Adding New Representative to Rep Payee Account

Question:

I have an existing Rep Payee account. Social Security has now assigned a new Representative. Can we use the existing account and simply change the name to the new Rep Payee, or do we have to start a new account?

Answer:

Only the account signatory is changing; the owner remains the same. You may change signatories based on the SSA's documentation and the new representative payee's request.

As the new representative payee, I would close the first account and open a new one to make it clear exactly where my responsibility began.

First published on BankersOnline.com 9/24/12