I am 53 and live in Texas. I'm on SSI disibility and receive 900 a month in benefits. My Mom is my authorized representative. At first I received about 1200. I received a notice saying that the amount would be reduced since I was living with my Mom at the time and recovering from cancer. I have just moved out and have discovered you can't even find a room to rent for that. I'm not on housing vouchers or SNAP and don't even know if Im applicable. I cant talk to SSI because they have to go thru my Mom (representative) She wants me to move back in and says SSI might stop my benifits if they know I moved out. I would love to see what other benifits I might qualify for but I hane no idea how. Thanks so much for your help.

Hi,

If Social Security has appointed a representative payee to handle your benefits, that means either a court or your doctor believe that you are unable to handle your own benefits in your best interest. I'm not an expert on housing assistance or the SNAP program, though, so I don't know what your options are with regard to filing for those benefits.

If you believe that you are capable of managing your own SSI benefits and you have not been adjudged legally incompetent by a court of law, then you could apply with Social Security to be your own payee. They would need to make a judgment on your ability to handle your own benefits in that event, so I can't tell you what the outcome would be.

Best, Jerry