title: Improving Social Security's Financial Capability Assessments.
abstract: When Social Security beneficiaries are incapable of managing their benefits, the agency can appoint a representative payee to administer benefits on their behalf. A committee of the Institute of Medicine was asked by the Social Security Administration to review the process by which financial capability determinations are made and to recommend improvements. The committee's conclusions and recommendations include the following: giving priority to real-world financial performance in assessing capability, providing clearer instructions to informants, developing systematic approaches to identifying beneficiaries at risk of incapability, exploring the use of a supervised direct payment option, and instituting regular data collection to assist in improving operations.
authors.affiliation: Dr. Appelbaum, who is editor of this column, is the Elizabeth K. Dollard Professor of Psychiatry, Medicine and Law, Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University, New York (e-mail: psa21@columbia.edu ). Dr. Birkenmaier is with the School of Social Work, Saint Louis University, St. Louis. Dr. Norman is with the Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego.
authors.forename: Paul S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Appelbaum
authors.affiliation: Dr. Appelbaum, who is editor of this column, is the Elizabeth K. Dollard Professor of Psychiatry, Medicine and Law, Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University, New York (e-mail: psa21@columbia.edu ). Dr. Birkenmaier is with the School of Social Work, Saint Louis University, St. Louis. Dr. Norman is with the Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego.
authors.forename: Julie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Birkenmaier
authors.affiliation: Dr. Appelbaum, who is editor of this column, is the Elizabeth K. Dollard Professor of Psychiatry, Medicine and Law, Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University, New York (e-mail: psa21@columbia.edu ). Dr. Birkenmaier is with the School of Social Work, Saint Louis University, St. Louis. Dr. Norman is with the Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego.
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Norman
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D016743:Mental Competency / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000592:standards; D012943:Social Security / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000592:standards; D014481:United States; D019131:United States Social Security Administration / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000592:standards