Yahoo Answers is shutting down on May 4th, 2021 (Eastern Time) and beginning April 20th, 2021 (Eastern Time) the Yahoo Answers website will be in read-only mode. There will be no changes to other Yahoo properties or services, or your Yahoo account. You can find more information about the Yahoo Answers shutdown and how to download your data on this help page.
Trending News
Is this Social Security Disability Fraud?
My friend is power of attorney for her mother, who is in a nursing home. The mother gets SSD checks every month. My friend used some of the money to pay some of the other bills coming into the house (her mother's house). Is she bound by law to give all of the SSD money to the nursing home, or can she use it for other bills at her discretion? My friend is responsible for any bills that accrue for her mother, and gets billed by the nursing home.
Where can I find a publication detailing the rules?
I'm NOT accusing my friend of committing fraud. SHE'S concerned, and I just asked the question for her. I am her friend, I am NOT out to get her.
She hasn't paid ALL of the nursing home bills; they set up a payment agreement with her for the extra that hasn't been paid.
She just wondered if someone from Medicare was going to act like she had done something wrong because she had paid some other bills besides the nursing home, and now owes the nursing home some money.
4 Answers
- Dan BLv 71 decade agoFavorite Answer
It's is not fraud as long as the person who is disabled is really disabled as determined by the Social Security Administration. How the money is spent is not a factor. As long as the nursing home is getting paid, no problem.
Also, as long as your friend is using the money for the care of her mother, there's no fraud.
If the nursing home is intended to get the checks, I would think that the SSA would send the checks directly to the nursing home. The nursing home is only entitled to the amount of money needed for her care (no tipping or bonus payments allowed).
Source(s): http://www.ssa.gov/ will give you better and more detailed (confusing) answers. - Anonymous1 decade ago
She should be okay as long as she is paying her mother's bills. If, however, she is taking the money and vacationing in Cancun or buying beer for her buddies or something like that, she is stealing from her mother.
It isn't really fraud because the money is her mother's money, and her mother qualifies for the benefits.
- Abey cLv 41 decade ago
her mother is in no conditon to make decisions on her own...assuming her disability is for mental, as well as physical incapacitation.. it is not unusual for children to have power of attorney over their parents in such cases,..
her mother's house sounds like its in her mother's name as legal owner and deed holder of the property, making her mother legally bound to cover the expenses....and her SSD money is legal tender for such expenses..
ya know, in a perfect world, we can only wish that a nursing home would gobble up your total income every month...
your friend, you say....why don't you help her tend moms and maintain the house, and not by suggesting she's committing acts of fraud....
what ever you think she's doing wrong, you haven't made clear in your question. the SSD checks are not VOUCHERS for nursing home fees, they are the INCOME for those who can't otherwise work for a living.
