Celebrating Those Who Provide Care
Reading Time: 2 MinutesLast Updated: August 19, 2021
November was National Family Caregivers Month. In his Presidential Proclamation in celebration of caregivers, President Obama reminds us that our great nation was founded on the ideal that we all do better when we look out for one another. For millions of Americans, this concept is more than an ideal. It’s a day-to-day reality.
According to the Census Bureau, there are nearly 57 million people living with disabilities in the United States. Thirty percent of American adults are involved in providing care for a sick or disabled family member. Caregivers provide physical and emotional support for the people in their care. It’s a demanding job with its stresses and rewards, but it’s also a labor of love.
At Social Security, we understand this duty. Our agency is committed to you throughout life’s journey, helping secure today and tomorrow for every American. Caregiving is near and dear to our hearts, and it is deeply ingrained into our employees and who we are as a federal agency.
Our agency works closely with caregivers through our Representative Payee Program. A representative payee is someone who receives and oversees the Social Security or Supplemental Security Income benefits for anyone who cannot manage his or her benefits. This can be a child or an adult incapable of managing their own funds.
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. You can learn about becoming a representative payee by watching our new series of training videos on the duties of a representative payee. It is our hope that these training videos will not only educate individuals about the roles and responsibilities of being a representative payee, but also provide further insight, broaden community awareness, and provide key resources related to the growing incidents of elder abuse, neglect and financial exploitation.
Caregivers are valuable and irreplaceable assets to our great nation. Please join us in celebrating them for all they do for those we need them most.
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Tags: Disability, representative payee, social security disability benefits
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Stacy Rodgers, Chief of Staff, Social Security Administration
Stacy Rodgers, Chief of Staff, Social Security Administration
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Michael F.
Hi I’m writing to this blog to get some info. I live in Richmond, V.A. and I had to quit work and move in with my mother and grandmother 5 years ago or 6 to take care of them full time. They were very illiterate about basic house functions and important documents. Also my mother had lung cancer and needed constant help with rides to doctors and and therapy. Later near her death she required full attention as the cancer rode it’s course. My grandmother has been diagnosed with dementia and I’ve been watching in great sorry to see such a strong woman deteriorate in front of me. I lost mom three years ago to the cancer. I’m still taking care of my grandmother who’s 98 and strong as an ox. I’m wondering if I could I could receive financial help? Thanks for your time…
Vonda V.
Hi Michael, we are very sorry to hear about the loss of your mother. Social Security does not pay caregivers. However, you may be eligible to receive social services from the state in which you live. These services include free meals, housekeeping help, transportation, or help with other problems. You can get information about services in your area from your state or local social services office. You can also visit the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services web page for more information. Thanks.
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Dawn H.
I need to fill out a form for disability for a care giver thanks
Diana V.
I am tried ing to get appeal on line dhs medicid
Kathy L.
my son would like to be care giver to my mother but i cant find a page or info for him on it, could you please send me info on what & where for him to go & read & also apply for this so he can become his Grandmothers home health care giver, thank you Kathy Lassin
Luis A.
Hi Kathy. For your security and your mother’s security, we do not have access to your mother’s personal information in this venue. Generally speaking, if we decide that your mother is incapable of managing or directing the management of her benefits, we will select someone to serve as his or her representative payee. We usually look for family or friends to serve as representative payees. When friends or family are not able to serve as payees, we look for qualified organizations to be representative payees. If your son is interested in applying to be a representative payee, he (and you) should read our publication titled “A Guide For Representative Payees,” to understand a payee’s responsibilities. Hope this helps. If you have specific questions, please call our toll-free number 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) between 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. to speak to one of our representatives. Or you can contact your local Social Security office. We hope this information helps
Brenda E.
I am helping take care of my father who is on hospice. Mother is unable to be his only caregiver. Is there a way to get me paid to take care of my father?
Ann C.
Hi, Brenda. We are sorry to hear about your father’s condition. We do not pay caregivers. However, you may be eligible to receive social services from the state in which you live. These services include free meals, housekeeping help, transportation, or help with other problems. To get information about services in your area and find out if you qualify, you will need to contact your state or local social services or welfare office. We hope this helps.
Paula B.
Do caregivers receive monetary compensation from Social Security or some other government organization?
Thanks,
Paula Bradley
Ray F.
Hello Paula. Social Security does not provide compensation to caregivers.
Please visit Benefits.gov. This site features an in-depth Benefit Finder tool that serves as a single access point for information on federal, state and local programs from across 17 different federal agencies. Thanks!
Deborah L.
i am actually just looking for information…i am limited to working from home because i cannot leave my mom unattended for a full work day. she will be turning 80 years old in a week and trying to maintain bills, pay for medication costs and just surviving is really difficult. I have been told by many that there is some sort of assistance i can receive to continue to take care of my mom at home. I will not even consider putting her in a home because my dad died in 2010 in a veteran care facility where he was not taken care of properly and actually died with such severe bed sores that his spine was exposed at his death. i don’t get help from my siblings in the day to day care and honestly don’t trust them enough to help…i work from home currently as a contractor and therefore don’t receive health benefits and actually cannot afford to take care of my own health. i have high blood pressure and a lot of other medical issues that i self-diagnosis..i go to the doctor when i can….I have worked all of my life and was never without medical benefits until the past 10 years. I have a mold issue in my basement and cannot afford the cost to remediate, allstate my insurance company denied my claim and the commissioner’s office was no help. i’m just looking for support, not a handout. any suggestions or leads would be helpful. my mom has insurance and medicare coverage but during the oct-december time period we can almost barely eat. we are okay today but tomorrow it could be something else, sometimes i have to cut off a call while working because my mom leaves the stove on sometimes or i’m just nervous, my job does not pay overtime and i just recently was notified that my pay of 4.75 per half hour was reduced to $1 per call, i work for carnival, some of our guests can keep me on the phone for 30 minutes or more, i was devastated with my holiday income, we did not celebrate, i don’t even know why i did this search because i am a prideful person…but any guidance would be appreciated.
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Dione S.
I am wondering if there are benefits available for my care taker? If so, how do we apply? I can’t function without him?
Ann C.
Thanks for your question, Dione. We do not pay caregivers. However, you may be eligible to receive social services from the state in which you live. These services include free meals, housekeeping help, transportation, or help with other problems. To get information about services in your area and find out if you qualify, you will need to contact your state or local social services office. Or you can visit the U. S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) web page for more information. We hope this information helps!