I am her medical POA and I suggested my niece being financial POA just to help them paying their bills on time. We worked closely together until my dad died then my niece took my mom's checkbook and credit cards away and open an account that my mom has never seen a statement or a dime of money in 2 1/2. My dad's retirement check goes directly into this account and my mom has no access to it. If I suggest my mom needing something I am told their is no available funds. I live with my mom and she lives 3 hrs away.
If I were you I would contact the attorney and tell them that there may be financial abuse going on and they can request all financial records from the financial POA.
If mom can not change POA you could seek full Guardianship. That would remove niece as POA.
See a Lawyer. POA does not give the niece tge right to keep Moms money. It may be Dads pension, but Mom is the survivor and the check should be coming in her name. That check and her SS should be going into the same account. The money is hers to care for her. Neither you or niece should be paying anything out of pocket for Mom.
It sounds way too fishy that you're being told that there are no available funds for your mom's needs when the money is hers. Perhaps your niece is paying herself for POA work that she's not entitled to; that payment is based on the total amount of the estate and she may be overpaying herself. You need to take the reins.
Once you have POA, the attorney will advise you on how to proceed with obtaining all records from your niece. This will cause some rancor, but with this lack of transparency, you have cause to move on this. She will need to provide a full accounting so that you can take over the record keeping and payments. It's a lot to do, but you and esp your mom require this information.
If you wish to avoid rancor, you could have a letter sent by certified mail. Draft a formal letter asking for an accounting of monies in and out. If she refuses to provide this, then there is cause for the upset that a change of POPA will cause.
I wish you luck in all of this. Act swiftly.
Better yet, have an attorney write that letter to the bank.
Who is the 'she' who lives three hours away?
Whatever the situation, ask for a re-assessment if you are concerned that your mother cannot handle her own finances. MDs are very careful about this. In my situation, the letter (on letterhead) was worded 'at this time" - that was enough... friend couldn't manage his own finances "at this time."
You need to have a serious talk with the niece.
Where is the money going? INSIST that the niece show you (and your mother, if your mother can cognitively understand) statements.
Get copies of all financial documents / monthly statements
- Get your name on the account so you also get statements mailed to her and if you do not already have it,
- Get the legal authority you need to oversee (double check) or take control if this is what you want to do. Gena / Touch Matters