Some folks requuire a Social Security ‘representative’

By Kirk Larson

Social Security Washington Public Affairs Specialist

According to the Census Bureau, there are nearly 57 million people living with disabilities in the United States. Thirty percent of American adults help provide care for a sick or disabled family member.

Social Security works closely with caregivers through its Representative Payee Program. A representative payee is someone who receives and oversees a Social Security or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits for an adult or child who cannot manage his or her benefits. A payee’s main duties are to use the benefits to pay for the current and future needs of the beneficiary, and properly save any benefits not needed to meet current needs.

A payee must also keep records of expenses. When Social Security requests a report, a payee must provide an accounting of how he or she used or saved the benefits. You can learn more about our Representative Payee Program at www.socialsecurity.gov/payee.

A representative payee is usually a trusted family member or friend of the beneficiary, but when friends or family are not able to serve, Social Security looks for qualified individuals or organizations to represent a beneficiary.

Being an authorized representative, having power of attorney or a joint bank account with the beneficiary is not the same as being a payee. These arrangements do not give legal authority to negotiate and manage a beneficiary’s Social Security and/or SSI benefits. In order to be a payee, you must apply for and be appointed by Social Security.

Currently, more than 6 million payees manage $80 billion in Social Security and Supplemental Security Income benefits for more than 3.5 million adults and 4 million children determined to be incapable of managing their benefits.

If you are concerned that someone you know becomes incapable of managing or directing the management of his or her benefits, call 1-800-772-1213 to request an appointment to discuss your concerns.