The notice sent to SSA is intended to give us an opportunity to object to the granting
of the petition. SSA is not legally required to respond to this notice. However, the
receipt of one of these notices serves to alert us to the possible need for representative
payee development.
While the notice or eventual appointment of a guardian has no legal bearing on our
issuance of payments or selection of a representative payee, the district office should
respond to the notice. A letter, in accordance with the procedures outlined in GN 00504.270 and NL 00703.773, should be sent to the petitioner or the petitioner's attorney. This letter notifies
the petitioner that SSA has no legal interest in the appointment proceedings and also
advises that the appointed conservator/guardian must still file an application with
SSA if they wish to become the beneficiary’s representative payee. The FO should also
send a copy of the letter to the clerk of the court issuing the show cause order.