Sometimes the Social Security Administration (SSA) thinks you need help managing your money. The SSA is the government office that handles Social Security and SSI benefits. When this happens, they may choose a "representative payee" to get your money and help you spend it. A representative payee is a person who receives your benefits and manages them for you.
You might have signed a paper saying the adult home could be your representative payee when you moved in. You may not remember signing this paper.
If you need help with money but don't want the adult home to handle it, you can pick someone else. You have the right to choose a different representative payee. This person should be someone you trust. They should care about what's best for you. This person cannot be a doctor, therapist, or anyone who gets paid to help you.
If you think you can handle your own money, you can call the SSA at 1-800-772-1213. You may need to get a letter from a doctor or therapist. This letter should say you can manage your own money. But be careful: If the SSA thinks this letter means your disability got better, they may make you prove you still need SSI benefits.
If you need help, you can call Mobilization for Justice, Inc.'s Adult Home Advocacy Project. The number is 877-417-2427. You can call for free Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Última revisión: July 5, 2023