How Do I Become a Representative Payee for a Disabled Child?

Full question:

I receive ss disability and my 2 dependent sons do as well. I received a representative payee report to complete. The report seems to focus more on them having a disability and financially supporting them.Why do I need to report this on this form? Since I am not supporting a disabilied child so how should I reply?

• Category: Social Security
• Date: 04/07/2025
• State: North Carolina

Answer:

A representative payee is an individual or organization appointed by SSA to receive Social Security and/or SSI benefits for someone who cannot manage or direct someone else to manage his or her money. The main responsibilities of a payee are to use the benefits to pay for the current and foreseeable needs of the beneficiary and properly save any benefits not needed to meet current needs. A payee must also keep records of expenses. When SSA requests a report, a payee must provide an accounting to SSA of how benefits were used or saved.

A representative payee is an individual or organization appointed by SSA to receive Social Security and/or SSI benefits for someone who cannot manage or direct someone else to manage his or her money. The main responsibilities of a payee are to use the benefits to pay for the current and foreseeable needs of the beneficiary and properly save any benefits not needed to meet current needs. A payee must also keep records of expenses. When SSA requests a report, a payee must provide an accounting to SSA of how benefits were used or saved.

The law requires most minor children and all legally incompetent adults to have payees.
If adult beneficiaries are not be capable of managing benefits SSA may gather evidence and determine there is a need to appoint a representative payee.

Please see also:

http://www.ssa.gov/pubs/10076.html
http://www.ssa.gov/payee/faqrep.htm