Office of the Inspector General, SSA
Social Security Administration
Benefit Payments Managed by Representative Payees of Children in Pennsylvania’s State Foster Care Programs
Date:
Tuesday, December 4, 2012
Management Issue:
Report Number:
A-13-12-11245
Report Type:
Audit Report
Office Affiliation:
Some beneficiaries are not able to manage or direct the management of their finances because of their youth or mental or physical impairment. For such beneficiaries, Congress provided for payment to be made through a representative payee who receives and manages payments on the beneficiary’s behalf.
According to Social Security Administration (SSA) policy, cases involving foster care are among the most sensitive. It is essential that SSA protect the rights of children who may not be able to rely on their parents to do so. Therefore, it is important that SSA follow its policy including completely investigating representative payees to ensure children in foster care have the appropriate payee.
