Wow thank you, everybody has been very helpful! I agree that it would be better for me to set up this kind of account in person with a local bank that is large enough to have a branch where she lives (branch to branch transfers for funds for her personal use) and would provide online banking services.
I found this at the national credit union site. It talks about how rep payee accounts should be set up.
"the beneficiary, not the representative payee, owns the SSA benefits funds.
The representative payee serves in the capacity of “manager” of the account, not the owner, so base membership eligibility on the beneficiary.
Make sure the account is set up in your system so the beneficiary is listed as the only owner. Neither the representative payee nor a third party can have ownership interest in the account.
On the other hand, while the beneficiary retains ownership interest, the account title shouldn’t permit the beneficiary to have direct access to the funds in the account.
Here are two recommended titles:
'(Beneficiary’s name) by (representative payee’s name), Representative Payee.' '(Representative payee’s name), Representative Payee for (beneficiary’s name).'
Because the beneficiary owns the funds in a representative payee account, use the beneficiary’s tax identification number on the account for reporting purposes."
We have a LifeGreen account with Regions for my mother. The checking account pays interest, but it is a joke. She gets about 3 cents a month. The space it takes to record it in the ledger probably cost more than the interest. :) Interest is a joke these days. Banking online is easy. Bills can be paid and transfers made from one account to another. The only time I have to go to the bank is to get some petty cash or to draft money from my BOA business account to my personal account (separate from mother's).
I know the banking system is different here in Canada, but I agree with Sendme, I'd rather use a bricks and mortar bank with internet capabilities than one that is solely available online, it's hard enough to iron out problems when you can go and speak to someone face to face, i worry it would be a nightmare in cyberspace.
A checking account that receives electronic, automatic deposits often waives the fees, or fees are waived if one person is over 62, or 65. Even with online banking, it is important for me to be able to use the phone to get balances and recent transaction, or transfer between accounts. Then, there is always that unavoidable trip to the actual bank. So I would advise getting a bank large enough to have a branch in both person's area, closeby. Most would not agree with my way of doing banking, and say that online meets all their needs. But I am a person that if I want my money today, then I am not waiting for the bank or internet to do their thing.
I've had excellent service with using Suntrust. Following my Dad's account on-line were really simple. Some banks on-line software can be a maze to get around.
Oh, just to add, we set up the acct in person but they allow on-line banking. Are you trying to find a bank that will allow you to open the account on-line, or just manage it on-line?
Do you have PNC in your area? We used them. Their customer service isn't what it was years ago, and they've added fees. But they were able to set up the acct.
I just thought of the accounts my mother had for her grandchildren. They were titled JB's Mom for JB's Grandkid. The accounts had both my mother's and the grandkid's SSN on them.
This isn't very informative. It is from the SSA about setting up an account. The last sentence is what I would be most concerned about.
"A checking account is better in some ways, because you will have cancelled checks or statements that show how you spent the funds. If you decide to use a checking account, consider that some beneficiaries cannot keep balances high enough to avoid service charges. But if you must pay bills through the mail, a checking account might still be cost effective because cashier's checks and money orders have charges associated with them, as well. You should set up an account that minimizes fees and enables you to keep clear records. We encourage using interest-bearing accounts. You must title the bank account so it is clear the money in the account belongs to the beneficiary."
I would set this up in person, since it is a rep payee account. I wouldn't know how to do it online, to tell the truth. It will be in your name as the rep payee. I wouldn't want to guess how to set it up in the right way.
It is better to use a local bank in your area that offers on-line service. Much easier to go face to face with a bank rep if there should be an issue.
Curious why you aren't allowed a joint account? My Dad and I had set up several joint accounts at one bank that read "John Doe or Jane Doe" so I can sign on his behalf. One account was checking. The other was a Money Market.
These accounts were only used for my Dad, to pay any of his bills, and for him to reimburse me for anything I was paying, such as the caregivers. Any time I wrote a check, I made a photo copy of the bill and the check right on the bill, before mailing it out. This was important just in case down the road my Dad might had needed Medicaid.
Thank you for the fast reply! I do have the ability to create an online checking account, but when I contact my online banking they say they will only set up joint accounts...this is not allowed in this case nor do I want to allow the potential misuse of her means of living by my mom's inability to manage her funds.
I think most banks do. One thing I would consider is setting up an account with my own bank to receive automatic payments for my mother. Most banks have online and mobile account management now, so the account could be managed online.
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"the beneficiary, not the representative payee, owns the SSA benefits funds.
The representative payee serves in the capacity of “manager” of the account, not the owner, so base membership eligibility on the beneficiary.
Make sure the account is set up in your system so the beneficiary is listed as the only owner. Neither the representative payee nor a third party can have ownership interest in the account.
On the other hand, while the beneficiary retains ownership interest, the account title shouldn’t permit the beneficiary to have direct access to the funds in the account.
Here are two recommended titles:
'(Beneficiary’s name) by (representative payee’s name), Representative Payee.'
'(Representative payee’s name), Representative Payee for (beneficiary’s name).'
Because the beneficiary owns the funds in a representative payee account, use the beneficiary’s tax identification number on the account for reporting purposes."
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Even with online banking, it is important for me to be able to use the phone to get balances and recent transaction, or transfer between accounts.
Then, there is always that unavoidable trip to the actual bank.
So I would advise getting a bank large enough to have a branch in both person's area, closeby.
Most would not agree with my way of doing banking, and say that online meets all their needs. But I am a person that if I want my money today, then I am not waiting for the bank or internet to do their thing.
https://www.ssa.gov/payee/
"A checking account is better in some ways, because you will have cancelled checks or statements that show how you spent the funds. If you decide to use a checking account, consider that some beneficiaries cannot keep balances high enough to avoid service charges. But if you must pay bills through the mail, a checking account might still be cost effective because cashier's checks and money orders have charges associated with them, as well. You should set up an account that minimizes fees and enables you to keep clear records. We encourage using interest-bearing accounts. You must title the bank account so it is clear the money in the account belongs to the beneficiary."
Curious why you aren't allowed a joint account? My Dad and I had set up several joint accounts at one bank that read "John Doe or Jane Doe" so I can sign on his behalf. One account was checking. The other was a Money Market.
These accounts were only used for my Dad, to pay any of his bills, and for him to reimburse me for anything I was paying, such as the caregivers. Any time I wrote a check, I made a photo copy of the bill and the check right on the bill, before mailing it out. This was important just in case down the road my Dad might had needed Medicaid.