1623. Accounting for Use of Benefits

1623.1 How do representative payees account for their use of benefits?

An annual report form (Representative Payee Report) is sent to representative payees for them to explain how Social Security benefits and/or SSI payments were used during the 12-month report period. Payees should keep records throughout the year so that an accurate accounting of benefits can be provided.

1623.2 Do State mental institutions receive this report form?

Although some State mental institutions receive this report form for each beneficiary, most State mental institutions are subject to a different monitoring process (see §1624).

1623.3 How is the representative payee's performance evaluated?

To help us assess the payee's performance, the report asks for information such as:

1. Whether the beneficiary lived alone, or with the same person, or in the same institution during the report period;

2. How the Social Security benefits and/or SSI payments were used;

3. How much of the benefit payments were saved and how the savings were invested; and

4. Whether the payee was convicted of a felony during the report period.

1623.4 Does SSA request additional information?

Depending on the payee's responses, we may interview the payee, beneficiary, and custodian, if appropriate, and complete a more detailed report (Representative Payee Evaluation Report) in order to determine the continued suitability of the representative payee.

1623.5 Does SSA conduct any additional monitoring for organizational payees?

In addition to the annual report form required of all payees (except for State mental institutions), we visit certain organizational payees periodically and examine a sample of beneficiary records. This site visit program provides an opportunity for ongoing education about the payees' duties and responsibilities, and helps to improve the lines of communication between the organizations and SSA.

Last Revised: Feb. 2, 2007