What is an Organizational Representative Payee Company?

A representative payee is an organization appointed by the Veterans Administration or Social Security to receive Veterans Benefits, Social Security, and/or Supplemental Security Income for someone who cannot manage his or her money.

Note: Having power of attorney, being an authorized representative, or having a joint bank account with the beneficiary is NOT the same thing as being a payee. These arrangements do not give you legal authority to negotiate and manage a beneficiary’s benefits. You must apply for and be appointed as a payee by the Veterans Administration or Social Security.

Who Needs a Representative Payee?

Veterans Administrations (VA) or Social Security Administration (SSA) assumes adult beneficiaries are capable of managing their money unless there is evidence to the contrary. When VA or SSA determines a beneficiary cannot manage or direct someone else to manage his or her Veterans benefits or Social Security and/or SSI benefits, they appoint a payee. 

Once the Veterans Administration or Social Security assigns you a payee they will send you a letter telling you that they have decided to pay your benefits to a payee. If you don’t agree that you need a payee, or if you want a different payee, you have 60 days to appeal that decision by sending them a letter.

Beneficiaries who are unable to manage or direct the management of their money need a payee. These beneficiaries fall into three categories:

• minor children;
• legally incompetent adults (if your organization is the legal guardian for a beneficiary, you will need to submit a copy of the court appointment document to the local SSA office when you file the application to become a payee); and
• adult beneficiaries VA or SSA has determined are incapable of handling their money.

Representative Payee Programs:

Our Representative Payee Counselors will assist you with budgeting, prioritizing debts, and follow-up services. Our staff will work closely with other area providers to coordinate necessary services on behalf of clients who would have difficulty accessing these resources on their own.

CLIENTS ARE ONLY SEEN BY APPOINTMENT ONLY.  To schedule an appointment, call our office at (803) 673-4671.