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<p>Law Office of<br>
<strong>F.ANDREKITA SILVA</strong><br>
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March 13, 2023<br>
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I agree with Diane. <br>
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I'll qualify by saying that I also don’t practice in the area of social security law. But I have had a couple cases where social security benefits that were paid were at issue. In my cases, the benefits paid were paid for the benefit of 1) a disabled child (under age 21) based on the child’s disability and in the other 2) benefits paid for a child based on the parent’s disability , and then benefits paid DIRECTLY to the child after 18<sup>th</sup> birthday, but while still in high school.<br>
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Diane is correct. Social security benefits paid for the benefit of another are first for the beneficiaries basic necessities food, housing, clothing, transportation and then for whatever else the child might need or want (vacations, entertainment, etc.). If grandmother was providing room and board for the child, unless grandmother was a miser, grandmother most certainly covered those expenses for the child. It’s not like the monthly benefit is a fortune….<br>
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So, if grandmother set the money aside, I would agree with Diane that grandmother is free to put the money into other endeavors. If those endeavors are for the child, it shouldn’t matter how old the child is and/ or for what purpose. If grandmother wants to buy a house for herself with money she saved up on child’s name, if it comes to someone’s attention, grandmother might have to provide an accounting of expenses for the grandchild to show she provided for the child’s needs and she is simply reimbursing herself. <br>
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If grandmother put the money in an UTMA or an UGMA etc. an account that has rules, then she has to follow the rules created for those accounts. With UTMA’s, I know there is an age ( 21 or 23, I forget) where the funds become the child’s automatically. The financial institution will, literally, remove the custodian from the account and rename the account in the name of the child.<br>
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Once a child turns 18, based on the case I had, if they are still eligible for benefits on the basis of another person's disability or retirement, the benefits are paid by SSA directly to the beneficiary/child. The disabled or retired person can't get their hands on them even if they are still supporting child. The child would have to voluntarily hand them over.<br>
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andrekita<br>
Law Office of F. Andrekita Silva<br>
1325 Fourth Avenue, Suite 2000<br>
Seattle, Washington 98101<br>
206-224-8288<br>
<a href="http://www.seattle-silvalaw.com/">www.seattle-silvalaw.com</a><br>
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Quoting "Diane J. Kiepe" <<a href="mailto:DJKiepe@depdslaw.com">DJKiepe@depdslaw.com</a>>:</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>So, at the risk of stepping over a line I don’t practice in, but intuitively my thought is that just because grandparent segregated the money should not mean it should have to be released at age. I view the payments to the guardian for the benefit of the child – somehow the child was fed, housed, transported and clothed so really some (all?) is really the grandparents I would suggest and she is free to make a gift of such money into trust to keep it more protected.</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>Now if the money is excess funds and the child’s social security was used for the items mentioned above, I’d reconsider.</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>I have zero legal authority but it just seems to me that there is some room for planning. Even if it is setting up a Custodial Account until age 25 as allowed in WA.</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style='font-family:"Script MT Bold";mso-ligatures:none'>Diane J. Kiepe</span></i></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ligatures:none">Diane J. Kiepe</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ligatures:none">Douglas Eden</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ligatures:none">717 W. Sprague Ave.</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ligatures:none">Spokane, WA 99201</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ligatures:none"><a href="mailto:djkiepe@depdslaw.com"><span style="color:#0563C1">djkiepe@depdslaw.com</span></a></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ligatures:none">509-455-5300</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="mso-ligatures:none">From:</span></b> <span style="mso-ligatures:none">wsbapt-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com <wsbapt-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com> <b>On Behalf Of</b> Shannon Jones<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Monday, March 13, 2023 1:58 PM<br>
<b>To:</b> WSBA Probate & Trust Listserv <wsbapt@lists.wsbarppt.com><br>
<b>Subject:</b> [WSBAPT] social security question</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Listmates, Have a retired client who adopted a grandchild. Client is retired on social security, so social security sends separate check for adopted dependent. Client has kept the grandchild’s SS money separate and would like to put in trust for college, to buy a house, etc. Grandchild is nearing 18 years of age. Is client permitted to put SS money in trust with conditions for distribution that extend beyond age 18? Or is this the child’s money, period, on attaining age 18. Input appreciated - Shannon</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style='font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:#323E4F;mso-ligatures:none'>Shannon R. Jones | Attorney</span></b></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style='font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none'>This transmission contains confidential attorney-client communications and may not be disclosed to any person but the intended recipient(s). If this matter is transmitted to you in error, please delete and notify the sender immediately.</span></p>
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