A representative payee can be a person or an entity appointed by the Social Security Administration — usually a relative or close friend of the beneficiary. However, the Social Security Administration ...

When a Social Security beneficiary is unable to manage their own account, they can have a representative payee step in to manage the account for them. This typically happens when the beneficiary is a ...

The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine are private, nonprofit institutions that provide expert advice on some of the most pressing challenges facing the nation and world. Our ...

In July 2025, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported on a Wisconsin woman whose family feared her representative payee might have misused her funds. Representative payees are responsible for aiding ...

As if life were not complicated enough, if you are caring for an elderly parent who is no longer able to handle his finances or you are handling Social Security payments for your minor child, you may ...

Millions of people collect Social Security benefits each and every month, and most of them are fully capable of managing the money they receive from the federal government. However, a significant ...

WASHINGTON -- Although most people who receive and manage Social Security benefits on behalf of other individuals perform their duties well, the Social Security Administration's "representative payee" ...

Millions of Americans who get monthly Social Security or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits need help managing their money and may need a representative payee. A representative payee is a ...