The Social Security Administration’s Advance Designation program allows you to pre-select a trusted individual if a time comes when you need a representative payee to help manage your money. Advance Designation enables you to identify up to three people, in priority order, who you would like to serve as your potential representative payee.

SSA recently celebrated the one-year anniversary of its Advanced Designation program. Since its launch in March 2020, more than one million eligible individuals have opted to participate.

You may choose an Advance Designation if you are capable of making your own decisions and are:

• An adult or emancipated minor applying for benefits and do not have a representative payee.
• An adult or emancipated minor beneficiary/recipient and do not have a representative payee.

You can submit your Advance Designation information when you:

• File a claim for benefits online at www.ssa.gov/benefits.
• Use the application available in your personal my SSA account at www.ssa.gov/myaccount.
• Call SSA directly.

In the event that you can no longer make your own decisions, you and your family will have peace of mind knowing you already chose someone you trust to manage your benefits.


800-772-1213 (TTY 800-325-0778) M–F, 8:30am–3:30pm
SSA Office Locator: www.socialsecurity.gov
Advance Designation FAQ: www.ssa.gov/faq (Other Topics)
Representative Payees Information: blog.ssa.gov