CHAPTER 14. REPRESENTATIVE PAYEES AND BILL PAYERS
IC 12-10-14
Chapter 14. Representative Payees and Bill Payers
IC 12-10-14-1
"Bill payer" defined
Sec. 1. As used in this chapter, "bill payer" means a person
appointed by the bureau under this chapter to provide one (1) or
more of the following services in order to assist a low income
individual who is able to make responsible decisions about financial
matters but needs assistance:
(1) Paying bills each month and keeping records.
(2) Establishing a budget.
(3) Opening, organizing, and sending out mail.
(4) Assisting the individual in check writing, with all checks to
be signed by the individual.
(5) Balancing checkbooks.
(6) Making referrals to other agencies when necessary.
As added by P.L.141-1993, SEC.1.
IC 12-10-14-2
"Representative payee" defined
Sec. 2. As used in this chapter, "representative payee" means a
person appointed by the United States Social Security
Administration, the United States Office of Personnel Management,
the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, or the United
States Railroad Retirement Board to provide one (1) or more of the
following financial management services in order to assist an
individual who is receiving government benefits and is medically
incapable of making responsible financial decisions:
(1) Spending benefits received by the individual in the
individual's best interests as necessary to provide for food,
shelter, utilities, medical care, and personal needs.
(2) Keeping an accurate record of all financial transactions.
(3) Maintaining control over the individual's benefits and
signing all checks for the individual's expenditures.
(4) Referring the individual to other agencies if the individual
needs additional assistance.
As added by P.L.141-1993, SEC.1. Amended by P.L.24-1997,
SEC.30.
IC 12-10-14-3
Establishment of program; eligibility
Sec. 3. The division may establish, within the bureau, a
representative payee and bill payer program to assist low income
individuals who:
(1) are not able to manage their financial matters; and
(2) do not have relatives or friends to assist them in managing
their financial matters.
As added by P.L.141-1993, SEC.1.
IC 12-10-14-4
Administration of program
Sec. 4. The bureau may administer the program. The bureau may
provide staff and logistical support for the program, including office
space, telephone communications, office supplies, and postage.
As added by P.L.141-1993, SEC.1.
IC 12-10-14-5
Training
Sec. 5. The bureau may provide for the training of representative
payees and bill payers.
As added by P.L.141-1993, SEC.1.
IC 12-10-14-6
Repealed
(Repealed by P.L.24-1997, SEC.66.)
IC 12-10-14-7
Assistance to representative payees and bill payers; bank services
Sec. 7. The bureau may assist representative payees and bill
payers and may negotiate bank services for the program.
As added by P.L.141-1993, SEC.1.
IC 12-10-14-8
Public liaisons; spreading of information; referral of potential
clients
Sec. 8. The bureau may designate volunteers, who may be
representative payees or bill payers, as public liaisons to inform
interested agencies and persons about the program and to undertake
to increase public awareness of the program and referral of potential
clients to the program.
As added by P.L.141-1993, SEC.1.
IC 12-10-14-9
Fiduciary duties of representative payees and bill payers
Sec. 9. A person acting as a representative payee or a bill payer is
considered to be acting in a fiduciary capacity and is liable for acts
or omissions constituting a breach of fiduciary duties imposed by
law.
As added by P.L.141-1993, SEC.1.
IC 12-10-14-10
Legal counsel
Sec. 10. The bureau may enter into a memorandum of
understanding with legal counsel for an association that represents
the interests of retired persons to obtain assistance for the
representative payee and bill payer program.
As added by P.L.141-1993, SEC.1.
IC 12-10-14-11
Local programs; sponsors and coordinators; training, assistance,
and monitoring by bureau
Sec. 11. (a) The bureau may enter into memoranda of
understanding with local representative payee and bill payer program
sponsors allowing local sponsors to administer a local representative
payee and bill payer program with the bureau assisting and
monitoring the local program sponsor.
(b) The bureau may designate a local program sponsor with a
local coordinator to assist in the administration of a local program.
A local program sponsor designated under this subsection must have
a local advisory council.
(c) The bureau may provide training and technical assistance to
local coordinators and local program sponsors.
As added by P.L.141-1993, SEC.1.
IC 12-10-14-12
Monitoring, audits, and review of accounts
Sec. 12. The bureau may do any of the following:
(1) Monitor:
(A) representative payees and bill payers; and
(B) local program sponsors.
(2) Audit any transaction of a representative payee and bill
payer.
(3) Review bank statements and cancelled checks for accounts
managed by representative payees.
As added by P.L.141-1993, SEC.1.