Helping The Under-Served Manage Their Finances
Managing personal finances can be challenging for anyone. In some cases, a lack of financial understanding and skill can lead to serious problems, like the cutoff of utilities or eviction. For people with mental illnesses, developmental disabilities, substance abuse problems or other challenges, this can begin the cycle of homelessness.
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​Fortunately, our Representative Payee Services program provides financial management services for people who are not able to spend their money appropriately.
Many of those the program serves are people who struggle with mental illness, developmental disabilities or are HIV-positive. Others have children in the court system. The program is also available to private clients, such as the elderly or children taking care of elderly patients. In fact, the program regularly helps seniors in an ongoing partnership with ElderSource.
About Representative Payee Services
Representative Payee Services is the only program in Northeast Florida that manages Social Security checks to ensure that their recipients’ basic living needs are met and that vendors, family members or friends are not taking financial advantage of their vulnerability. Fiscal coordinators in the Rep Payee program help clients set budgets, pay their bills for basic living expenses and give them spending stipends.
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The program serves an average of 500 people each month, ensuring they are living in safe environments while getting the ongoing support they need.
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This program is made possible through funding from the City of Jacksonville's Public Service Grant.
Frequently
Asked Questions
What is a Representative Payee Program? The Social Security Representative Payee Program is designed to assist individuals who cannot manage their Social Security or SSI payments. It appoints a representative payee to receive the monthly benefits on behalf of the individual and ensure that essential expenses such as rent, utilities, food, clothing, transportation, and medical costs are paid.
I was a hairdresser until panic attacks made it impossible for me to work anymore. I was diagnosed with severe depression and an anxiety disorder, which made it hard to manage a lot of things, including paying my rent and other bills. I appreciate everything Jerome and his team has done for me. My sister and I call them living angels. If I have any problems, I can pick up the phone and talk to them. There’s a lot of love there, a lot of love.