Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 98 Part 2.djvu/649

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PUBLIC LAW 98-000—MMMM. DD, 1984

PUBLIC LAW 98-460—OCT. 9, 1984

98 STAT. 1809

DETERMINATION AND MONITORING OF NEED FOR REPRESENTATIVE PAYEE

SEC. 16. (a) Section 205(j) of the Social Security Act is amended by inserting "(1)" after "(j) and by adding at the end thereof the following new paragraphs: "(2) Any certification made under paragraph (1) for payment to a person other than the individual entitled to such payment must be made on the basis of an investigation, carried out either prior to such certification or within forty-five days after such certification, and on the basis of adequate evidence that such certification is in the interest of the individual entitled to such payment (as determined by the Secretary in regulations). The Secretary shall ensure that such certifications are adequately reviewed. "(3)(A) In any case where payment under this title is made to a person other than the individual entitled to such payment, the Secretary shall establish a system of accountability monitoring whereby such person shall report not less often than annually with respect to the use of such payments. The Secretary shall establish and implement statistically valid procedures for reviewing such reports in order to identify instances in which such persons are not properly using such payments. "(B) Subparagraph (A) shall not apply in any case where the other person to whom such payment is made is a parent or spouse of the individual entitled to such payment who lives in the same household as such individual. The Secretary shall require such parent or spouse to verify on a periodic basis that such parent or spouse continues to live in the same household as such individual. "(C) Subparagraph (A) shall not apply in any case where the other person to whom such payment is made is a State institution. In such cases, the Secretary shall establish a system of accountability monitoring for institutions in each State. "(D) Subparagraph (A) shall not apply in any case where the individual entitled to such payment is a resident of a Federal institution and the other person to whom such payment is made is the institution. "(E) Notwithstanding subparagraphs (A), (B), (C), and (D), the Secretary may require a report at any time from any person receiving payments on behalf of another, if the Secretary has reason to believe that the person receiving such payments is misusing such payments. (4)(A) The Secretary shall make an initial report to each House of the Congress on the implementation of paragraphs (2) and (3) within 270 days after the date of the enactment of this paragraph. "(B) The Secretary shall include as a part of the annual report required under section 704, information with respect to the implementation of paragraphs (2) and (3), including the number of cases in which the payee was changed, the number of cases discovered where there has been a misuse of funds, how any such cases were dealt with by the Secretary, the final disposition of such cases, including any criminal penalties imposed, and such other information as the Secretary determines to be appropriate.". (b) Section 1631(a)(2) of such Act is amended by inserting "(A)" after "(2)" and by adding at the end thereof the following new subparagraphs: "(B) Any determination made under subparagraph (A) that payment should be made to a person other than the individual or spouse

42 USC 405.

Report.

42 USC 904.

42 USC 1383.