Payee Services/ Independent Life Skills (ILS)

The payee program provides assistance to individuals who are unable to manage their income benefits well enough to maintain their basic. food, housing and clothing needs.
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Center for Disability Services is permitted to act as a Social Security Administration's (SSA) Organizational Payee for individuals who receive Social Security or Supplemental Security Income (SSI).
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​Taking great pride in the way we work to ensure the payee client is able to meet their needs, maintain their benefits, and teach fiscal responsibility.

Clients have the right to choose which agency provides their payee services.

​Independent Life Skills (ILS) is available for individuals who receive payee services but do not receive homemaker and personal care services through the Licking County Board of Developmental Disabilities. ILS may occasionally assist payees with shopping or serve as an advocate.  

Payeeship is offered to anyone who receives SSI Benefits.

Advantages:

  • ​At CDS, The payee Clerk is supervised by the accounting department, ensuring proper fiscal management.

  • ​Payee Clerk and ILS Staff are required to complete the "Training for Organizational Payees" from the Social Security Administration.

  • ​Clients are involved in preparing and maintaining their budget.

  • ​Budgets are prepared so that clients are receiving spending money each week, not in a lump sum after expenses have been paid.

  • ​Clients can request money at any point with a short turn around time.

  • ​Clients are encouraged to save money for future special activities or purchases such as new furniture, appliances or birthday and Christmas gifts.

  • ​Clients may reach their agency representative M-F by phone.

Account Maintenance:

  • Each client has their own bank account; funds are not mixed in a general "payeeship" account.

  • Payee accounts are established with the notation at the bank and on the check stating: Center for Disability Services, Representative Payee.

  • Income is done through direct deposit except in rare occasions.

  • Detailed records are maintained of each income and expenditure.

  • Accounts are balanced each month with the bank statement by the Accounting Department.

  • No staff member is permitted to balance an account that they hold signing privileges.

  • No staff member in the Accounting Department  is permitted to be a signer on payee accounts.