Yesterday, U.S. Congressman Scott Peters (CA-52) voted for the Strengthening Protections for Social Security Beneficiaries Act of 2018. The bill improves the Social Security’s Representative Payee Program by increasing oversight and protections for beneficiaries. This program assists approximately 8 million Social Security beneficiaries with financial management when they need help managing their Social Security benefits. The bill reduces reporting requirements that can be burdensome for caretakers and takes important steps to ensure that beneficiaries are not being taken advantage of by preventing individuals with certain criminal convictions from serving as representative payees.

Rep. Peters released the following statement:

“Taking advantage of people who need assistance with their federal benefits is a terrible crime committed upon some of the most vulnerable Americans. Since coming to Congress, I have hosted dozens of Senior Scam Seminars to arm our seniors with the tools they need to identify when someone is trying to take advantage of them,” said Rep. Peters. “Many seniors and disabled beneficiaries need help managing their finances and rely on their family, friends, or caregivers to manage their benefits for them. This bill will help make sure that individuals who offer to help Social Security beneficiaries with financial management have the beneficiaries’ best interest in mind. I know all San Diego Social Security beneficiaries will be happy to see Congress take bipartisan action toward safeguarding their Social Security.”