The Social Security Administration (SSA) is reportedly going to stop allowing people without Social Security numbers (SSNs) to serve as "representative payees" for beneficiaries who need help managing their benefits.
This risks benefit interruption for thousands.
https://www.govexec.com/management/2025/03/ssa-weighs-axing-payments-170000-beneficiaries/403740/?oref=ge-featured-river-secondary
This risks benefit interruption for thousands.
https://www.govexec.com/management/2025/03/ssa-weighs-axing-payments-170000-beneficiaries/403740/?oref=ge-featured-river-secondary
Comments
But 8M beneficiaries need help managing their finances--including 3.5M kids & many others whose age or disability means they need help. https://www.ssa.gov/pubs/EN-05-10076.pdf
They are legally liable if they make a mistake.
They must keep careful records & make reports to SSA.
They can't get paid.
All rep payees must go through a thorough investigation by SSA staff to ensure their suitability. This takes a lot of time.
A child's parent dies; they get Social Security survivors. Their noncitizen grandparent becomes their caregiver/payee.
A U.S. citizen child with undocumented parents gets an SSI benefit because of his own disability. His mom is his payee.
So what happens to them after this policy change?
Until they get a new rep payee in place, their benefits stop.
How about one of the big accounting firms offers to be the rep payee of record pro bono for anyone who needs it. Or maybe HR block. Or all the accounting firms do it as a coalition.