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This ANPRM will solicit public input about whether and how we should strengthen our investigative policies and practices for organizational representative payees. Currently, we obtain and verify an Employer Identification Number for organizational representative payee applicants. We do not collect and verify the Social Security numbers of anyone in these organizations, and we do not conduct a criminal background investigation on any individual in these organizations. We are considering how we should treat organizational representative payee applicants who employ individuals convicted of certain crimes.

Statement of Need:

Under our current policy, we prohibit persons convicted of certain crimes from serving as a representative payee. We believe this policy helps to protect beneficiaries from persons whose criminal history indicates they may pose an increased risking of exploiting vulnerable individuals. We believe a similar bar policy should apply to individuals employed by organizational payees. Given the complexities of applying a criminal bar policy to individuals employed by organizational payees, we need public input on how to apply such a policy. 

Summary of the Legal Basis:

N/A ANPRM

Alternatives:

None

Anticipated Costs and Benefits:

N/A. This is a solicitation for public input. We do not anticipate that any proposal we formulate from this ANPRM will impose a cost on members of the public.

Risks:

none