416.610—When payment will be made to a representative payee.
(a)
We pay benefits to a representative payee on behalf of a beneficiary 18 years old or older when it appears to us that this method of payment will be in the interest of the beneficiary. We do this if we have information that the beneficiary is—
(3)
Eligible for benefits solely on the basis of disability and drug addiction or alcoholism is a contributing factor material to the determination of disability.
(b)
Generally, if a beneficiary is under age 18, we will pay benefits to a representative payee. However, in certain situations, we will make direct payments to a beneficiary under age 18 who shows the ability to manage the benefits. For example, we make direct payment to a beneficiary under age 18 if the beneficiary is—
(1)
A parent and files for himself or herself and/or his or her child and he or she has experience in handling his or her own finances; or
(2)
Capable of using the benefits to provide for his or her current needs and no qualified payee is available; or