thanks for the replies. My spouse filled out an application to be my payee, but unfortunately since alcohol was cited by the judge, according to the ss rules on who can be my payee, my spouse is real low on the list. That means I will have some non-profit or state supported agency and after all the hassels of social security hoop jumping I am pretty fed up with agencies. Funny thing is that I have not had a drink for at least 3 years and do not have an alcohol problem. The judge picked out instances from my VA medical records where someone asked me if I had ever drank alcohol and I said things like 'not for 5 years' or not for 3 years. or what ever I said and half of the time the doctor or nurse treating me wrote down the wrong thing anyways. If I had known how important it was at that time I would have gotten my records corrected but it didn't seem like a big deal until now. Anyways I am just afraid that I will have to make an appointment with my payee every time I need to have a bill paid, or go begging to them for money to take my wife to dinner. My bills are way more than they will pay me each month, plus we have been taking money out of our joint savings for extra expenses and my wife has over $2000 in medical bills and we each have credit card debt. How can I get money from my backpay if the payee puts it in a savings account. When is that money available for me to use, after I turn 65??. It's my money. I am really getting pissed off about this. Any suggestions?? I definately will appeal unless it is my wife that is appointed payee