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I have spent about 29 hours dealing with SS. I’ve made in person trip to SS office. My aunt does not have an online account. The facility tried to help my aunt with a call to SS just to get the address changed and request a new 1099 to be sent to the facility. She refused to give the address and started screaming that was the wrong address. I’m just trying to file her taxes. I might add the original mail was returned to SS.

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To the two people who responded to me. I never needed to become Moms payee for her Social Security because it was direct deposited and I was on her account besides being POA. Once she was on Medicaid, the NH was getting her monthly income of SS and a small pension. It was logical to me since she was living there that they should become her payee. I also did not have to worry about writing a check every month. And, if any problems with SS and her pension after her death, that was all on the NH since they were the payee. Her money never hit her bank acct once they were payee. They must have set up their own acct for her payments to go to.
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Reply to JoAnn29
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In general:

The 1099 needs to go to you as Rep Payee. What good will it do to enable you to file her taxes if it goes to her or the facility? So, change her address to yours if that is at all possible if you are not nearby?

It starts with, like you said: "She refused to give the address and started screaming...." and it can get worse. Aunt can turn you in to APS = Adult Protective
Services with false accusations.

At any time their mood can make you the enemy, they can "steal" their own money without accountability; and instead of spending it on budget or responsibly, if they somehow have gained access, can empty their own account buying something frivolous. And they don't want you as their payee, sometimes yes, sometimes no.

You may need to open an online account and manage it on her behalf, not allowing her access. "Your name; On behalf of; her name.
The key to receiving SS funds on her behalf:
ALL the funds are for ONLY her use.
You cannot allow her access to her account.
You must provide the person with reasonable spending money according to fiduciary guidelines.

"The future is so much like the past and present, only there is more of it."
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Hothouseflower 1 hour ago
Just open an on line account. that's what I did with my parents. That way you can download the 1099 and also the annual award letter, which needs to be furnished to Medicaid annually. You don't need to be a representative payee if you have that account.
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I did this with my mother before her death in 2022 however, it wasn't a quick process. In my case my mother had dementia and her great-grandchildren were exploiting her financially. The process did require an application submission and a personal telephone interview with the the SS Caseworker. They didn't even interview my mother. I had to do this for her VA survival benefits too but they were much more strict. Starting with contacting the a local SS Office case worker should provide the information that you need. COVID was happening when I did it so we used the telephone and faxing to get things done and it took about a month. There is periodical expenditure reporting but it's done on line so that makes it easier. Good Luck.
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My Mom was on Medicaid the last 3 months of her life. I allowed the facility to become her payee. Same with her pension. Taxes, my Mom did not have to pay them any longer. Her SS and pension were under the cap required to file. Social Security does not recognize POA.

I would ask the facility if they became payee, would it make things easier. Would they then be able to get the information you need? It sounds like Aunt may have Dementia. As POA, I had to sign saying it was OK for NH to be payee.

I am going thru something similar with a government pension. My nephew did not receive his yearly statement showing the amount he receives and the increase. This is needed for Medicaid. As his payee, I tried to set up an account, told me info was wrong. He tried to set up an acct, same thing. All phone calls say go on line. I was able to get a ticket started and I sent a formal letter. That was over a month ago, no response. So hoping Medicaid excepts his bank statements showing the old total and the new total.
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KPinSC Mar 29, 2026
For all the examples you are sharing, if you are the responsible one, I would think it would be better to personally become the payee. If it is given to a facility, and the LO has to move, you would have to go through all this again and the LO would be even less able to assist. IMHO
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If your aunt is in a facility, why is there even a need to file taxes? Surely, they are taking her income every month or her care and keep. Unless of course she has a Long Term Care insurance policy.

If you have her POA, it shouldn't be difficult for you to become the SS Payee for her. You make an appointment at Social Security, bring your POA documents and whatever banking information about the account it's to be deposited in. If you don't have her POA, you can't do anything. You will have to be appointed by her to be POA and if she's in a residential care facility permanently, your best bet would probably be to let the facility get one of their people appointed her financial POA. They're going to take it all anyway. You try for medical POA, so you can make sure she's being cared for and can make decisions pertaining to her health care and medical decicions. This way you won't have the headache of having to deal with getting them paid every month.
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