Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-03-21
SECURITY FOR YOU
Incompetent
Payments.
Guarded
BY RAY HENRY

Many thousands OF people
getting social security payments
every year become incapable of
handling their money because OF
mental or physical troubles.
To meet such problems, the
Special Security Administration
usually follows a simple course
1t continues to make the pay
ments. but pays them to some
one-usually a close relative
who'll handle the money in the
best interests of the incompe-
tent person.
OF course. the Social Security
Administration has to be told OF
such cases before 1t can take
any action.
Suppose, for example. your
mother is dead and your aged
father who's receiving social
security payments is living with
you. And. suppose. tomorrow
he's hit by an automobile and
totally paralyzed. Naturally, in
this condition. he isn't able tc
handle his social security money
and should have someone to dc
it for him.
Your first step should be tc
visit the nearest social security
office and explain the situation
This is the course to follow
whether you're taking care OF
your father at home or he's
being treated in a hospital.
Trustee Sought
Since you've taken the trouble
to explain the situation to the
social security Office, you'll be
asked if you want to be named
as the person to handle your
fathers social security money.
If your answer is "yes," you'll
be asked to fill out an applica-
Ition form. Among other things
the application will include
questions designed to show your
interest in caring for your
father. This information isn't
sought to pry or to cast doubt or
your interest. It's only to pro-
tect incompetent persons from
people who might try to take
advantage of them.
| After you've completed the
application, the social security
Office will start two inyestiga-
/ tions.
First, it will seek medical evil
dence to show that your father
! is actually incompetent and un-
able to handle his own money
To get this evidence, it'll go tc
doctors and hospitals treating
him. You may be asked to help
get such evidence.
Second, it'll investigate you to
determine whether it should lei
you handle your fathers money;
whether you'll handle it in his
best interests. This investigation
probably will be confined tc
members of your family. the
family doctor and clergyman
and. perhaps. your fathers
former boss.
I Again, this information isn't
sought because it wants to pry
but as a necessary step to pro-
tect incompetents.
Recommendation Made
After the investigations, as.
Stunning nothing unusual show:
up, the social security Office will
recommend to social security
headquarters that you be named
to handle your fathers money.
| II your father remains incom-
petent for very long, the social
security people will probably cal
on you to see how things are
working out, 1t may even ask
you to account for the money
you've received for your father.
Although few of the cases in.
volving incompetents will exactly
parallel this example. the pro-
cedure followed in most cases i:
the same.
In any case, If someone close
to you should become physically
or mentally incompetent and you
feel he's not capable of handling
his own money. don't hesitate tc
get in touch with your nearest