ABA Family Legal Guide

The Rights of Older Americans

A Right to Control Your Own Affairs

Representative Payees

What types of income may a representative payee manage?

He or she may only manage the income paid by government programs (usually federal programs such as Social Security, veterans benefits, black-lung benefits, and supplemental security income programs). The representative payee has no authority over any other income or property that you might receive. If you have additional income from other sources, you may need other assistance (such as help from an agent under your durable power of attorney or from a money management program, discussed on page 641) in addition to the help of a representative payee.