Representative Payee

Bread for the City provides representative payee services to Washington, DC residents who need assistance in managing their personal financial affairs. The Representative Payee Program (RPP) provides payee services, under a contract with the DC Department of Behavioral Health (DBH), to consumers with chronic mental illness who are referred by a case manager of DBH or an affiliated Core Service Agency.

The Representative Payee Program helps DBH clients manage various types of income, including Social Security benefits (retirement or disability), Supplemental Security Income, and Civil Service Pensions.

What is a Representative Payee?

A Representative Payee is an individual or an organization designated to receive disability benefits on a client’s behalf. The Representative Payee then helps the client to budget the money and disburses the funds to pay for current needs, including housing and utilities, food, medical expenses, personal care and clothing. The Representative Payee must keep records of how the client’s money is spent. This information is reported regularly to the Social Security Administration or to the Office of Personnel Management.

How does the Representative Payee Program work?

Clients enrolled in Bread for the City’s Representative Payee Program work with their mental health service providers and Bread for the City staff to make sure that all of their financial needs are met.

The client’s case manager at the DC Department of Behavioral Health or a DBH affiliated Core Service Agency makes an initial referral to Bread for the City for payee services. The client is enrolled at a start-up meeting with the case manager and a Representative Payee Program staff member during which we discuss how the services work.

After enrollment, Bread for the City applies to the Social Security Administration or Office of Personnel Management to become the client’s Representative Payee. The client and his or her mental health case manager meet regularly to set and review the client’s monthly budget and discuss any emergency spending requests. Bread for the City relies on the case manager to be in regular contact with the client and keep Bread for the City informed about changes in the client’s needs that might affect the budget or benefits.

Contacting the Representative Payee Program

The RPP can be reached by phone at 202.386.7016 – the Program Assistant is able to answer many questions about the status of client accounts and requests. The program assigns a RPP Coordinator to work with the clients and staff based on the DBH provider where the client is enrolled.

Please see the RPP Directory in the documents section for further details on how to contact us.

RPP – CSW Handout

RPP – Reporting Next of Kin Information (CSW Form)

RPP – Reporting Next of Kin Information

RPP – Consumer Burial Account Request Form

RPP – Change of Address Report Form

RPP – Receipts Tracking Form

RPP – Additional Reimbursement Request Form (ADRF)

RPP – Direct Deposit Letter & Form – Vendor

RPP – Direct Deposit Form – Consumer

RPP – Budget and Spending Plan – CRF Residents ONLY

RPP – Budget and Spending Plan

RPP – True Link Enrollment Form

RPP – SSA 787 Form

Representative Payee Program Referral Form

RPP Consumer Guide

RPP Directory

DBH / BFC Representative Payee Program Contact Info

How was your experience with the Representative Payee staff?

Client Comment Form

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Bread for the City will be closed Monday, September 1, in recognition of Labor Day.

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