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I am trying to get my mother's address changed to mine. She currently lives in assisted living. I would like to get her Medicare statements and her as W4 sent to my address. They want me to become a payee representative which involves paperwork that I do not want to do. I canceled an appointment to meet with them. What's the chance that they will not keep info that I already gave them, mainly my mom's maiden name and the place that she is living and I think that SSA office called the the assisted living place to verifying that she cannot pay her bills? I am thinking I would go online with her to do the change of address thing. Any advice out there.

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I apologize for my rant back up the line here. Hopefully some actual info can be gleaned from my negative post. I could not take mom in with me to SS as she no long can speak and her incontinency can be a problem. I am simultaneously also dealing with my handicapped sister in another nursing home. Poor thing had encephalitis with the mumps at age 11 and besides the enlarged skull she lost the ability to walk. Through the years she was able to use a walker but her last fall left her unable to transfer herself. Its been hard dealing with two at the same time. Sometimes I find myself venting on these media sites and I apologize. Its all good friends. It certainly is a character builder and you know I wouldn't want to miss the blessings all these things bestow. God love all of you and don't miss your blessing.
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Oh yeah, you actually have to have a separate document making you healthcare POA. I kept copies wherever I went because sometimes people would not even want to tell me what meds Mom was on (or off) without it, or even with it. HIPAA gets overinterpreted ALL the time. Its a lot to deal with. I remember being surprised that having POA was neither necessary nor sufficient to make you rep payee, they did that totally differently. I guess I learned to roll with the punches and politely produce whatever documentation I needed to, and realize that most people were just trying to do their jobs (granted there were a few trying to use the paperwork or privacy issues to find excuses NOT to do their jobs, or just to be mean because they could...). Someone who cares about you and yours can find ways to make it work out, someone who cares only about covering their own tail end won't bother, but you just have to be as well-armed and informed as you can be and roll right over them when you need to.
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wow. what a range of results! everybody had a different experience it seems.
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Yes, I agree with expresser... It was not so easy because of HIPPA (privacy) laws. I am my mother's primary POA; my brother is co-POA. Because of problems with delivery of our mail, we changed our delivery address to a PO Box. We had to get a letter from the doctor (neurologist) stating that our mom is incapable of making decisions and taking care of her business. I had to become her payee in order to change home address for Social Security and Medicare. Before changing her mailing address, we took care of her financial affairs. Our names are on her bank statements as POA, we have all her legal documents in order. HIPAA is making it harder for POAs and those who have the right to represent love ones with dementia. Sometimes, I feel that others can take advantage of her even though we have the legal right to represent her. It gets crazy... very frustrating.. So far we have managed.. but I wonder what other obstacles will we have in the future.
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I was able to get rep payee for my dad and it was a blessing. They basically asked if I was caring for him and I was honest it was long distance (frequent trips) as he was still in a nursing home - and that was all they needed. This was while my mom was in assisted living, hoping to get back home, but even then utterly unable to negotiate Medicaid or anything else for him. The nursing home itself tried to get rep payee instead of me but that would have meant my mom not having any of "his" income. We had a special rep payee account and only his SSI went in there, paid the difference for his medical costs, and a little of Mom's too. It was complicated, we actually had five accounts total to keep it all kosher. I'm not sure exactly how I did it, but I managed to keep it straight and keep the bills paid.
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I do have the POA for my father, but it means NOTHING to social security. With all the new protection laws, you can not just change the address on-line like you use to be able to do. I called and thought that I could have the address changed, but I take care of all my dad's business, but I live 2 states away from him. The lady at the social security office asked if someone could bring him into the ss office, and that is so hard to do, the logistics alone. Getting him to a doctor, takes 2 people, my sister and brother (who live close to his assistant living facility) and take him to the doctor's said that they would take him, but getting him to his doctor's appointments are higher priority. We are lucky, my dad is private pay and his ss just goes into the bank. That is what you may have to do after you move. But, if all you are doing is changing the address, what I did was change the address with the post office on-line, and when they sent the confirmation that the address had been changed, I took a copy of the official United States Post Office postal address change and mailed it to the social security office, they got it and changed the address. If you have to have the facility stop getting social security checks, and set up direct deposit into your mom's bank, you need to take your mom into the local office and do that. It is the only way to stop the dance with this crazy problem.
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Its not that much paperwork. I did it for my mom and yes I had to become her payee rep. You would rather be her payee rep than the nursing home anyway. They do make you become the payee and you have to go into the office. I had to take my mom with me and I guess they have to see the person is incapable or be able to verify it. being a payee only insures the persons money and well being is being met. How would you like it if you become unable to care for yourself and no one wanted to take an hour out of their day to set up something so simple. Don't make simple things about caregiving or support so difficult. The daily care itself is and will become the hardest thing you will have to do. If you are lucky enough to have your mom in an assisted living home you are luckier than most of us. Just be sure you visit her often, someone has to be her advocate. the home is just doing s job, no personal feeling! Please don't start out not being honest with SS, its not worth it and the paperwork at the end of the year is just 1 page that you breakdown how much money you used on her in each category. It sounds kike the nursing home is doing the caregiving.
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I agree with AKdaughter, I did the same and had no problems. Dad and Mom could say "talk to my daughter".. They are great at that!
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Was a nightmare - they would not give me any info - a week or more later the local office called and started treating me like a criminal (bureaucrats - they have been given a little power and they start wielding it around) I was TOLD I must come into the office and present info. They basically then force you to become the "Representative Payee". If you refuse they will appoint a third party to handle your moms stuff. See SS site for representative payee duties. They do not acknowledge the normal Power of Attorney documents you may have unless possibly court certified. I finally told them to at least give me a week to get doctors letters. They did not want to delay having me come in but they finally gave me the week while I scrambled for letters on moms condition from her doctors. Typical big government B.S. I understand the need to protect but they have no sympathy for we caregivers and all the other things we have to do. The doctors letter worked and I was made Rep. Payee. Now I have to fill out forms whenever the require them to show where all the money went. Bank accounts must be setup with special holding requirements. My suggestion is to first try to set up an online account for your mom with SS as if you were her. If successful you can do a lot online. Secondly I would try not to even bother talking to SS unless absolutely necessary. If you can live with her address as is do it. The option is to get the form to become rep payee online then set appt to go in and become rep payee. get your Dr. letters etc. BUT give them as little as possible. Dribble one item at a time under the glass until they are satisfied. Good luck.P.S. You may want to take another family member in as will to get the process done for both of you just incase something happens to one or the other of you.
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I was just at the Social Security office in Glendale, AZ, and they keep records on your mother. Why can't she go with you, and why did you cancel the appointment? If you want to lie, I guess you could change her information online at ssa.gov, or you can call them at the 800 number. I had to call to change my address because the credit bureau locked me out of my online account because they said I didn't answer a question correctly to identify myself. I then had to go the ssa office to verify I was who I was, and they unlocked my online account. Unbelievable! Good luck!
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I did this a few years ago for my mom. I called the local SS office, explained the situation and then handed the phone to mom. She told them she wanted to change her mailing address and handed the phone back to me to give them the info. I am not interested in being the representative payee because that requires an annual report to SS about how the money was spent, and I don't need any more paperwork!
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If they are paying the assisted living directly, it has nothing to do with changing her address to yours. I would still talk to post office. I received all her bills and tax forms and the money went to the home directly.
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She has to go with you to the social security office or the can do it by phone with the 800 number.
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angelbus10, seems that social security is involved because they seem to be paying the assisted living directly.
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I just went through that last year. I simply filled out a change of address with Mom's name to my address, and I received everything. I didn't have to do anything with Social Security. Check with your post office for the form.
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If your mother is fully competent, she can tell the Assisted Living place she is moving and can tell them she does not want her social security being taken by them anymore if that is how it is set up. She can go online and change her address, and she can also talk to social security rep to do what she wants have done. Guardianship, and such is reserved for those that are totally incapable of handling their own affairs due to physical restrictions or mental incapacity.
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They are restricted to sending information only to the client due to privacy laws. If you were her Guardian, they would send it to you. If the assisted living facility is receiving her funds, they are already the representative payee. You should see a lawyer, you don't want to jeopardize her benefits or living arrangements.
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