Social Security check is stopping

[MaggieD]

John just got a letter re his brother (82 years old, dementia, in a nursing home, deaf) that his Social Security check was being stopped. The letter only said that his Medicare premiums would be billed to him 3 months at a time, and if he took issue with the letter, he should contact the SS office.

I spent an hour and 15 minutes on the phone yesterday with the SS office . . . waiting . . . and finally hung up. John went to the SS office and doesn't understand what they're telling him.

Has anyone ever gotten a letter like this? Why the HELL wouldn't the letter say what the problem is?

It's going to take me four or five hours I don't have to help him straighten it out. WTF? I'm wondering if it's identity theft or some-such, but why on EARTH wouldn't the letter give more information? I've read the letter myself and that's pretty much all it says.

Anyone ever heard of this?

 

[Winchester]

Have you asked the business office at the nursing home? They've probably seen something like this before.

 

[Slartibartfast]

I have a good friend who is a private consultant for cases like this. He worked for years for the government managing a large social services office. I could give you his contact info if you want

 

[TheNextEra]

John just got a letter re his brother (82 years old, dementia, in a nursing home, deaf) that his Social Security check was being stopped. The letter only said that his Medicare premiums would be billed to him 3 months at a time, and if he took issue with the letter, he should contact the SS office.

I spent an hour and 15 minutes on the phone yesterday with the SS office . . . waiting . . . and finally hung up. John went to the SS office and doesn't understand what they're telling him.

Has anyone ever gotten a letter like this? Why the HELL wouldn't the letter say what the problem is?

It's going to take me four or five hours I don't have to help him straighten it out. WTF? I'm wondering if it's identity theft or some-such, but why on EARTH wouldn't the letter give more information? I've read the letter myself and that's pretty much all it says.

Anyone ever heard of this?

Unfortunately many letters coming from those offices are pre-made and are intentionally vague so that they can use it for multiple situations.

Going down to the SS office is usually your best bet. Did he find out why yet?

 

[ttwtt78640]

John just got a letter re his brother (82 years old, dementia, in a nursing home, deaf) that his Social Security check was being stopped. The letter only said that his Medicare premiums would be billed to him 3 months at a time, and if he took issue with the letter, he should contact the SS office.

I spent an hour and 15 minutes on the phone yesterday with the SS office . . . waiting . . . and finally hung up. John went to the SS office and doesn't understand what they're telling him.

Has anyone ever gotten a letter like this? Why the HELL wouldn't the letter say what the problem is?

It's going to take me four or five hours I don't have to help him straighten it out. WTF? I'm wondering if it's identity theft or some-such, but why on EARTH wouldn't the letter give more information? I've read the letter myself and that's pretty much all it says.

Anyone ever heard of this?

The answer, it would seem, is for you to do as John did - not understanding the reason is not the same thing as no reason given.

 

[MaggieD]

The answer, it would seem, is for you to do as John did - not understanding the reason is not the same thing as no reason given.

Yeah, I get it. And five hours later, I'll know what the problem is. Why wouldn't the letter say what the problem is? It's effective June 1st -- stopping someone's SS check with no notice while some bureaucrats screw up is ridiculous.

 

[ttwtt78640]

Yeah, I get it. And five hours later, I'll know what the problem is. Why wouldn't the letter say what the problem is? It's effective June 1st -- stopping someone's SS check with no notice while some bureaucrats screw up is ridiculous.

If you do not do so then five months later you will still not know what the problem is (was).

 

[pragmatic]

John just got a letter re his brother (82 years old, dementia, in a nursing home, deaf) that his Social Security check was being stopped. The letter only said that his Medicare premiums would be billed to him 3 months at a time, and if he took issue with the letter, he should contact the SS office.

I spent an hour and 15 minutes on the phone yesterday with the SS office . . . waiting . . . and finally hung up. John went to the SS office and doesn't understand what they're telling him.

Has anyone ever gotten a letter like this? Why the HELL wouldn't the letter say what the problem is?

It's going to take me four or five hours I don't have to help him straighten it out. WTF? I'm wondering if it's identity theft or some-such, but why on EARTH wouldn't the letter give more information? I've read the letter myself and that's pretty much all it says.

Anyone ever heard of this?

Does sound bizarre. Are you sure that his SS payments are actually being discontinued? As in, any chance they are stopping the physical check and switching to a form of direct deposit??

May just be some adjustment with the billing procedures at the nursing home.

Hope your ultimate answer isn't too much of a pain in the ass. Dealing with the bureaucracy can be daunting.


(It is also kind of bizarre that SS and Medicare premiums would be addressed in the same letter. Those are 2 different planets. Who exactly was the letter from....???)




//

 

[MaggieD]

Have you asked the business office at the nursing home? They've probably seen something like this before.

Winchester. Great advice. I called the nursing home to see if they'd triggered something that would cause this. He's private pay, so they shouldn't have. They say they didn't. But also told me that if he gets SSI (and not regular SS), his checks would stop when he goes into a nursing home. Hmmm.... Don't know how SS would even know that since he just went in. I don't know if he DOES get SSI -- don't know how to tell. If he gets SSI, this may open up a can of worms since he has assets well over $1 million. Well. We'll see.

Unfortunately many letters coming from those offices are pre-made and are intentionally vague so that they can use it for multiple situations.

Going down to the SS office is usually your best bet. Did he find out why yet?

No, he hasn't found out. His brother (86 years old) went there yesterday and said he couldn't understand what they were saying. I'm having him drive to MY neighborhood, and we'll both go to a SS office near my home this afternoon.

Does sound bizarre. Are you sure that his SS payments are actually being discontinued? As in, any chance they are stopping the physical check and switching to a form of direct deposit??

May just be some adjustment with the billing procedures at the nursing home.

Hope your ultimate answer isn't too much of a pain in the ass. Dealing with the bureaucracy can be daunting.

(It is also kind of bizarre that SS and Medicare premiums would be addressed in the same letter. Those are 2 different planets. Who exactly was the letter from....???)

It's already a direct deposit. ?? Maybe I'll know more later today. I'll update.

 

[American]

Unfortunately many letters coming from those offices are pre-made and are intentionally vague so that they can use it for multiple situations.

Going down to the SS office is usually your best bet. Did he find out why yet?

Thanks, Obama. :2razz:

 

[American]

Winchester. Great advice. I called the nursing home to see if they'd triggered something that would cause this. He's private pay, so they shouldn't have. They say they didn't. But also told me that if he gets SSI (and not regular SS), his checks would stop when he goes into a nursing home. Hmmm.... Don't know how SS would even know that since he just went in. I don't know if he DOES get SSI -- don't know how to tell. If he gets SSI, this may open up a can of worms since he has assets well over $1 million. Well. We'll see.



No, he hasn't found out. His brother (86 years old) went there yesterday and said he couldn't understand what they were saying. I'm having him drive to MY neighborhood, and we'll both go to a SS office near my home this afternoon.



It's already a direct deposit. ?? Maybe I'll know more later today. I'll update.

What's the diff between SSI and SS?

 

[MaggieD]

Update: OK, here's the deal. Thought it might help others.

Went to my local SS office today, and first off, they don't recognize Powers of Attorney.

"Well, Clarence is senile. Should I drag him into the office and you'll talk to him?" (Said with a friendly wink.)

"Haha! Oh, no, we'll do an interview and then appoint John (his brother) as his "Payee". That means the SS check is sent in his name and that every year John has to fill out forms that explain how he spends the money on Clarence and sends us copies of his accounts, etc. to prove it." JUST FREAKIN' SHOOT ME!!! 'Cause that means Maggie does it.

"Orrrrr," he said, you can let the nursing home be the Payee, and then the nursing home would deduct the amount of his SS check from his monthly bill and THEY would do the annual paperwork."

Done!! Although John was very unhappy, I told him that's the way it's going down.

I've already talked to the nursing home, they're willing to do it, although it'll take sixty days. I'm sure the mix-up is far from straightened out, but at least I know what the hell's going on.

Anybody else aware of this? They said it was probably triggered by a piece of mail being sent back "addressee unknown" or "no longer at this address." Which could have happened when he left the assisted living facility just before he went to the nursing home.

So. If you ever get a notice suspending a loved one's SS payments with not a lot of other information along with it? Maybe this'll help.

Thanks for your advice.

 

[AJiveMan]

Winchester. Great advice. I called the nursing home to see if they'd triggered something that would cause this. He's private pay, so they shouldn't have. They say they didn't. But also told me that if he gets SSI (and not regular SS), his checks would stop when he goes into a nursing home. Hmmm.... Don't know how SS would even know that since he just went in. I don't know if he DOES get SSI -- don't know how to tell. If he gets SSI, this may open up a can of worms since he has assets well over $1 million. Well. We'll see.



No, he hasn't found out. His brother (86 years old) went there yesterday and said he couldn't understand what they were saying. I'm having him drive to MY neighborhood, and we'll both go to a SS office near my home this afternoon.



It's already a direct deposit. ?? Maybe I'll know more later today. I'll update.

Problem. If, or when they find out, that'll be the end I think. They'll want liquidation of assets before resuming.

I know of someone in Wisconsin with a similar situation, they cut this person off totally. Just FYI.

 

[MaggieD]

Problem. If, or when they find out, that'll be the end I think. They'll want liquidation of assets before resuming.

I know of someone in Wisconsin with a similar situation, they cut this person off totally. Just FYI.

No, he doesn't get SSI. He gets SS. That's not means tested -- only earned-income tested -- and he has none.

 

[Lutherf]

John just got a letter re his brother (82 years old, dementia, in a nursing home, deaf) that his Social Security check was being stopped. The letter only said that his Medicare premiums would be billed to him 3 months at a time, and if he took issue with the letter, he should contact the SS office.

I spent an hour and 15 minutes on the phone yesterday with the SS office . . . waiting . . . and finally hung up. John went to the SS office and doesn't understand what they're telling him.

Has anyone ever gotten a letter like this? Why the HELL wouldn't the letter say what the problem is?

It's going to take me four or five hours I don't have to help him straighten it out. WTF? I'm wondering if it's identity theft or some-such, but why on EARTH wouldn't the letter give more information? I've read the letter myself and that's pretty much all it says.

Anyone ever heard of this?

I'm guessing that there was more correspondence than just this one letter. It sounds like the letter you're looking at is probably the last in a series of 3 or 4 that have been sent and, if that's the case, then sitting there at the Social Security office will be your best bet.

 

[Winchester]

No, he doesn't get SSI. He gets SS. That's not means tested -- only earned-income tested -- and he has none.

I'm thinking AJiveMan is/was under the impression your husband's uncle is getting Medicaid to pay for the nursing home vs insurance/private pay. Medicaid does indeed require means testing.

Weirdly two of my employees had mothers in the nursing home who both burned through $100's of thousands of dollars before qualifying for Medcaid. Ironically both died within a few months of finally qualifying and all their personal assets were gone.

 

[pragmatic]

I'm thinking AJiveMan is/was under the impression your husband's uncle is getting Medicaid to pay for the nursing home vs insurance/private pay. Medicaid does indeed require means testing.

Weirdly two of my employees had mothers in the nursing home who both burned through $100's of thousands of dollars before qualifying for Medcaid. Ironically both died within a few months of finally qualifying and all their personal assets were gone.

So who do you think should have picked up those expenses?? If not the recipients of the care/services given???

 

[Winchester]

So who do you think should have picked up those expenses?? If not the recipients of the care/services given???

I think you're reading too much into what I wrote, I was simply stating the facts not rendering an opinion about whether one should become destitute before qualifying for medicare. But since you asked, yeah one should burn through all one's assets to provide for yourself before going on public assistance.

 

[notquiteright]

I'm surprised the Nursing Home didn't know what the problem was and given you advice, but they maybe barred by law from commenting since they could be the 'payee'. Sounds a bit like Brother John wanted to get his brother's check first and foremost. Each state handles this a bit differently- who pays how much in nursing homes- SS or private insurance. I know from my grandmother once a year her daughter would go to the nursing home office for an audit to determine where the unused money would go...

In Oklahoma it is pretty standard for most of the elderly to pass their assets onto their children to qualify for the state/fed nursing home coverage. Don't know a lot about it, just the house and car went to the daughters- they sold both, and that way Grandma could get into the program. I want to say your kin is allowed to spend money on the nursing home patient without problems with the nursing home program.

Best of luck.... eace

 

[rhinefire]

Yeah, I get it. And five hours later, I'll know what the problem is. Why wouldn't the letter say what the problem is? It's effective June 1st -- stopping someone's SS check with no notice while some bureaucrats screw up is ridiculous.

On behalf of the SS administration I regret telling you we cannot answer any questions because everyone of our hard drives just crashed. Best to you and yours (and don't dare forget April 15th).

 

[MaggieD]

On behalf of the SS administration I regret telling you we cannot answer any questions because everyone of our hard drives just crashed. Best to you and yours (and don't dare forget April 15th).

:lol: :lol:

"On behalf of the IRS, just to let you know, we have every email we ever sent you and that you ever sent us. We have recordings of every phone conversation you've ever had with an IRS agent, every question you've asked, and every answer we've given. Why, we even have your baby footprint on file. Further, we know what size condoms your husband buys as well as your bra size. Among other things. Have a nice day."