New Legislation Protects Beneficiaries of Social Security Disability Benefits

Friends-

Disability Rights Pennsylvania is pleased to announce that H.R. 4547, the Strengthening Protections for Social Security Beneficiaries Act of 2017 that increases oversight of the Representative Payee Program passed the U.S. Senate last night. It previously passed the US House by a unanimous vote. This legislation now goes to the President for his signature.

A representative payee is a person who acts as the receiver of Social Security Disability or Supplemental Security Income for a person who is not fully capable of managing their own benefits.

Unfortunately, government investigations – some of which were conducted by our own Network of Protection and Advocacy (P&A) agencies – uncovered representative payees who have stolen or misused funds, exploited, neglected and even abused the people with disabilities they were supposed to be helping. We believe need for independent oversight of the Representative Payee Program is clear.

The legislation authorizes P&A agencies to monitor how representative payees are administering the Social Security funds received by beneficiaries. This powerful oversight role would help ensure people with disabilities are protected and have access to advocates if it is found their payees are breaking the law.

To read a statement from the National Disability Rights Network, please click here.

Thank you.