TN 41 (02-14)

A. Payee responsibilities and duties

You must explain the payee’s responsibilities and duties to the applicant. The representative payee responsibilities and duties are to:

• meet with the beneficiary on a regular basis to ascertain his or her current and foreseeable needs;

• use funds in the beneficiary's best interest;

• conserve benefits not needed for the beneficiary's current needs;

• keep detailed and accurate records of how the payee uses benefits in order to provide an accurate report to SSA when requested;

• complete the accounting form online or return the completed form timely once a year;

• report events that may affect the beneficiary's entitlement or amount of payment (including the beneficiary's death or incarceration);

• report if you are unable to locate or contact the beneficiary;

• cooperate with Title XVI eligibility redeterminations;

• ensure that medical treatment is obtained for minor children receiving SSI disability payments;

• report address and custody changes;

• report any change in circumstances which would affect performance as payee;

• return any benefits to which the beneficiary is not entitled;

• act for the beneficiary on matters relating to the beneficiary's claim;

• notify SSA if the beneficiary no longer needs a payee; and

• return any conserved funds or unused benefits to SSA when payee services terminate.

B. Additional ways a payee can help beneficiaries

Discuss with the payee applicant other ways a payee can help a beneficiary. The following is a list of other ways a payee can help a beneficiary:

• establish a budget and involve the beneficiary as much as possible in financial decisions;

• explain Social Security or SSI payments, and the beneficiary's expenses to the beneficiary;

• ensure that the beneficiary is aware of current and large retroactive payments;

• help the beneficiary find other services (e.g., food stamps, housing subsidies, medical treatment);

• negotiate with the beneficiary’s landlords and creditors to get favorable terms, or to change the due date on bills to coincide with the availability of funds; and

• recommend an alternate person or agency, if the payee can no longer serve as payee for the beneficiary.