forms to submit for approval - -
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The Social Security Administration does not recognize POA. You must follow their procedures to apply to be a representative payee for SS & Medicare on behalf of your mom and then you will be able to act on her behalf on matters related to her SS & Medicare benefits.

I also had to apply - separately - to be the rep payee for both my dad & mom's federal pension & benefits. They also do not recognize POA.

It's not hard to do these paperwork things - it just takes time, etc.
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