TN 10 (12-23)
GN 00505.026 Development and Selection of Representative Payees in the Philippines
With one exception, the order of preference in selecting payees also applies to potential
representative payees in the Philippines. In the Philippines, the wife or mother usually
assumes responsibility for major decisions and handles the financial resources of
all members of the family. Because of this, a child beneficiary's mother will be preferred
to the father as payee. An explanation should be included in the file if the father,
rather than mother, is selected as payee.
Although illiteracy of a prospective payee will not in and of itself be the cause
for not selecting an otherwise qualified individual as representative payee, an equally
qualified literate individual would be preferred. An individual's receipt of assistance
from a public or private agency or their low level of income will also not be a cause
for disqualification. However, these factors will be considered in the light of the
total situation and may affect the disposition of accrued benefits where a selected
representative payee has not had experience in handling substantial funds.
Unless the recommended representative payee is the spouse who is living with the beneficiary
or is the natural or adoptive parent living with the child beneficiary, the file must
contain a recommendation by the Federal Benefits Unit (FBU) in Manila, Philippines
as to the suitability of the applicant to serve as representative payee. Where a child
beneficiary's parent or an incapacitated adult beneficiary's spouse is living and
is not selected as payee, the report or claims file must show clearly why the parent
or spouse is not being recommended.