{"id":11429,"date":"2019-08-06T15:32:23","date_gmt":"2019-08-06T20:32:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hammerle.com\/?p=11429"},"modified":"2020-02-20T15:21:46","modified_gmt":"2020-02-20T21:21:46","slug":"what-are-rep-payee-fiduciaries","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hammerle.com\/legaltalk\/legal-talk\/what-are-rep-payee-fiduciaries\/","title":{"rendered":"What are Representative Payee and VA Fiduciaries?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Social Security and VA Name Your Agent<\/h1>\n

Your ever- so-efficient Federal government has a plan in place to appoint an agent<\/a> to receive your social security or veteran\u2019s benefits in the event you are having trouble managing your finances. \u00a0 \u00a0 Perhaps we should say \u201ctwo plans\u201d since it would be way too much to ask for the Social Security Administration (SSA)<\/a> and Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)<\/a> to actually coordinate their programs.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

We will, therefore, compare and contrast the two.<\/span><\/p>\n

SSA calls the agent a \u201crepresentative payee\u201d<\/a> or in shorthand parlance \u201crep payee.\u201d\u00a0 The VA calls the agent a \u201cfiduciary.\u201d<\/a> Under both programs, the appointed person is supposed to manage your money for your benefit.<\/span><\/p>\n

The SSA appoints a rep payee, if it determines that such an appointment is in your best interests because you cannot manage your money.\u00a0 It begins the process when the person seeking to be appointed rep payee files an application on Form SSA-11-BK. After review, the SSA transfers the application to the Disability Determination Services (DDS)<\/a> in your state.\u00a0 DDS then investigates. If the application is approved, SSA appoints a rep payee who then receives your social security payments.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The VA\u2019s process is more rigorous.\u00a0 It appoints a fiduciary if it determines that you are not able to manage your financial affairs.\u00a0 The VA begins the process when it receives information that you are incompetent due to mental disability, advanced age or physical infirmity.\u00a0 Its findings of incompetency must be supported by medical evidence or a court ruling. The VA then conducts a Field Examination and interviews you and asks for information about monthly bills, assets and medications.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

You have the right to tell the SSA who you want to serve as your rep payee.\u00a0 <\/strong><\/h2>\n

The SSA gives first preference to your family and friends. If none are available, then it will consider appointing a qualified organization.<\/span><\/p>\n

Likewise, you have the right to tell the VA who you want to serve as your fiduciary.\u00a0 Before appointing that person, the VA conducts a background investigation that includes checking criminal records, personal credit and references.\u00a0 You or your proposed fiduciary must apply to the VA fiduciary program before the appointment will be approved. The VA can decline to appoint your fiduciary or qualified family member and can instead appoint a paid fiduciary.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

If you do not like the SSA\u2019s decision about your incapacity, then you have the right to try to prove that you can manage your money.\u00a0 You can do this by sending them a court order stating that you can take care of yourself, or a note from a doctor, or some other type of evidence.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

If you don\u2019t like the VA\u2019s decision, then you can appeal to the U.S. Court of Veterans Appeals.\u00a0<\/strong>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

Both the rep payee and the VA fiduciary have to file an annual account showing use of the funds under their control.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The SSA program is at 42 USC Section 1383(a)(2).\u00a0 The VA program is at 38 USC Section 5502(a)(1). For helpful guides, see\u00a0 <\/span>https:\/\/www.ssa.gov\/pubs\/EN-05-10076.pdf<\/span><\/a>\u00a0 and\u00a0 <\/span>https:\/\/www.benefits.va.gov\/FIDUCIARY\/Fid_Guide.pdf<\/span><\/a>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Virginia Hammerle is a licensed Texas attorney.\u00a0 Her practice includes estate planning<\/a>, litigation<\/a>, guardianship<\/a> and probate law<\/a>. \u00a0See hammerle.com<\/a> for her blog and newsletter sign-up.\u00a0 This column does not constitute legal advice.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Social Security and VA Name Your Agent Your ever- so-efficient Federal government has a plan in place to appoint an agent to receive your social security or veteran\u2019s benefits in the event you are having trouble managing your finances. \u00a0 \u00a0 Perhaps we should say \u201ctwo plans\u201d since it would be way too much to […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":11714,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[21],"tags":[449,923],"class_list":{"0":"post-11429","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-legal-talk","8":"tag-social-security","9":"tag-veterans"},"yoast_head":"\nWhat are Representative Payee and VA Fiduciaries? - Hammerle Morris Law Firm<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"The Federal government has a plan in to appoint an agent to receive your SS or veteran\u2019s benefits in the event you are having trouble managing your finances.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/hammerle.com\/legaltalk\/legal-talk\/what-are-rep-payee-fiduciaries\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"What are Representative Payee and VA Fiduciaries? 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