TN 34 (04-11)

A. Introduction when payee fails to respond to SSA-6233-BK

SSA is required to obtain an annual accounting on the use of benefits and to monitor the activity of funds in a dedicated account. If the representative payee does not respond to, or will not cooperate with efforts to obtain, a SSA-6233-BK (Representative Payee Report of Benefits and Dedicated Account), a change of payee may be in the best interests of the beneficiary.

B. Procedure when payee fails to respond to SSA-6233-BK

1. Consider change of payee

Make every reasonable effort to contact the payee before considering appointing a successor payee. Do not suspend benefits as a tool for achieving contact with the payee. Consider a change of payee following instructions in GN 00605.090B.1.

2. Parent payees

Generally, a parent with custody is the preferred payee. Even if a parent refuses a face-to-face interview, change of payee is not a desirable option. When dealing with an uncooperative parent payee, follow instructions in GN 00605.090B.2.

3. Successor payee

The repeated failure of a payee to respond to SSA's requests for information may indicate that the payee is no longer suitable. To determine whether to consider a successor payee, follow instructions in GN 00504.100.

NOTE: If you terminate the former payee due to non-response, document the Representative Payee Report of Contact (RPRC) screen on the Representative Payee System, following instructions in GN 00504.100B.3.