Kudos to our local Social Security office for a big assist

Another round of lessons learned as we navigate dementia…

            KUDOS TO OUR local Social Security office here in West Chester.

            I had been trying to get into Connie’s account to get her 1099 for our tax return, and I could not. I called Social Security national, got a tip, didn’t work. 

            On the one hand I was reassured at the tightness of security but on the other hand I needed that 1099. I finally decided I was going to have to go to the local office. One of the folks on the national help line had said if I was going to do that, call for an appointment.

            I did. The person I got said it could be weeks. Unsaid was the impact of all the Federal buts in staffing. I explained what my situation was and she put me on hold. She came back on and said she could get me an appointment in a week.

            That appointment was this week, for 10 a.m. I showed up at 9:45, got called to a window just a hair before 10 and was out of there by 10:15. I had a great young guy helping me. He printed out Connie’s 1099.

            Kudos, kudos, kudos. Great service. Lesson learned – make an appointment, don’t just walk into an office. The guy who helped me said they are struggling with all the cutbacks (in response to a question from me) and that creates serious wait time for walk-ins, but appointments get bumped up. 

There’s more, though, in lessons learned, and that is what happens when someone becomes incapacitated and a spouse or family member needs access to the account. You can’t get it.

            What happens is that the incapacitated person’s account is moved to your account. I didn’t need any of Connie’s IDs, just a report or letter from a doctor stating her condition, confirming she was incapacitated. I had test results and the diagnosis from a neuro-psychologist from 2024 and that was enough. I did need my ID.

            Here’s the process: Her account is moved into my account. That means when I log into my account, all her information is in there. We now have one account. But, to protect the funds SS will issue me a letter requiring a separate bank account in which to deposit the funds. They no longer will go to my checking account.

            When I take that letter to my bank where we have checking and savings they will set up the account, which is very restricted. I can access it, SS can access it to deposit funds. The bank has zero access to it.

            Otherwise nothing changes. The money comes in, her Medicare is taken out. I can then transfer the remainder to the checking account, savings or I can leave it in the repository account.

            Just another learning experience in a long line of them as we journey through dementia, but a lesson made easier to learn by some good service from Social Security. 

Rich Heiland, has been a reporter, editor, publisher/general manager at daily papers in Texas, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Ohio and New Hampshire. He was part of a Pulitzer Prize-winning team at the Xenia Daily (OH) Daily Gazette, a National Newspaper Association Columnist of the Year. Since 1995 he has operated an international consulting, public speaking and training business specializing in customer service, general management, leadership and staff development with major corporations, organizations, and government. He also writes the blog stuffonmymind.blog. Semi-retired, he and his wife live in West Chester, PA. He can be reached at [email protected].