Making Wise Choices When a Representative Payee Manages Your Money
Reading Time: 1 MinuteLast Updated: July 16, 2021
Some of the millions of people who get monthly Social Security or Supplemental Security Income benefits need help managing this money. A person assigned to help you manage your monthly benefits is called a representative payee. We may decide you need a representative payee if we receive information that indicates you need help to manage your money. We try to select someone who knows you and wants to help you. Your representative payee should be someone who you trust, who sees you often, and who clearly understands your needs.
A representative payee receives your monthly benefits on your behalf and must use the money to pay for your current needs. Eligible costs include:
- Housing and utilities.
- Food.
- Medical and dental expenses.
- Personal care items.
- Clothing.
- Rehabilitation expenses (if you’re disabled).
If there is someone you want to be your representative payee, tell a Social Security representative, and they will consider your request. Social service agencies, nursing homes, or other organizations are also qualified to be your representative payee. Ask them to contact us.
If you receive a decision that you are appointed a representative payee and don’t agree that you need one, or if you want a different representative payee, write to us within 60 days to appeal that decision.
If you can’t manage your finances, someone else can help. If you have a trusted friend or family member who can be your representative payee, our publication, A Guide for Representative Payees, will provide more information on our representative payee rules.
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Tags: Disability, representative payee, Social Security benefits, SSI, supplemental security income
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Darlynda Bogle, Assistant Deputy Commissioner
Darlynda Bogle, Assistant Deputy Commissioner
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Nhora F.
My name is Nhora Ferreira and I would like to assign my daughter Nora F Aufiero as my representave. Her cel # is 631 897 9139. If you have any questions, please call me at 011 57 17046495. Thank you
Nhora Ferreira
Vonda V.
Hi Nhora, thank you for using our blog. Please visit our Frequently Asked Questions web page on the ways to submit or change Advance Designation. We hope this helps.
Haylie B.
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Alice J.
Gee, I thought,I was the only one, to be going thru, not Rec. my checks this month and not Rec. 2,149K is a lot of cash to lose in income. I sent out letters explaining.But, now they want my new car back. We have .47 cents in the bank & last ck Jan 22,it’s now; Mar 10th and the SS Dept. says there won’t be any funds til March 25th. All because (We changed Banks) got the Acct wrong …who’s fault (who knows) but it doesn’t matter “it’s wrong” over draft charges from the old bank, up the gazzoo+200$.++chking both banks (NO FUNDS)! NODA! PLUS NURSING HOME CHARGES,TOO NOT BEING COVERED!
Concerned U.
You are a compassionate human being and are SO correct . I feel we MUST stop spending money on other countries because the generosity of America has been &/ continues to slowly drain our own resources to the point where we cant take care of our own ppl. The ppl in Appalachian areaI of U.S. are a prime example of OUR poverty. Millions of others struggle DAILY just to survive. Getting benefits to help us survive is not easy. Yet foreigners who want to come here think that the average American can afford to live high & can have everything they want. There are millions who cant even afford to have what they NEED. Those foreigners should band together & storm their own governments, politicians etc RELENTLESS LY instead of trying to invade America & European, etc other countries. Even the poorest of poor countries have a very wealthy class. They should be RELENTLESSLY asked for assistance. One of the top BILLIONAIRES in the world is Mexican, worth ovet 70 BILLION. His name is Carlos Slim Helu. Where is he & wat is he doing to help the poor ppl of Mexico, & for the Central & S outh Americans who uprooted families w/little children. & stormed the Mexican border aftr DAYS of walking to the border.? If they could remain in their respective countries & live decently, they wouldnt want to leave their motherlands. Keep in mind wat George Washington said : BEWARE OF FOREIGN ENTANGLEMENTS.
jacqueline n.
I need to get proof of income as a payee to my daughter’s SSI. How to get to it online?
Doris E.
Does SS Service help you fine places to stay without being on a waiting lost for 4 or 5 years?
Randi W.
I am helping a friend find a place to stay.
He is owed backpay and was advised that they would need to provide proof in order to receive a lump sum of the pay owed for a big purchase such as housing or a car.
What type of proof would be acceptable?
Susanna S.
Got registered on your website. Need an activation code please.
akalem
Thanks.
https://www.gaziyazilim.com
Ann C.
Hi, Susanna. For your security, we do not have access to private information in this venue. If you are still unable to access an account or encounter a problem with your personal my Social Security account, you may:
•Call us at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778), Monday through Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. At the voice prompt, say “helpdesk”; or
•Contact your local Social Security office. We hope this helps.
Mohamed o.
I’m having a repransative bayee. To whom I don’t know or see it I don’t have clothes personal care item’s I have not heard from him since bayee thing started o Wana chance to never personal bayee I can manage my benefits is ssi
Ann C.
Hi, Mohamed. Thanks for your question. It sounds like you are asking about a representative payee. If so, you have the right to receive your own Social Security check unless SSA believes you are not capable of managing or directing the management of your money. If you have a representative payee because of a physical or a mental disability, in order to become your own payee, you must show the Social Security Administration you are now mentally and physically able to handle your money. You could provide: A doctor’s statement showing there has been a change in your condition and the doctor believes you are able to care for yourself; or an official copy of a court order saying the court believes you can take care of yourself; or other evidence showing your ability to take care of yourself. For more information, visit here. We hope this helps!
Connie G.
Have the 1099s been mailed for 2019? I can get mine online, but my husband passed away in 2019 and did not have an online account, so I can not get his.
Ann C.
Hi, Connie. We are sorry to hear about your loss. The SSA-1099 is mailed to the last address in our records and is intended for the spouse or executor of the deceased. If you did not receive the benefit statement, the executor will need to go into the local Social Security office with proof of death and proof of executorship. An SSA-1099 can also be given to someone receiving benefits on the deceased beneficiary’s record such as a spouse, parent, or child of the deceased. If you need more information, call our toll-free number at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) and ask a representative for assistance. We hope this helps.