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Cognitive Impairment and Social Security's Representative Payee Program
Anek Belbase1, Geoffrey T Sanzenbacher1, Sara Ellen King1
1Center for Retirement Research at Boston College, Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, USA.
Journal of Aging & Social Policy
|February 23, 2018
Summary
Most retirees with dementia do not use a representative payee, and few lack any form of financial assistance. This suggests the Social Security program may not be reaching all individuals needing financial support.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Social Work
- Public Health
Background:
- Dementia affects financial management capabilities in retirees.
- The Social Security's Representative Payee Program aims to assist those unable to manage funds.
- Uncertainty exists regarding the financial support needs of retirees with dementia.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the proportion of retirees with dementia utilizing a representative payee.
- To assess the availability of informal caregiver assistance for retirees with dementia.
- To identify retirees with dementia who lack any observed means of financial help.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of retiree data to identify dementia diagnosis.
- Examination of Social Security representative payee usage.
- Assessment of informal caregiver availability and financial support networks.
Main Results:
- Fewer than 10% of retirees with dementia currently use a representative payee.
- Approximately 8% of retirees with dementia have no observed means of financial assistance.
- A significant majority of retirees with dementia have either informal support or do not require a payee.
Conclusions:
- The Representative Payee Program may be underutilized by eligible individuals with dementia.
- Targeted outreach and support are needed for the small but vulnerable group of retirees with dementia lacking financial assistance.
- Further research is warranted to understand the nuances of financial management among retirees with cognitive impairment.
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