Woman wins financial independence – MyDaytonDailyNews

While the Ombudsman was visiting one of the many adult care facilities in our area, a woman told her that she does not receive enough money to pay for her personal needs and activities. The womans Social Security benefit income is managed by a representative payee agency that charges a fee. The woman would like to be in charge of her own finances but it has been a long time since she managed her own money. The woman is currently receiving $15 per month for her personal needs. If she managed her own money, and no longer paid the agency fee, she would have $40 per month.

The Ombudsman contacted the local Social Security office to learn what steps the woman needed to take to become independent of the agency. The woman needs to provide personal identification and her doctors contact information.

The woman and the adult care facility manager were not initially successful at the face-to-face appointment at the local Social Security office. The woman was told she would have to know her monthly expenses. The woman does not know that information because all of her bills go directly to the representative payee agency. In addition the woman needed to have her doctors written verification that the she can manage her own money.

The woman has a doctors appointment scheduled and believes she will obtain the verification from the doctor at that time. The Ombudsman recommended she receive a list of all expenses paid for by the representative payee agency and work with the adult care facility manager to create a budget, decide which bank she will use and how the bills will be paid.

The Ombudsman received the good news from the woman that the second appointment with Social Security was successful. The woman provided the doctors letter and demonstrated that she knew her income and expenses. The woman will be receiving her Social Security benefit check and has opened her own bank account.

The Ombudsman Column, a production of the Joint Office of Citizens Complaints, summarizes selected problems that citizens have had with government services, schools and nursing homes in the Dayton area. Contact the Ombudsman by writing to the Beerman Building, 11 W. Monument Avenue, Suite 606, Dayton 45402, or telephone (937) 223-4613, or by electronic mail at ombudsman@dayton-ombudsman.org or like us on Facebook at Dayton Ombudsman Office.

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Woman wins financial independence - MyDaytonDailyNews