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Payeeship Program . The Arc of Somerset County. What is Payeeship? . Payeeship - assists our consumers in managing or directing their benefits and acts in the best interests of each consumer. . What is a Representative Payee.
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Payeeship Program The Arc of Somerset County
What is Payeeship? • Payeeship - assists our consumers in managing or directing their benefits and acts in the best interests of each consumer.
What is a Representative Payee • Social Security (SS) defines representative payee as a person, agency, organization or institution selected by SS to receive and manage benefits on behalf of an incapable or legally incompetent beneficiary. This includes a parent who is receiving benefits on behalf of his/her minor child. The Arc of Somerset is considered as an organizational representative payee.
Objective of the Payeeship • To maintain Social Security benefits eligibility by keeping the consumers account below $2000.00 at all times. • To act in the best interest of our consumers. • To empower, involve and support individuals to the best of their abilities in the day to day management of their funds.
How does the Payeeship Program Support Individuals Served? • Encourages consumers to participate in decision making on how to spend their money. • Receives Social Security benefits in behalf of the consumers, determines their needs and uses these funds to meet those needs (e.g. Food, Clothing, Medicines, Rents, Cable, Phone) • Plans camps and vacations with the help of Assistant Director of Residential Services and guardians. • Sets up burial trusts, monitors these trusts and makes additional investments/deposits if there is excess money. • Arranges repayment plan for unpaid obligations (e.g. rent back dues or unpaid medical bills) • Disputes billed charges if found in error.
How does the Payeeship Program Support Individuals Served? • Assists consumers who live in the HUD facilities during the rent recertification process. • Keeps accounting records for all payments received and how they are spent. This makes the audit a lot easier for the DDD case managers. • Completes written reports accounting for the use of funds and submits these reports to DDD for review. • Coordinates with the bank.
How does the Payeeship Program Support Individuals Served? • Coordinates with the bank. • Responds to the SS, DDD, Medicare and/or Medicaid for any inquiries they may have either by completing forms or submitting requirements like income information or bank statements. • Coordinates with the DDD Case Manager if there is any delay in benefits or request for additional funding/assistance. • Monitors the accounts closely and informs the consumers if they need to spend down. This allows the consumers to go to classes, trips and camps.
Rights of Guardians • Guardians are entitled to full access to the account information at all times. • Reimbursement for expenses (supported by receipts) advanced by the guardian. • Quarterly reports detailing the SS payments and salary received and how the funds were spent. • Participate in planning for vacations, camps, burial fund or purchases.
Internal Control • Expenses over $50.00 should be approved by the ADR. • Only one single checking account is maintained and only 2 authorized signors. • Receipts are reviewed on a monthly basis by the Financial Services and on a quarterly basis by the DDD Case Managers. • Reconciliation of bank accounts and accounting ledger on a regular basis (biweekly and monthly). • Receipts should be signed by the staff in full signature if the purchase was made by the consumer accompanied by the staff. • Checks are never written out to CASH. • Participation in the IHP process.
Limitations of the Payeeship Program • Does not prepare income taxes for the consumers. • Can not issue checks to family members/guardians for future expenses. The program reimburses the members/guardians upon presentation of receipts. • Can not sign legal documents, other than Social Security documents, on behalf of a beneficiary.
What Payees Are Not Allowed to Do • Have legal authority over earned income, pensions, or any income from sources other than Social Security or SSI. • Use a beneficiary's money for the payee's personal expenses, or spend funds in a way that would leave the beneficiary without necessary items or services (housing, food, medical care). • Put a beneficiary's Social Security or SSI funds in the payee’s or another person's account. • Keep conserved funds once you are no longer the payee. • Charge the beneficiary for services unless authorized by SSA to do so.
