Another Way to Help You Secure Today and Tomorrow
Reading Time: 2 MinutesLast Updated: August 19, 2021
Social Security is with you through life’s journey. May is National Older American Awareness Month and we want to talk about one of the stages of our long journey together.
While Social Security wants to put you in control of the benefits you receive from us, there may come a time when you need help managing your benefits. If that time comes, Social Security is there. Our Representative Payee Program helps millions of beneficiaries who cannot manage their Social Security or Supplemental Security Income benefits. This can be a child or an adult incapable of overseeing their own funds.
When Social Security receives information indicating someone needs help managing their money and meeting their current needs, we assign someone to help. Your representative payee receives your payments on your behalf and must use the money to pay for your needs, which include:
- housing and utilities;
- food;
- medical and dental expenses;
- personal care items;
- clothing; and
- rehabilitation expenses (if you’re disabled).
After those expenses are paid, your payee can use the rest of the money to pay any past-due bills you may have, support your dependents or provide entertainment for you.
A representative payee is usually a trusted family member or friend of the beneficiary, but when friends or family are not able to serve as representative payees, Social Security looks for qualified individuals or organizations to represent the beneficiary. If you live in an institution, such as a nursing home or a hospital, the payee should pay the cost of your care and provide money for your personal needs.
Providing information about a representative payee is another way we help you secure today and tomorrow. You can learn more by watching our series of training videos on the duties of a representative payee. You can also visit our representative payee website for more information.
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About the Author
Jim Borland, Acting Deputy Commissioner for Communications
Jim Borland, Acting Deputy Commissioner for Communications
Comments
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Foster D.
To Ray Fernandez,
Is there any way the previous comment could be implemented or at least given a choice at the beginning of receiving payments?
John
The Representative Payee provisions of the law are nice as far as it goes. There is a potential for abuse in that it was used as an excuse to strip citizens of their constitution right to bear arms. Not all people who need a payee are also incapable of knowing how to use a gun to protect themselves. Also this is a decision that should not be left up to a SS employee who is untrained in detecting whether or not someone is a threat to others. Va tried the same thing and the veteran’s rights had to be returned to them with new legislation.
Foster D.
When one dies, his SS payment for that month must be returned. If he dies on the last day of the month; then the whole amount is to be returned. This will cause a hardship on the spouse as most of the monthly bills would be already paid. It would be better to withhold the first month’s payment, and not the last month, just saying.
AKA
May’s payment arrives in June, and your point is??
Foster D.
My mother died on Jan.14, her December payment that she had already received, was withdrawn from her Jan. statement. Why?
Marti
I think I am correct by explaining it this way. The check your mom received in Dec (while she was alive) was for the benefit period of Nov. There is always a one month delay in a Beneficiary receiving their check. Consider this, if you were working a job, the employer would not pay you for the week until the end of the week. So Medicare does not pay your Mom for her earned and due December benefits until that Jan check arrives. If your Mom died on Jan 14, she was not alive and was not able to sign her check. That Jan check was for her Dec Benefit Period, it must be returned to SSA so they can reissue the check to her Estate or to her living children. There should be an adjustment to pay her for Jan Benefit Period from Jan 1 thru the date of her death on Jan 14. If this did not help, please call 800-772-1213 SSA Call Center, they can give you the location of the nearest SSA office for a face to face interview. Be sure to ask the Call Center exactly what documents to take with you or the responsible Ex of her Estate to resolve. Hope this helps, sorry for your loss.
R.F.
Hi Marti, you’re right that Social Security benefits are paid the month after they are due. However, we need to clarify that Social Security benefits are not pro-rated for the month of death. To be eligible for a Social Security benefit payment, a person has to live throughout the entire month. If the beneficiary died in January, you must return the benefit paid in February. Thanks for using our blog!
Dawn M.
Wll in that case,my mother’s disability check was returned to SS when she died February 21, 2013. Mom had direct deposit. If I am correct, I told my sister that her money should be returned as well as March, 2013. If so, then deposit it into my account at BB&T, account ending in 5434.
R.F.
We are sorry for your loss. Social Security benefits are paid the month after they are due. Social Security benefits are not pro-rated for the month of death, and to be eligible for a Social Security benefit payment, a person has to live throughout the entire month. For example, if the person died in January, you must return the benefit paid in February. We hope this information helps.
Foster D.
Thanks for responding
Dawn M.
It’s not helpful. The answer to the question just read that recipient is always a month behind!. Example: if that person worked and died, then that person would receive all the money owed up to the date he/she died. You all get it together!!!
Martha K.
Do you all help find jobs for seniors.
AKA
The Bureau of Employment Services does.
Judy T.
I thought we were getting a cost of living raise this year?
Camille
we did I think it was $4 and then they raised medicare $4
R.F.
Monthly Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits increased 0.3 percent in 2017. For some beneficiaries, their Social Security increase may be partially or completely offset by increases in Medicare premiums. See Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) Information for 2017.
R.F.
Hi Judy, monthly Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits increased 0.3 percent in 2017. See Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) Information for 2017.
Betty O.
I need a death benefit sent to me Betty Jo Owens, wife of Deceased, Mack A. Owens, *** – ** – ****. You have already stopped his benefits. Please send me the $255 immediately.
R.F.
Generally, the lump-sum is paid to the surviving spouse who was living in the same household with the worker when they died. To apply or for more information about this lump-sum payment, contact your local Social Security office or call our toll free number at 1-800-772-1213 ( TTY1-800-325-0778). Representatives are available Monday through Friday, between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. Thanks
Johnny B.
I submitted a disability claim , having a hard time trying to get result .
Dawn M.
Honey, it took me three tries ti get disability. Call ALLSUP at 888.666.2937. Tell them Dawn M-Johnson referred you!!!
Johnny B.
I submitted a disability claim having a hard time .
brian
why dont you do like any normal outfit and make it possible to email your articles??
R.F.
Thank you for your comment, Brian! You’ll be glad to know that our system’s staff is currently working on turning the email sharing feature on. While we would still want to go through the proper testing and development process, we hope we can provide you and all of our followers with this service soon. We value our followers’ thoughts and will use your suggestions to explore how we can further improve the services we offer. Your feedback is greatly appreciated! Please stayed tuned.
Janie R.
I do not know what this is about, if I can get a call that would be easier.