14 | How to Become a Representative Payee for Your Adult Child with Special Needs to Manage Their SSI Benefits and Finances

In this episode of Adult Special Needs Caregiving, host Jenny Olson breaks down what it means to be a representative payee for a loved one with special needs, a role many caregivers end up taking on without fully understanding it. Jenny shares her own experience applying to become her son Ben's representative payee through the Social Security Administration, or SSA, so she could help manage his SSI benefits. She explains how a representative payee is different from guardianship or power of attorney, who typically needs one, and why the SSA requires this extra step even if you already have legal guardianship. Jenny also walks through the real life process of setting up a special needs bank account as the representative payee, including a funny and frustrating trip to the bank, and shares tips on keeping accurate records, following SSA's required spending order, and avoiding common misconceptions about managing this money. She also introduces the ABLE account, a helpful tool for saving money without losing SSI or Medicaid benefits. If you are new to this process or think you might need to become a representative payee soon, this episode will help you feel more prepared and less alone. This episode is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional or legal advice.

Helpful information on SSA and representative payees: ssa.gov/payee