Good news.  We recently had our SSI Redetermination Interview, via telephone.  It lasted 12 minutes.  We mailed 8 pieces of information.  That was it.   Safe for another day!  I wanted to share our experience with you all to help you with your next interviews.

If your adult receives Social Security Benefits, you are probably familiar with the Redetermination  Interview.  You can find out more about it on their website:  http://www.socialsecurity.gov/ssi/text-redets-ussi.htm   It is performed every 1-6 years to verify that the recipient is still in need of benefits and that the benefit amount is still correct.    Patrick has been receiving benefits now for 5 years.  This was our 3^rd review.    Notice of the appointment came by letter, as they always do, which we received on January 30, 2013.  The appointment was for February 5,  6 days later.  The letter advised that we would receive a phone call at 9am.  We were to have available:
Bank Statements – checking and savings.
Pension Records
Paystubs or tax returns
Unemployment compensation records
Life Insurance Policies and burial contract agreements
Rental agreements

In the past I’ve called to reschedule the appointment.    This time we were available on the date.    The first year he received benefits our appointment was also by phone.  The second time it was in the office, which meant dragging all of the above documents over there. They made copies of everything.  It was a hassle.  It was unnerving for me as I felt like I was in trouble and had to prove Patrick’s need all over again.
We received a phone call from Mr. Koppy at 9:10 am, only 10 minutes past the scheduled time.  I thought that was a bonus; Heck, not having to sit in the offices of SSI on Front Street waiting for your name to be called is a bonus.   He admonished us that we were responding to the interview under the penalty of perjury.  I was allowed to speak on his behalf. I am Conservator and Representative Payee.

Mr. Koppy  went through the documents.  He asked about the balances on our account to which the SSI benefits are directly deposited.  On average, they are around $300. He asked if Patrick’s SSI checks were the only things that went in and out of the account.  They are.   I gave the balance of his savings account which is also about $300.

He asked about our rental agreement which is roughly the amount of his benefit check.  I told him it was still intact but that we had raised the amount $30 per month.
He asked if he had a trust or burial provisions.  He does not.  He asked if he had been out of the U.S.  I don’t know why he asked but the answer was no.  He asked if Patrick received any moneys or support from anyone else, I said no.
He asked about his paychecks he received from his job.  I had just the month before called SSI with the dollar amounts of his paychecks and sent in copies of his paystubs.  Mr. Koppy  did not have any record of them and asked that I send him a copy of the 4 paystubs that he had already received.
He asked about Patrick’s stocks, which I had completely forgotten about.  About 7 years ago, we bought some stocks for our younger kids as a learning tool.  Patrick has an obsession with Herbie the Love Bug, and consequently all VW Beetles.  We bought a few shares of Volkswagen stock.   Over the last 3 years he’s made about $100 on the stock.  The total value is less than $300.  Of course, during the interview I couldn’t quickly access the account figures as they are online.  Mr.  Koppy asked for me to mail him a copy of the last 3 years statements on the stock.

And that was it.  The interview lasted exactly 12 minutes.  He advised me he’d be sending me a letter with the items he needed to see listed on the document.  Within 2 days I had received a letter from Mr.  Koppy itemizing the paystubs and verification of the Volkswagen stock that he needed to see.  The letter also reiterated all the information related to his benefits.  It states that Patrick lives at our home, alone.  He pays rent to us, his parents, in the amount that I had given to him on the phone.  The letter listed all of the information we discussed on the phone.  The monthly household expenses were N/A.  He never asked what our monthly expenses were. He did not ask about our mortgage.
It also listed the amounts of the paychecks he had received to date.  All information I had given him during the interview.
On February 13, 2013, I mailed to MR. Koppy a copy of Patrick’s paystubs and stock statements.  Within a week,  Mr.  Koppy returned my documents in the mail.  And that was it.  It was incredibly simple.   I was shocked.  I hope each of you have a similar experience.