Representative Payees

Protecting Beneficiaries of Social Security Disability Benefits

NDRN and the Protection and Advocacy (P&A) Network are working in collaboration with the Social Security Administration to monitor representative payees throughout the country. Through this collaboration, the P&As have expanded protection of Social Security beneficiaries by educating representative payees of their responsibilities and identifying cases of misuse.

Background

A representative payee is a person who acts as the receiver of Social Security Disability or Supplemental Security Income for a person who is not fully capable of managing their own benefits. Unfortunately, government investigations – some of which were conducted by P&A agencies – have uncovered representative payees who have stolen or misused funds, exploited, neglected and even abused the people with disabilities they were supposed to be helping.

In March 2018, legislation was passed by the U.S. Senate to increase oversight and protection for some of our nation’s most vulnerable citizens. The bill, called the Strengthening Protections for Social Security Beneficiaries Act (H.R. 4547), increased independent oversight of the Social Security Administration’s Representative Payee Program.

This webpage was developed at the U.S. taxpayer’s expense

Latest in Representative Payee

  • General

    Disability Rights Maine Receives 2025 Advocacy Award

    June 2, 2025

    In a remote part of Maine, an individual with a representative payee was subjected to horrific conditions, neglect, and financial exploitation. Thanks to the swift and determined action of DRME, this individual is now safe and receiving the support and services they deserve. 

    General
  • Representative Payees

    Impact of the Representative Payee Program in 2023-2024

    January 7, 2025

    We recently completed a review of the Representative Payee Program for the program year between 2023 and 2024. NDRN and the Protection and Advocacy (P&A) Network work in collaboration with the Social Security Administration to monitor representative payees throughout the country.

    Publication
  • Community Integration

    Members of the National Disability Rights Network Receive Special Recognition

    June 14, 2023

    Four members of the National Disability Rights Network (NDRN) received the NDRN Advocacy Award for outstanding work protecting and advocating for the rights of people with disabilities.

    Statement