Helping Your Parent Apply for Medicare Savings in North Dakota
You Can File for Your Parent — With the Right Paperwork
Most families looking into Medicare Savings Programs are adult children managing things for a parent. You might live in Fargo while your mother is in a small town two hours away, or you might be out of state entirely — in Minnesota, Colorado, or Arizona. Either way, North Dakota lets you file the MSP application on your parent's behalf.
The key is the Authorized Representative section of Form SFN 958 (Health Care Application for the Elderly and Disabled). Your parent signs that section, designating you as the person who can submit forms, provide documents, and communicate with ND Health and Human Services on their behalf.
This is separate from a Power of Attorney. If you already hold POA or court guardianship, that works too — attach a copy to the application. But if you don't have either, the SFN 958 authorized representative designation is simpler and doesn't require a lawyer.
One thing to know: an authorized representative filing at Social Security (Form SSA-1696) does not carry over to ND HHS. They are different agencies with different forms.
What to Gather Before You Start
The biggest cause of processing delays is missing documentation. Before opening the online portal or printing the paper form, collect:
- Gross Social Security benefit amount: not the direct-deposit figure, but the gross amount before Part B premiums, tax withholding, or any other deductions. This appears on the SSA-1099 or in the my Social Security online account.
- Two months of bank statements: checking and savings, from every account your parent holds. Joint accounts shared with you or another family member will be scrutinized — the state presumes the full balance belongs to the applicant unless you prove otherwise with deposit records.
- Medicare card: showing the Medicare Beneficiary Identifier and enrollment in Part A and/or Part B.
- Photo ID: driver's license, state ID, or passport.
- Burial fund documentation: if your parent has a designated burial fund up to $1,500, or an irrevocable prepaid burial contract, bring the paperwork. These are excluded from countable resources.
If your parent owns mineral rights, farmland, or CRP-enrolled land, gather documentation showing the status — non-producing mineral acres are excluded if offered for sale in good faith, and agricultural property essential to self-support is excluded under ND HHS policy.
Filing From a Distance
The ND HHS Self-Service Portal (hhs.nd.gov) is the fastest route for out-of-state children. You can create an account, fill out the application, upload scanned documents, and track the case status — all without setting foot in a Human Service Zone office.
If your parent prefers paper, download SFN 958 from the ND HHS website. Fill it out together over the phone if needed, then have your parent sign the main application and the Authorized Representative section. Mail both to the ND HHS Customer Support Center (PO Box 5562, Bismarck, ND 58506). North Dakota also accepts completed applications by mail or delivery at any local Human Service Zone office.
You can also file by phone at 1-866-614-6005 (TTY: 711). A customer support agent will walk through the application with you and tell you which documents to submit.
Free Download
Get the North Dakota — Medicare Savings Program Eligibility Checklist
Everything in this article as a printable checklist — plus action plans and reference guides you can start using today.
Common Mistakes When Filing for a Parent
Reporting net income instead of gross: Your parent's bank deposit is after Part B premiums, withholding, and other deductions. The state evaluates the gross Social Security benefit. Use the benefit statement, not the deposit slip.
Forgetting the $20 disregard: The state subtracts $20 from gross unearned income before comparing countable income with the limit. A gross income of $1,345 becomes $1,325 — under the $1,330 single-person QMB countable limit. Families who don't know about the disregard give up before applying.
Not signing the Authorized Representative section: Without it, the state cannot discuss the case with you, even if you submitted the application. Follow up becomes impossible.
Assuming joint accounts disqualify: If you share a checking account with your parent for convenience, the state counts the full balance as your parent's resource unless you provide evidence that your deposits are yours. A few months of deposit records showing your paycheck going into the account can resolve this.
After You File
Processing takes up to 45 calendar days. If ND HHS needs more documents, they'll send a written request with a 10-to-14-day response window. Monitor the online portal or check the mail at your parent's address.
The North Dakota Medicare Savings Programs & Extra Help Guide includes a document preparation checklist, a section-by-section walkthrough of the SFN 958 form, and a timeline tracker so you can manage the entire application remotely — even from another state.
Get Your Free North Dakota — Medicare Savings Program Eligibility Checklist
Download the North Dakota — Medicare Savings Program Eligibility Checklist — a printable guide with checklists, scripts, and action plans you can start using today.