Greater Scrutiny for Representative Payees

Representative Payees, individuals tasked with handling Social Security payments for people with disabilities, will be subject to greater scrutiny under a new law. President Trump signed the measure known as the Strengthening Protections for Social Security Beneficiaries Act of 2018 (H.R. 4547) in April after it was unanimously approved by Congress.

The legislation will impose greater oversight on representative payees who manage Social Security and Supplemental Security Income benefits for those who need assistance handling their funds. Specifically, the law bars people with certain types of criminal convictions from acting as representative payees and prevents individuals who have representative payees themselves from serving in that capacity for others. It will also give beneficiaries more say in who handles money on their behalf by allowing Social Security recipients to make a list of their preferred payees in their order of preference.

Meanwhile, the legislation will require that protection and advocacy groups in each state — federally-mandated organizations that provide legal assistance and advocate for people with disabilities — conduct more reviews of representative payee performance on behalf of the Social Security Administration.

In addition to enhancing oversight, the measure will also eliminate a requirement that parents or spouses living with a person with a disability complete an annual accounting form for representative payees.

According to the Social Security Administration’s Office of the Inspector General, some 6.2 million individuals or organizations act as representative payees on behalf of about 8 million beneficiaries. Such representatives are assigned if the agency determines that a person’s mental or physical condition prevents them from being able to manage their benefits.

Find out more about Representative Payees here: https://www.ssa.gov/payee/

By: Joyce Trudeau of Premier Disability Services, LLC^®