New Law Allows Social Security Beneficiaries to Designate Representative Payees in Advance

What is a representative payee?  A representative payee is a person appointed by Social Security Administration (SSA) to provide payment management for SSA beneficiaries who are unable to manage their Social Security benefits on their own.  Generally, the appointed person is a family member or friend of the beneficiary, but if no such person is available, then SSA may appoint a qualified organization to serve.

The idea of maintaining one’s autonomy is an important recurring theme, especially among older adults.  Most people want to retain control of their lives, able to make their own decisions - financial, medical, housing, and the like – for as long as they can.  However, until recently, when a representative payee became necessary to manage Social Security benefits, the SSA beneficiary didn’t really have any say in who was appointed.

In April 2018, then-president, Donald Trump, signed H.R. 4547, the “Strengthening Protections for Social Security Beneficiaries Act of 2018,” into law.  One intended purpose of the new law was to improve and strengthen the Representative Payee Program.  As part of the new law, SSA now offers the option to designate a representative payee in advance, identifying up to three individuals who could serve as representative payee in the future, if need arises.  This advance designation is optional and can be updated or withdrawn at any time.  Requests for advance designation can be submitted online through an individual Social Security account, by telephone, or in writing.

Because maintaining independence and control over decision-making is such an important goal for our clients, at the Nawrocki Center, we provide legal advice and support specifically with that in mind and now offer this service as part of our comprehensive estate plans. Remember that putting things in writing and delegating authority and the scope of that authority in advance not only allows you to retain control over your future, it also reduces the likelihood of fighting and hard feelings among family members down the road. 

If being in control of your future – including financial decision-making and independence – is important to you, it’s critical that you have the right legal documents in place.  Call us today and schedule a free estate planning consultation with one of our experienced attorneys to talk about how we can create a comprehensive estate plan just for you.

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Questions? Contact us at Nawrocki Center for Elder Law, Special Needs & Disability Planning

Nawrocki Center for Elder Law, Special Needs & Disability Planning
10299 Grand River | Suite N | Brighton , MI 48116
Phone: (810) 229-0220
http://www.nawrockilaw.com