The County Assistance Office (CAO) will use protective payments in Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) and General Assistance (GA) cases when the caretaker fails to comply with support requirements or when a third party has been appointed as a representative payee for a Social Security Administration (SSA) benefit.
A protective payment is a cash assistance payment made on behalf of a recipient to a responsible adult who is identified as the protective payee. They are not a legally appointed guardian or trustee.
When the situation requires a Court-appointed guardian, a natural guardian, a trustee or a representative of a mentally-incapable applicant, the individual representing the applicant should be referred to the SSA for the appointment of a representative payee.
55 Pa. Code § 291.21 55 Pa. Code § 291.22
Reissued October 12, 2018, replacing September 28, 2012