What Are Some Examples of What Payees Cannot Do?
A payee cannot: • Sign legal documents, other than Social Security documents, on behalf of a beneficiary. • 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. • Use a child beneficiary’s “dedicated account” funds for basic living expenses. This only applies to disabled/blind SSI beneficiaries under age 18. • Keep conserved funds once you are no longer the payee. • Charge the beneficiary for services unless authorized by SSA to do so.
