Can Social Security Help a Person Who is Unable to Manage Their Money

What You Must Know to Help a Social Security Beneficiary Who is Unable to Manage Their Funds

The Social Security Administration makes payments to those persons unable to manage their funds through representative payees. The representative payee is entrusted to spend the money in the best interest of the person who receives social security benefits.

Who Decides If a Representative Payee is Needed for a Person Unable to Manage Their Funds

The Social Security Administration decides whether a beneficiary needs a representative payee. Representative payees are assigned to children and any adult deemed unable to manage their funds. The Social Security Agency will investigate anyone who is applying to become a representative payee. A representative payee should not be confused with someone that has power of attorney over the beneficiary’s affairs, a representative payee cannot manage legal matters for the beneficiary.

Who Can Be a Representative Payee

The first choice for a representative payee unable to manage their own funds is a family member. If a family member is not available then it would be a family friend. When neither is available Social Security will seek a community organization, an institution, or a government agency to act as a representative payee for the beneficiary.

What are the Duties of a Representative Payee

The representative payee must see to it that the beneficiary’s check is being used for the welfare of the beneficiary. This includes making sure that the beneficiary has the proper housing, clothing, food, medical care and recreation. If any money is in excess of what is needed, it must be saved for the beneficiary. The representative payee usually does not get any type of pay for their services. There is an exception to this, which is, if the representative payee is a guardian and authorized by a court to charge a guardian fee. The representative payee is also responsible for reporting changes such as if the beneficiary starts or stops working. In addition, the representative payee must keep an accurate accounting of how the beneficiary’s money was spent. If funds are used incorrectly, the representative payee can be held responsible.

Related posts

1. Does A Nursing Home Take Your Social Security Payments?
2. How Do I Get Social Security?
3. What Happens To Social Security Funds Not Used?
4. How Do I Know How Much I Will Get For Social Security?
5. What can I do to ensure My Social Security Disability claim is approved?

Send this page to a friend ...

Enter friend's email address
.