CAPIC Responsible Payee Program
What is the responsible payee program?
The Responsible Payee Program was created in 1995. The Program’s staff consists of a Fiscal Manager and Program Coordinator who work directly with the beneficiaries and other service providers.
Our mission is to act on behalf of the beneficiary to manage and budget their monthly benefit and to help ensure that the benefit payments are used for basic needs, This provides the beneficiary with a more stable environment and helps motivate beneficiaries to work toward more in dependant living.
Required Documents:
The following documents must be provided at the time of intake:
- Photo Identification for the applicant.
- Valid Social Security card.
- Proof of address.
- Landlord Verification
Required Duties:
A representative payee acts on behalf of the beneficiary’s Social Security, SSI and/or SSDI payments.
- Determine beneficiary’s current needs for day-to-day living and use his/her payments to meet those needs.
- Save any money left after meeting the beneficiary’s current needs in an interest bearing account.
- Report any changes/events that could affect the beneficiary’s eligibility for benefits or payment amounts suck has a change in the amount of pension, wage changes (for example: Increase in the number of hours worked, or increase in hourly wage).
- Keep written records of all payments received from SSA and how they are spent and saved.
- Provide benefit information to social service agencies or medical facilities that serve the beneficiary.
- Assist the beneficiary in the completion of continuing disability reviews and re-determination of SSI eligibility.
- Return any payments to the SSA from which the beneficiary is not entitled.
- Return any conserved funds to the SSA if representation of the payee is discontinued.
- Establish a budget, discuss it with the beneficiary, and involve him or her as much as possible.
Other Services:
- Helping the beneficiary find other services he or she requires (food stamps, housing subsidies, etc.)
- Helping the beneficiary fill out applications for other needed services and co-operating with caseworkers.
What a representative payee must know about “Ticket to Work” provisions for people with disabilities:
One of the SSA’s highest priorities is to help people with disabilities achieve independence by helping them take advantage of employment opportunities. The SSA has in place special initiatives to assist people with disabilities in this process. Some examples are:
- An increase in the choices that beneficiaries have in obtaining rehabilitation and vocational services.
- Removing the barriers that require people with disabilities to choose between health care coverage.