ABA Family Legal Guide

The Rights of Older Americans

A Right to Control Your Own Affairs

Representative Payees

What is a representative payee?

A representative payee is a person or an organization appointed by a government agency, such as the Social Security Administration (SSA) or the Department of Veteran Affairs (VA), to receive and manage public benefits on behalf of someone who is incapable of doing so. The payee actually receives your government benefits on your behalf and is responsible for managing those benefits and making sure that they are spent for your welfare.