Page 20 THE EVERETT ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2021 Say enr Sa Dear Savvy Senior, Does Social Security off er any special help to benefi ciaries who struggle managing their benefi ts? My aunt, who has no children, has dementia and strugy Senior Senio BY JIM MILLER Little Know Social Security Program Helps Seniors Manage Their Money gles keeping up with her bills and other fi nancial duties. Inquiring Niece Dear Inquiring, Yes, Social Security actually has a little-known program known as the “representative payee program” that helps benefi ciaries who need help managing their Social Security benefi t payments. Here’s what you should know. Representative Payee Program Authorized by congress back in 1939, the Social Security representative payee program provides money management help to benefi ciaries who are incapable of managing their Social Security income. Benefi ciaries in need of this help are often seniors suff ering from dementia, or minor children who are collecting Social Security survivors’ benefi ts. Currently more than 5 million Social Security beneficiaries have representative payees. Representative payees also handle benefi ts for nearly 3 million recipients of Supplemental Security Income (SSI), a Social SAVVY SENIOR | SEE PAGE 21 nior ior
21 Publizr Home