Dedicated accounts are separate accounts required for holding larger lump-sum past-due payments owed to children receiving SSI. The funds held in dedicated accounts are subject to more spending restrictions thanother SSI payments. Under current policy, funds in dedicated accounts can only be used for impairment-related expenses for which payees, in many cases, need prior approval from SSA.
SSA must monitor the use of funds in dedicated accounts. This includes discussing allowable expenses, monitoring how the funds are spent, determining whether the funds were misapplied, and trying to recoup misapplied funds. A heavy amount of labor must be provided to cover these responsibilities.
The Statement is included in SSA’s 2019 Annual Report on the SSI Program. The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Act of 1996 gives Board members the opportunity, individually or jointly, to include their views on SSI in SSA’s annual report to the President and Congress on the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program. The Board or one of its members has submitted a statement every year since 1998, except for 2024 due to the lack of a quorum. Board member Jagadeesh Gokhale withholds signature on this Report. His independent statement is attached.