Resident Funds
Question: When a resident who receives a monthly personal allowance from Social Security is discharged from a facility, should the facility send all of the resident’s funds with the resident or back to Social Security?
Answer: The facility should keep detailed records, which will assist the facility in determining what funds should be returned to Social Security. Only Social Security funds need to be returned to Social Security based on secure.ssa.gov/apps10/poms.nsf/lnx/0200603140. Not all funds in the resident trust fund account need to be returned to Social Security, such as birthday money, workshop earnings, money from family, etc.
The amount of SSA conserved funds may also be turned over to the beneficiary or the new payee. Social Security does grant exceptions when a resident needs the Social Security funds for their next stay. The facility must call Social Security in advance to request the exception. Once Social Security approves the exception, the facility may give all funds to the resident.