Legal and planning
Representative payee
A representative payee is a person or organization that Social Security appoints to manage Social Security or SSI payments for a beneficiary who cannot manage them. The payee must use the money for the beneficiary's needs. Social Security chooses a suitable payee.
Why it matters for your family
A representative payee can help when an older adult with dementia misses bills or falls for scams. Social Security says it appoints a suitable payee who manages the payments on the beneficiary's behalf. The role is narrow. It covers Social Security and SSI money, not bank accounts or other income. A durable power of attorney does not make someone a payee. Families must apply to Social Security separately. A common mistake is spending the benefit on household costs that do not serve the beneficiary. Payees must keep records and may need to report use. Ask Social Security or an elder law attorney about the steps.
Source: ssa.gov
Read more: What is Elder Law and Do You Need an Elder Care Attorney?
Related terms
- Power of attorneyA power of attorney (POA) is a legal document in which one person, the principal, names another person, the agent, to act for them.
- Durable power of attorneyA durable power of attorney is a power of attorney that stays in effect if the person who signed it becomes incapacitated.
- GuardianshipGuardianship is a legal process in which a state court finds a person incapacitated and appoints someone else to make decisions for them.
- ConservatorshipConservatorship is a court process in which a judge appoints a person, the conservator, to manage another adult's affairs.
- Capacity assessmentA capacity assessment is an evaluation of whether a person can make a specific decision, such as signing a legal document or agreeing to treatment.
- Elder abuseElder abuse is harm or risk of harm to an older adult by someone in a position of trust, or by a stranger.
