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.

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 HIV/AIDS. 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.

The program serves an average of 500 people each month, ensuring they are living in safe environments while getting the ongoing support they need.