There are some people who receive Social Security or Supplemental Security Income payments each month who may need assistance managing their finances.
To ensure that your benefits are handled properly in the future, we’ll consult with you as soon as we receive information indicating that you require our assistance.
If you have a representative payee, that person receives your monthly benefit payment on your behalf and is responsible for paying for all of your current expenses, including:
- Housing and utilities
- Food
- Health-related and dental care costs
- Cosmetics and toiletries
- Clothing
- The cost of rehabilitation (if you have a disability)
Tell a Social Security representative that you want someone to be your representative payee if you need assistance managing your benefits.
Also Read: Early Social Security Benefits? There Are Only Two Rules You Should Be Familiar With.
Your representative payee should be a person you know and trust, and who clearly understands your financial situation.
A representative payee can be a social service agency, a nursing home, or any other type of organization. Please have them get in touch with us.
When we assign a representative payee, you have 60 days to tell us that you don’t think you need one or that you prefer another representative payee.
Advance Designation is another option that allows you to designate a representative payee now, rather than waiting until the future.
Also Read: You’ll Be Surprised by These 3 Social Security Rules You Didn’t Know About!
If you become unable to manage your own finances, you and your loved ones can rest easy knowing that someone you can rely on will be appointed to look after your benefits on your behalf.
Requesting an advance designation can be done before or after you apply for benefits. Either online at www.ssa.gov/myaccount or over the phone with a Social Security representative can help you do this.
At www.ssa.gov/payee, you can learn more.
In North Carolina, Lisa Wallace serves as a public affairs specialist for Social Security.