By a vote of 396-0, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Strengthening Protections for Social Security Beneficiaries Act of 2018. The aim of the bill is to better protect vulnerable Social Security beneficiaries who are unable to manage their own funds. Social Security appoints a payee to manage the funds of a vulnerable beneficiary and the current program has seen too many payees mismanage the funds of the vulnerable beneficiaries. Both the Republican chairman and the Democratic ranking members of the House Ways and Means Social Security Subcommittee applauded the move.
“Today we took action to help ensure Social Security beneficiaries get the support they need from people they can trust. This legislation modernizes and strengthens the representative payee program to protect the best interests of beneficiaries,” Chairman Sam Johnson (R-Texas) said. It strengthens oversight of the program, improves the representative payee selection process, and bolsters protections for the people who need help managing their benefits. I applaud the House for passing H.R. 4547, and I look forward to the Senate taking the next step toward improving this program for millions of beneficiaries. Americans expect and deserve no less from the Social Security Administration.”
Ranking Member John Larson (D-Connecticut), said the new bill will further protect more than 4 million children who receive benefits.
“I was proud to see the Strengthening Protections for Social Security Beneficiaries Act of 2018 (H.R. 4547) pass in the House of Representatives today. This bill will better safeguard those most in need of protection, including nearly 4 million children, by strengthening the selection and monitoring of payees, while reducing administrative burdens on families caring for loved ones. We can always take measure of our country by how we treat our most vulnerable citizens – children, seniors and those with severe disabilities.”
