If you receive Social Security survivor benefits on behalf of your child, you must account to the Social Security Administration on a yearly basis for your handling of the funds. The SSA will mail a form to you for this purpose. It is important that you keep records and receipts showing how you spent the funds because you are legally required to use the benefits properly. If you misuse the funds, you will have to repay them, at a minimum, and you may even face a fine or imprisonment.
Food and Shelter
Your primary responsibility as the representative payee of your child's Social Security survivor benefits is to ensure that his day-to-day needs for food and shelter are satisfied. This necessitates keeping grocery receipts and copies of checks used to pay the rent or mortgage. Because there is often a delay in approving survivor benefits, the first check you receive for your child may be a lump sum payment representing many months of benefits. Assuming you are meeting the day-to-day food and shelter needs of your child, the lump sum benefit can be used to improve your child's daily living needs by moving to a better location, such as nearer to school or other relatives. If you make such a move, you must keep receipts for moving expenses and payment of any deposits.
Medical and Dental
If your child requires medical or dental services not covered by insurance, you can use the survivor benefits for this purpose. In addition to keeping all receipts for payment of these services, you should also obtain and keep records from the health care provider that indicates the treatment was medically necessary. Depending on your child's overall health and medical needs, you may have to inquire about Medicare or Medicaid benefits for your child so he can receive adequate medical treatment.
Personal and Miscellaneous Items
After payment of day-to-day needs, medical and dental care, you can use your child's survivor benefits to pay for his personal needs. This category of items will include clothing and recreational activities for your child, such as movies or concerts. If you have any questions about whether a particular item is appropriate to purchase using the funds, you can call your local SSA office and ask for guidance. Make sure to save all receipts, ticket stubs or other written records that will allow you to account for these items.
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