Whatcom Financial Services

Whatcom Financial Services is a non-profit organization that has been serving our community since 2000. WFS works closely with the Social Security Administration to provide Representative and Protective Payee Services to Social Security Retirement, Survivors, and Disability Insurance
(SSA) and Social Security Income (SSI) beneficiaries. The Social Security Administration authors the guidelines (A Guide for Representative Payees, SSA Publication No, 05-10076) that WFS followsThe Social Security Administration and our Congressmen set the fee our organization may charge our clients monthly. The fees are used for the administrative and supply costs of providing our services
Whatcom Financial Services does not solicit for clientsOur clients come to us by referral only. Referral sources may be the individual, a family member, mental health case managers, care and housing providers, and case managers for the disabled, to name some. One common requirement for all our clients is that the Social Security Administration has made the decision that the individual must have a payee to manage their benefits The individual must be in agreement with the choice of payee before Social Security Administration makes the assignment. This assignment may be changed at any time if the individual chooses, by contacting the local SSA office in person
There are many determining factors the Social Security Administration uses to make their decision Probably the most common factor is the mismanagement of Social Security funds by the individual to the extent that the beneficiary’s day-to-day needs for food and shelter are in jeopardy or not being met and there is no family member wanting or able to fill the role as representative payee
WFS follows the Social Security Administration guidelinesThe guidelines for representative and protective payees are clear.
“How you must use monthly benefits. First, you must take care of the beneficiary’s day-to-day needs for food and shelter. Then, you must use the money for the beneficiary’s medical and dental care that’s not covered by health insurance. You can also pay for the beneficiary’s personal needs, such as clothing and recreation. You must save any money left after you pay for the beneficiary’s needs,...” A Guide for Representative Payees, SSA Publication No, 05-
The Social Security Administration performs periodic audits of WFS accounting records, client records, and customer service records. WFS is not a financial lending institution nor are the funds for one client ever used for another clientWe are a small organization, two staff members to meet the needs of approximately clients. Both of us are dedicated to this work and feel we are contributing to our community’s need
Now to specifically speak to the one client’s concern. The individual’s housing case manager in the community contacted WFS requesting an applicationOur application includes information for the individual about WFS’ services, how to reach us, business hours, what may be expected, as well as a Welcome LetterThe application was returned to WFS, signed by the client and the case manager that assisted. Once the application process was completed by Social Security, WFS was assigned payee ship by the Social Security Administration starting 03/01/The application process was lengthy, WFS staff kept the case manager updated during the process and once the assignment was made. At that time, a conference call with housing case manager, client, and WFS staff took place to formulate a monthly budget based on the client’s SSI benefit amount, housing, utilities, phone, food, and personal needs. A second conference call was initiated by the case manager and client as the client requested a changeThis change was initiated the same dayThe client’s bills were paid, on time, in accordance with the budget that both client and payee developed WFS has but one client phone line, if the client does not leave a message we are unable to know that they called Our client line is available hours a day/ days a week, if we do not answer during business hours, we are probably speaking to another clientThe clients are encouraged to leave a message so that we may return the client’s call. WFS only received one voice message from the client, which was responded to within two hours of the time the message was leftThe client’s request was valid, “a family emergency”, however the client did not have the funds to cover the requested amount. The client ended the call before options could be discussed
WFS staff are acutely aware of how unsettling change can be, especially when dealing with finances that support an individual. Developing a working relationship is an active process which develops over time by the mutual cooperation of all parties involved
WFS has since been notified by the Social Security Administration that the client, per individual’s request, is to have a new payee starting May 1,
We at Whatcom Financial Services wish the client and the new payee all the bestThank you for allowing us to serve as your representative and protective payee, however briefly
Sincerely,
Jill and Janet