National Disability Right Network

Representative Payee Reviews

March 2016

On March 28, 2016 NDRN will have completed a six month extension to its existing
Representative Payee Review contract with the Social Security Administration. This
collaboration allows Social Security to meet its goal of ensuring that payees meet the
fiduciary responsibilities they accepted when they became a payee.
Currently there are 355 staff across the national network that have been deemed
suitable or cleared by SSA. An additional 32 staff are at various steps in the suitability
process or waiting on a determination by SSA.
This task order began on October 1, 2015 calling for 500 reviews completed in 47
States and the District of Columbia. The completion of this extension brought the total
number of reviews completed by NDRN and the P&A Network to over 3,900 with over
18,420 individual beneficiaries interviewed.
The representative payee reviews completed under this 6 month extension revealed
numbers of potential misuse of beneficiary benefits similar to previous task orders.
TABLE 1: Potential Problems 6 Month Extension (500 reviews) vs. FY 2009-2015
(3,915 reviews)

FY 09-15

FY 16 6 Month Extension

Potential Major
Problem(s)

16%
30%

33%

26%

Potential Minor
Problem(s)
54%

No Problems
Noted

Potential Major
Problem(s)
Potential Minor
Problem(s)

41%

No Problems
Notes

The information and opinions expressed in this report are solely those of the author and are not those of the Social Security
Administration or any of its employees. The Social Security Administration does not endorse any statement, policy recommendation,
or suggestion contained in this report. Release of this report does not signify SSAs approval of the necessity for or contents of the
report. This report is not an official report to Congress and was compiled and published solely at the impulse of the author. In
contrast, the Social Security Administration will comply with its obligation under 42 U.S.C. 405(j)(6)(B) to prepare and present to
Congress an official agency report regarding the administration of the representative payee program.
April 11, 2016 Final

A strength that the P&A network brings to these reviews is not only their ability to assist
Social Security to meet their responsibilities, but also to address issues that are
important to beneficiaries but fall outside of Social Securitys purview. P&A referrals
typically fall into 2 categories, 1) General Referrals and 2) Individual Referrals. General
referrals consist of referrals to State and Federal Agencies and/or the back to the P&A
agency requesting follow-up by the agency related to something discovered during a
review such as potential fire hazard or a lapse in an employer payees subminimum
wage certificate. Individual referrals are person centered and or more informational in
nature such as an individual referral to a Work Incentives Planning and Assistance
(WIPA) organization for information on how work may impact their SSA cash benefits or
the P&A for information regarding self-determination.
TABLE 2: Number of reviews resulting in referrals to 3rd parties for concerns outside of
Social Securities purview
Reviews with General Referrals
755

800
700
600
500
400
300
200

121

100
0
FY 16 (25%)

FY 09-15 (22%)

TABLE 3: Number of reviews resulting in individual referrals to 3rd parties for concerns
outside of Social Securities purview

The information and opinions expressed in this report are solely those of the author and are not those of the Social Security
Administration or any of its employees. The Social Security Administration does not endorse any statement, policy recommendation,
or suggestion contained in this report. Release of this report does not signify SSAs approval of the necessity for or contents of the
report. This report is not an official report to Congress and was compiled and published solely at the impulse of the author. In
contrast, the Social Security Administration will comply with its obligation under 42 U.S.C. 405(j)(6)(B) to prepare and present to
Congress an official agency report regarding the administration of the representative payee program.
April 11, 2016 Final

Reviews with Individual Referrals

1200

1065

1000
800
600
400
200

165

0
FY 16 (34%)

FY 09-15 (31%)

TABLE 4: Number of reviews resulting in individual referrals back to a P&A agency

Individual Referrals to P&A
700
608

600
500
400
300
200
100

92

0
FY 16 19%

FY 09-15 18%

The information and opinions expressed in this report are solely those of the author and are not those of the Social Security
Administration or any of its employees. The Social Security Administration does not endorse any statement, policy recommendation,
or suggestion contained in this report. Release of this report does not signify SSAs approval of the necessity for or contents of the
report. This report is not an official report to Congress and was compiled and published solely at the impulse of the author. In
contrast, the Social Security Administration will comply with its obligation under 42 U.S.C. 405(j)(6)(B) to prepare and present to
Congress an official agency report regarding the administration of the representative payee program.
April 11, 2016 Final