If you are the payee for a child receiving SSI payments, then you must seek treatment for the child’s medical condition if necessary. Also, if the beneficiary is in a nursing home, then the payee should set aside a minimum of $30 each month to use for the beneficiary’s personal needs. If the beneficiary is in a nursing home or institution, then the payee can use the benefits to pay the fees of the institution. In other words, the payee must save the money in a safe place. The bank account must be insured under either federal or state law. Savings Bonds or an interest paying bank account. Anything monies left over should be saved in U.S. And, once other needs, such as clothing and recreation are paid, then the payee must save whatever is left over from the monthly benefit payments. It could be buying a book, music, or a video to watch.Īfter the payee pays bills, such as the rent or mortgage, utilities, and food. Recreation can be going to the movies or a concert. The payee can also pay for the beneficiary’s personal needs, such as clothing and recreation. Then, the payee must use the money for the beneficiary’s medical and dental care. First, the payee must use the monthly benefit payments for the beneficiary’s daily needs for food and shelter. There are rules for representative payees and they must follow them. HOW THE REPRESENTATIVE PAYEE MUST USE MONTHLY BENEFITS The SSA will only recognize only the designated representative payee to handle monthly benefit payments. However, for SSA funds, a power of attorney is not an acceptable way to manage a person’s monthly benefits. A representative payee, however, may need to help a beneficiary get medical services or treatment.įamily members often use a power of attorney to handle a disabled family member’s money or affairs. No legal authority to manage non-Social Security income or medical matters. When the SSA appoints a representative payee, they are only to manage the funds from the SSA. If a payee is convicted of misusing funds, then they may be fined and imprisoned. If a payee misuses benefits, they must repay the misused funds. The law requires payees to use the benefits in the beneficiary’s best interest. It is also possible for a Protection and Advocacy agency in your state to contact you to review your receipts and records of income and expenses for the beneficiary. The SSA will require the payee to complete a form, each year, to account for the benefits. Nor are you allowed to misuse the funds or withhold the funds from the beneficiary. You are not allowed to use the funds for yourself. Your job as the payee is to decide the best use of benefits for the care of the beneficiary. In order to be a representative payee, you must know what the beneficiary’s needs. You can’t collect a fee for services from the beneficiary, unless Social Security allows it, or you are the legal guardian authorized by a court to charge a guardian fee. For specific information about your situation, you should talk with a worker at your local Social Security office or your attorney. Most of the time, with some exceptions, a payee may not collect a fee for this service. Also, if you have a Social Security hearing and are awarded benefits, it is possible for the judge to order you to have a representative payee.Ī representative payee receives your monthly benefit payments and has the authority to use them on your behalf. That is when the SSA will step in an appoint a rep payee. Additionally, in some cases, the person getting the benefits has a mental condition that prevents them from handling the money themselves. Some people chose to have a representative payee, because they know they need help managing their benefits. More than eight million people, who get monthly SSDI and SSI payments, need help handling their money. Cannon Disability Law > DISABILITY LAW BLOG > representative payee > REPRESENTATIVE PAYEE & YOUR BENEFITS REPRESENTATIVE PAYEE & YOUR BENEFITS WHAT IS A REPRESENTATIVE PAYEE?Ī representative payee is a friend, relative, or other interested party that the SSA appoints to protect the interests of the person who is being paid Social Security Disability (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits.
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