Change of Payee for a Child's Social Security Benefits

[wkpone12]

Georgia

Yes, I have been getting benefits for my son (my understanding wife and son split) for SSDI based on my earnings. My son has been living at my mother's for the last three months in order to finish school due to us relocating. SSDI wants to change the payee to her. He will be coming home to live in August to start new school. I have paid her for his expenses but they still state she needs to be payee. I totally misunderstood this and thought the money was mine anyway and part of my benefit. I have always paid his bills DA? He is 12. Will they now want the three months back?

Thanks for any help

[Janke]

If you thought the money was yours, then you didn't pay any attention to the payee application that you signed and maybe you shouldn't be payee. The money is your son's.

Did you spend all of the money on his needs while he was away? Does his grandmother agree? If the money was spent on him and she agrees, there is no problem. Did your mother apply to be payee or did you report the temporary absence.

However, if he was no longer under the care of his mother, she may not have been eligible for benefits.

Here's the chapter

https://secure.ssa.gov/apps10/poms.nsf/lnx/0200600000