LAWRENCE, LTD.

47 West Elm Street, Suite 409

Brockton, MA 02301

(508) 586-1013 Toll Free (888) 718-PAID

Managing your $ $ $ $ $ $


More than six million people who get monthly Social Security Disability Income or SSI benefits, need someone to help them manage their money. When a person needs this kind of help, the Social Security Administration - after a careful investigation - appoints a “representative payee.” This person’s Social Security Disability or SSI benefits are then paid in the representative payee’s name on the beneficiary’s behalf.


Who Needs A Representative Payee?

About 25 percent of the people who get SSI, and about 10 percent of the people who get Social Security Disability, have payees. Almost all children under age 18 have payees - a parent, usually. Adults who are unable to manage their finances because of severe physical or mental limitations also need payees.

As a Representative Payee Agency, we will work closely with all Social Workers, Guardians, Family or Physicians, to maintain continuity and stability in our clients’ lives.

As a representative payee, we will keep records showing how many dollars the client received in benefits and how the money was used. We understand our reporting responsibility to the Federal Government and records on all clients will be available for scrutiny.

If a beneficiary is in a nursing home or other institution, we will use the benefits to pay the usual charges for care. For these institutionalized beneficiaries, we will also set aside a minimum of $30 each month to be used for the beneficiary’s personal neds or saved on his or her behalf.

A Representative Payee’s Duties

As a representative payee, we will keep informed about the individual’s needs so that we can decide how benefits can best be used for his or her personal care and well being. Any money left, after meeting the beneficiary’s current and reasonably foreseeable needs, will be saved and maintained in the beneficiary’s behalf.

Our first priority, as a representative payee, will be to make sure the beneficiary’s day-to-day needs for food and shelter are met. Benefits may be used for the beneficiary’s personal needs, such as clothing, recreation and other expenses. Benefits also can be used to pay for medical needs (for example, eyeglasses and hearing aids) and dental care not provided by Medicare, Medicaid or a residential institution. We also could arrange training for the beneficiary to help him or her have a more rewarding future and become more self-sufficient.

We may be able to use the beneficiary’s funds for major health-related expenses, such as reconstructive dental care, a motorized wheelchair, rehabilitation expenses or insurance premiums. Funds also can be used to pay for special training programs, school tuition or daily school expenses. Funds may also be used on recreation such as movies, concerts, magazine subscriptions or a special trip for the beneficiary.


Directors:

Ginger Lanigan
Lewis Lawrence

Ms. Lanigan has an extensive background in all areas of the human service field. She has set up programs for the elderly, did outreach for the fuel assistance program, set up food pantries in surrounding areas, counseled and did advocacy for battered women, has advocated for the physically and mentally disabled within the Social Security system for the past five years, has implemented a MassHealth Benefits program through Brockton Hospital.

Mr. Lawrence’s background, although not as extensive in the human service area, is just as exemplary. For the past 26 years, he has coordinated, managed and controlled various manufacturing and production workers’ groups within the Pontiac Division of General Motors.

Through the years, Mr. Lawrence has attended team management seminars, conflict and resolution conferences and has implemented, managed, and maintained plant start up budgets.

Mr. Lawrence has been involved with many community activities and held office in Boy Scouts of America, Moose Lodge and The JC’s.

For more information, please call our office toll free

1-888-718-PAID (7243)

We charge a reasonable monthly fee.
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