 | This article includes alist of references,related reading, orexternal links,but its sources remain unclear because it lacksinline citations. Please helpimprove this article byintroducing more precise citations.(July 2019) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
Arepresentative payee, orsubstitute payee, is a person who acts as the receiver of United StatesSocial Security Disability orSupplemental Security Income for a person who is not fully capable of managing their own benefits, i.e. cannot be their ownpayee. The representative payee is expected to assist the person with money management, along with providing protection from financial abuse and victimization.
As with other examples ofdisability fraud, since the disabled person has presumed poor judgement, they are at risk of choosing, or letting others choose for them, a payee who takes advantage of them by using the benefits for themselves, either partially or entirely, leaving the disabled person deprived of adequate clothing, food, or shelter. Cases of such fraud or abuse are typically referred toAdult Protective Services (Child Protective Services in the case of minors), in addition to law enforcement. Notable cases of this include the 2011Philadelphia basement kidnapping.
Some US states and counties have set up representative, or substitute, payee programs, to allow psychiatric case workers and other professional care providers to manage their clients finances with more extensive oversight.