Case managers' and clients' perspectives on a representative payee program.

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry
• Mental Health Services
• Social Work

Background:

• Severe and persistent mental illnesses often necessitate financial management support through a representative payee.
• Understanding client and provider perspectives on the representative payee relationship is crucial for optimizing support.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare client and clinical case manager perceptions of the benefits and challenges associated with the representative payee relationship.
• To assess the impact of the representative payee on clients' housing, substance use, and budgeting.

Main Methods:

• Fifty-four clients in assertive community treatment and their clinical case managers completed satisfaction questionnaires.
• Data analyzed associations between client/provider responses and demographic/experiential factors.

Main Results:

• Both clients and case managers identified benefits in housing, substance use, and budgeting.
• Client satisfaction increased over time and with longer payee duration; case managers underestimated client satisfaction.
• 44% of case managers reported client verbal abuse related to fund management.

Conclusions:

• The representative payee process is valued by clients and mental health professionals for improving outcomes.
• Benefits of the representative payee arrangement become more apparent with increased duration and client experience.