Representative Payees Help You Manage Your Social Security
Reading Time: 2 MinutesLast Updated: July 31, 2025
Some people who receive monthly Social Security benefits or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments may need help managing their money. If you need help, we’ll work with you to find the most suitable representative payee to manage your benefits. A representative payee is someone who receives your monthly benefit payment on your behalf and must use the money to pay for your current needs, including:
- Food
- Clothing
- Personal care items
- Housing and utilities
- Medical and dental expenses
- Rehabilitation expenses (if you have a disability)
If you need help managing your benefits, tell a Social Security representative that there is someone you want to be your representative payee. Your representative payee should be someone you trust and interact with often, and who clearly understands your needs. Social service agencies, nursing homes, or other organizations are also qualified to be a representative payee. Ask them to contact us.
If you don’t agree that you need a representative payee or if you want a different person to represent you, you have the right to request that we review your concerns.
Learn about Advanced Designation
There may come a time when you can no longer make your own financial decisions. Through Advance Designation you can name up to 3 people who could serve as a representative payee for you if the need ever arises. By designating trusted individuals in advance, you and your family can have peace of mind knowing that someone you trust may be appointed to manage your benefits for you.
You can submit your Advance Designation request when you apply for benefits. If you are already receiving benefits, you may also submit your request through your personal my Social Security account or by calling and speaking to a Social Security representative.
For more information, visit our webpage When People Need Help Managing Their Money.
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Santito B.
Thank you! This is valuable to know. I will use this in due time.
Renee Z.
Hi, nothing makes sense to me on my records. Someone stole my identity & are now trying to incriminate me now. I haven’t received benefits in years . But if I’m right they are in different states countries.
greekcuisinecook
I don’t really want a representative payee and neither does my husband but if we don’t get one, then SSA will supply one, is that correct?
mrs
May a representative payee call SSA on behalf of the beneficiary?
Mark B.
Do you really think that people who need a representative payee will read this blog and say I think I need a representative payee, I’ll contact SSA?
it would make more sense to rewrite this article directed at a more general audience, like’ if you or someone you know’.
Glenda
Wish you were the one to review and post articles.
John
Be careful who you select to be your payee. Even your children might divert your money for their benefit, not yours.
Amina D.
I am in process for that
Robert
I understand people need help with their finances but those willing to help be very careful. Once you sign up to help social security will never let you stop being the rep payee. When the person you help goes rogue with their money, social security will not let you stop being a rep payee.
Glenda
wow that wasn’t mentioned in the article.
Philip
What if a court appointed conservator used my mom ss for herself
I did contact you about this and no response from you yet I believe it is called fraud!!!!
rebecca s.
info is great…. thx…