Chris's Finances

Chris and I share a checking account at Truist (formerly Suntrust, which is what our current checks still say) . It’s a guardianship type account in his name “by Bill Perkins.” I work mainly with Truist here in Friendship Heights, on Wisconsin at the corner of Willard, just a couple of blocks from our apartment.

With this type of account, it is not difficult to change the ownership to “by” whoever his guardian becomes. I gather that the bank just needs evidence of the changing guardianship. The designation of the next guardian in my Will should be adequate for the change in the account and for a new ATM card to take cash directly from his account. The advantage of this type of account is that Chris does not have to be able to sign any documents to make the change.

His Social Security check is deposited directly into this account, and his monthly payments to Makom are taken automatically from it.

We write a check every month to ALCO (which provides Chris's meds to the group home). There are occasionally other bills for doctors and treatments not covered by Medicaid. We provide most of his personal products for the group home (bandages for his stomach tube, soap, shampoo, lotions, wipes, etc.), usually by ordering them on Amazon, and we give the group home cash for his account, which they use for their outings or other expenses. His Medicare and Medicaid cover most of his medical expenses, except for some special dental work or need for new equipment, like the hospital bed.

There are more details about his finances and his checking account in a binder in my book case marked Chris.