Did I read somewhere within T.A.S. web site that Social Security requires specific documention other than a Power of Attorney in order for us to communicate with them on behalf of our LO? I tried to find that info again, and gave up! It's best to have all this documentation in place before we actually need them. I am a good Scout and always try to "Be Prepared"
I'll research this for everyone.. unless some one of you already has the answer to this question...and the name of the form.
When my DH went on Social Security Disability, they set me up as Designated Payee, and I've never had any difficulty commu8nicating with them, as needed. Sometimes with other places I did use DPOA, and a couple accounts, they wanted his permission to talk to me, so I handed him the phone and told him to tell the lady to talk to me. He did. She did. <LOL> And late this last Fall we updated records at a couple medical offices and I signed(Guardian) the HIPPA form for him, authorizing them to talk to me. That is crazy.
My problem with 'handing the phone to my DH' is that they ask him his date of birth, Social Security Number, etc., which of course, he didn't know. If only we had known to do all of this while he could have answered the questions. A word to the early stage Caregivers. Get as much of this done as possible while he can answer questions over the phone. And YES, I had the information written on a tablet in front of him, but he wasn't able to relate the 'questions' to the 'answers'.
This doesn't really fit here but I wanted to share. I have been banking at Suntrust for years. As my husband declined they were aware of what was going on and bent over backwards to help me. Never gave me problems with transferring joint accounts to my daughter without my husband signing. Developed cover letters for data I needed them to fax to Social Security (no charge). They patiently got me set up for on line banking without making me feel dumb. I stopped in today to tell them how I feel about them. Their answer: we are trained to be compassionate. So very nice in these times.