Why won't Social Security accept the POA my father executed prior to brain surgery?

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Why won't Social Security accept the POA my father executed prior to brain surgery?

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Many agencies and banks (federal) will not accept a POA, unless signed under seal with two witnesses . This is just a means of preventing problems later on when objections start to fly.

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We are dealing with this now. We got a paper from SSA about supplemental drug coverage that my mother-in-law has thru them. She has moderate to advanced stage Alzheimer's and my husband was given POA when she was still able to make lucid decisions. He filled out the SSA paper required to renew this supplemental coverage, and there was a question at the bottom that asked "Do you have someone helping you with this form?" and requested the name of the person. My husband (naively) answered "Yes" and signed his name. BIG MISTAKE! She was denied the extra drug coverage, due to the fact that he signed his name. We had to file an appeal with SSA. He took the POA papers to the local office, and was told that SSA does not recognize POA! WWHHAATT?? What good is a POA if it is not recognized by a gov't entity? He then had to try to get his Mom to sign a paper stating that she has Alzheimer's (which she was still able to do, even tho she doesn't understand that she has Alzheimer's LOL), take it back to the SSA office, and then open a bank account WITHOUT her name on the account, (because...they said..she is not able to handle her own affairs) My husband has been handling her bills, etc. for a couple of years, but now is required to have a separate bank account??? This gov't system is CRAZY!!!!! It only causes more burden on ppl who are already stressed with the day to day care of the Alzheimer's patient, and the extra work associated with keeping up with another person's financial and medical care.

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I think this takes a lot of us by surprise. I had the same "awakening" years ago with my first elder's death. It was as real mess, but SS has never accepted a POA. I still haven't figured out exactly what we are supposed to do - at least in a streamlined manner. Eventually, people seem to get things done, but this is something that I have never understood.
Good luck. We can all use advice on this.
Carol

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The Social Security Administration does not honor any POA's. That's the way they do business, and I think it's because of misrpresentatoin and possible fraud over the years. I really don't know for sure. Don't even try it.

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Yeah, fraud....Heard about the family who left mom to mummify in her bed rather than calling doctor or police? The things people will do for money you would not believe. I think they are right to be very suspicious and careful. Too often the people who complain about the rules are the ones who yell loudest when the rules are broken and they get shafted.

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For SSI - you just have to get online and usually also go in to an office and get what is called "Representative Payee" instead. I managed to do it for my dad, so it could not have been too hard.

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Interesting, Vstefans, I'll have to check out "Representative Payee". Thank you.

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Other agencies that we were surprised to find out do not accept POA, were the cable company and phone company.

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you will have to retain an attorney to do your battle. I am having an issue with the bank as will. Have a POA and they want you to jump through hoops. What a disgrace! What was the final outcome?

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You don't have to jump through hoops. You're just making more difficult than it should be. When I went to SSA for my mother they told me the same thing, but they also told me there is a way to have any and all access to her records and that it to become representative payee. It took away her financial freedom, but according to your story, it doesnt seem like your father could handle his own affairs anyway. Sure it was a bit of a hassle up front to prove to them that my mother was physically unable to handle her own self, but that was due to my doctor's fault. SSA literally gave me everything I needed which was to get a form filled out by my mom's doctor, come back to SSA to be interviewed and then wait for me to be selected. And all I had to do for them since was to fill out what they called an accounting form to let them know what I used her money on. I'm not sure why its so difficult.

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We have not reached this bridge yet. But a few years ago I opened my own checking account but remained on the original checking account as joint owner because I don't trust SSA. Her check goes into the first account and my checks go into my account. I did this because if she passed SSA would take back the balance of her last check automatically.
When her checking account builds up to a significant amount I write out a check and we take it to the credit union and deposit into her saving account, not into mine. Yes we have separate savings account at the credit union. Should an audit be done by medicare, medicaid, or SSA it should show these transaction clearly for them.
I pay all of the bills, including any co-pays for her medical treatments.
I am working on getting myself appointed as her guardian. That is taking nearly a year to do.Our only judge that handles that was just removed from the bench for fraud investigation along with his alleged co-conspirator.
Since I don't have anything giving me any sort of poa it gets a little difficult getting her care beyond our PCP. So I just let them play their little game until they determine she can't make the decision or answer their questions correctly.
I did find an elder care attorney and am just waiting fr something from him on our next step. As far as I can see the next step may be income tax returns. But our attorney is also a CPA so I should be able to get some guidance from him.
My wife did not have any sort of DPOA expressing her wishes so I may run into some trouble there.
This thread has been very helpful to me.

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WHat you need for Social Security is not POA but Representative Payee status. You do not always have to bring you loved on in to the office with you, but they do take reasonable measures to avoid fraud. You should create a separate account for the check to go to and carefully document that everything taken out of it is used for the person's benefit and real needs.

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Why won't Social Security accept the POA my father executed prior to brain surgery?

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