The rules we operate under — in plain language.

ARES Rep Payee Professionals (ARPP) is authorized by the United States Social Security Administration (SSA) to serve as an organizational representative payee under 42 U.S.C. § 405(j) and § 1383(a)(2), and the implementing regulations at 20 CFR Part 404, Subpart U and 20 CFR Part 416, Subpart F.

An organizational representative payee receives Social Security (Title II) and/or Supplemental Security Income (Title XVI) benefits on behalf of a beneficiary who has been determined by SSA to be unable to manage their own funds. Funds are held and disbursed solely for the use and benefit of that beneficiary.

ARPP maintains an active fidelity bond covering all beneficiary funds in accordance with SSA requirements for fee-for-service organizational payees.

As a representative payee, ARPP owes each beneficiary the following non-waivable duties:

• ◆Use benefits first to meet the beneficiary's current needs for food, shelter, clothing, medical care, and personal comfort items.
• ◆Save or invest any remaining funds for the beneficiary's future use, in accounts titled to show the beneficiary's ownership.
• ◆Maintain segregated, federally-insured accounts. Never co-mingle beneficiary funds with ARPP operating funds or with other beneficiaries' funds.
• ◆Keep complete records of how every dollar is received and spent, retained for at least two years.
• ◆File the SSA Representative Payee Accounting Report annually and on demand.
• ◆Notify SSA promptly of any event affecting the beneficiary's eligibility, residence, or ability to manage funds.
• ◆Return any conserved funds to SSA or a successor payee if ARPP ceases to serve as payee.

Authority: 20 CFR §§ 404.2035, 404.2045, 404.2065, 416.635, 416.645, 416.665.

ARPP is approved by SSA to collect a fee for payee services from each beneficiary's monthly benefit, in amounts not to exceed the limits set annually by SSA under 20 CFR §§ 404.2040a and 416.640a. Current rates are published on our Transparency page. Fees are deducted only after SSA authorization and only for months in which payee services are actually provided.

ARPP collects only the information necessary to administer benefits and to comply with SSA reporting requirements. This typically includes the beneficiary's name, Social Security number, date of birth, address, benefit amount, medical or living-arrangement information relevant to spending decisions, and records of expenditures made on the beneficiary's behalf.

We do not sell or rent personal information. We disclose beneficiary information only:

• ◆To the Social Security Administration as required by law.
• ◆To the beneficiary, their legal guardian, or an authorized representative.
• ◆To financial institutions holding the beneficiary's segregated account.
• ◆To service providers (housing, medical, utilities) when paying bills on the beneficiary's behalf.
• ◆When compelled by court order, subpoena, or other legal process.

Records are retained for the period required by SSA (minimum two years after the relevant accounting period) and securely destroyed thereafter. Electronic records are stored on access-controlled, encrypted systems.

• ◆Request, at any time, an accounting of how your benefits have been spent or saved.
• ◆Receive courteous, dignified service free from discrimination on any basis prohibited by law.
• ◆File a complaint with SSA about your representative payee. Contact SSA at 1-800-772-1213 or visit ssa.gov.
• ◆Request a change of representative payee if you believe ARPP is not serving your interests.

SSA representatives, auditors, attorneys, and beneficiary advocates may direct compliance inquiries to ARPP at compliance@arpp.org or via our Contact page. We respond within one business day.