| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
CONTACT:
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| April 2, 2003 |
Kate Dwyer: 202-226-7326
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House Passes Bill to Protect Social Security Recipients, Fight Fraud and Abuse
WASHINGTON – First District Congressman Paul Ryan today voted for legislation that protects Social Security beneficiaries who rely on others (known as representative payees) to manage their benefits and works to deter fraud and abuse. The U.S. House of Representatives passed this legislation – H.R. 743, the Social Security Protection Act of 2003 – by a vote of 396-28.
“This measure will help make seniors’ benefits safer and guard Social Security against fraud – goals that are part of strengthening the program and saving taxpayer dollars,” Ryan said. “In particular, for seniors who trust in the help of representative payees, the bill takes important steps to protect them from falling victim to exploitation.”
Key provisions of H.R. 743 include the following:
Protects Social Security Beneficiaries from Representative Payees Who Misuse Benefits
Authorizes the re-issuance of benefits misused by certain representative payees.
Requires bonding and licensing for community-based nonprofit agency representative payees and increases periodic reviews of representative payees serving a number of beneficiaries.
Disqualifies from serving as representative payee persons convicted and imprisoned for more than one year and persons fleeing prosecution, custody or confinement for a felony.
Requires representative payees who misused funds to forfeit their fees and holds payees liable for repayment of misused benefits.
Creates a new penalty of up to $5,000 for the misuse of funds by representative payees.
Protects Social Security Programs and Individuals
Denies Social Security benefits to persons fleeing prosecution, custody or confinement for a felony, as well as probation/parole violators.
Imposes a civil monetary penalty against persons who withhold material facts in order to obtain or increase benefits.
Prohibits persons from charging a fee for a service that the Social Security Administration provides for free, unless they include a statement that the same service is available from Social Security at no cost.
Imposes fines on persons who intimidate, impede or threaten a person carrying out the administration or duties of the Social Security Act.
In addition, the legislation contains provisions to help individuals with disabilities gain access to legal representation that they may need when applying for Social Security benefits, which can be a complex process.