Consider all observations or other knowledge about the case which affect the determination
about payee performance.
Record any action taken and/or recommendations for future actions; e.g., change of
payee, future recontact, misuse investigation, etc.
Decision Factors: Evaluate all information that is available. A particular event or issue may be given
different weight under various conditions.
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a.
Consider a change of payee if:
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•
A substantive discrepancy exists about expenditures.
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•
The payee is turning benefits over directly to a third party without any direction
about how to use the funds.
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•
An institutional payee (e.g., hospital, nursing home, etc.) charges care and maintenance
in excess of the legal maximum.
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•
An institution is the payee and the beneficiary has been on leave for more than 3
months, or has been permanently discharged.
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•
The payee has not contacted the beneficiary in more than 3 months.
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b.
Consider establishing a diary to recontact the payee or custodian in the following
situations:
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•
A change in custody is anticipated.
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•
The payee has demonstrated marginal management of benefits and/or poor recordkeeping.
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•
Conserved funds are not properly held.
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•
Payee contact with the beneficiary is infrequent; i.e., the last contact was more
than 3 months ago (or, if a social agency is the payee for a beneficiary in a foster
home, a caseworker last had contact more than 6 months ago).
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c.
Consider developing capability to make direct payment to the beneficiary if:
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•
The payee is turning funds over directly to the beneficiary.
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•
The beneficiary lives alone and the payee has not made contact for more than 3 months.
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•
The beneficiary has been permanently discharged from an institution.