Imagine trusting a stranger to make your financial decisions. For some North Texans, that鈥檚 the best possible reality.
The 鈥渞epresentative payee program鈥� helps mentally ill adults manage Social Security benefits. It helps people pay their bills. And when done right, it builds a bond between volunteers and vulnerable citizens.
Every Thursday, Donald Hendricks and Kurt VandeMotter have a standing appointment.
Because Hendricks is mentally ill and a recovering alcoholic and gambling addict, Social Security won鈥檛 send his monthly check unless someone helps him manage it.
That鈥檚 where VandeMotter comes in. He鈥檚 what known as a 鈥渞ep payee.鈥� He volunteers through, a Dallas non-profit devoted to helping the poor and homeless.
鈥淚t鈥檚 really important that they have somebody that they can trust. These people don鈥檛 have a lot of money,鈥� says VandeMotter. 鈥淭hey get $700 a month and that鈥檚 it to live on.鈥�
Total Financial Support
VandeMotter has access to Hendricks鈥� bank account and pays his rent and Direct TV bill. And together, they decided an allowance of $40 a week makes the most sense.
鈥淚f I need some extra money, I鈥檒l sit down and I鈥檒l talk to Kurt tell him why I need it, why I feel like I need it and he鈥檒l put his two cents worth in and we鈥檒l decide from there,鈥� says Hendricks.
Hendricks is more than happy to give VandeMotter access to all his financial information.
鈥淥ne of my problems and I鈥檝e been trying to address it, is, I鈥檓 not real good with money,鈥� he says. 鈥淎nd I鈥檝e been trying to save money, and things haven鈥檛 worked out like I had hoped.鈥�
Which is why he鈥檚 come to rely on VandeMotter. He works with two men at the Stewpot and says it鈥檚 a job he takes very seriously.
鈥淭hey鈥檝e lived a life where people have taken advantage of them on a regular basis,鈥� VandeMotter says.
Protecting The Vulnerable
Often, a person will choose a friend or relative to manage their money, and that doesn鈥檛 always work out. Liz Merucci with the Stewpot says they see it all the time.
鈥淔or instance right now we鈥檝e got a client who is applying for our program and she says her sister is her payee,鈥� says Merucci. 鈥淏ut she says her sister鈥檚 not doing right, she鈥檚 taking her money, she鈥檚 not paying her bills.鈥�
Stewpot volunteers on the other hand have to complete training, a background check and stick around for a year. Merucci says the folks in the program are great, but more volunteers are needed.
鈥淧eople call us nearly every day or walk in every day and say I need a rep payee,鈥� she says. 鈥淎nd we have to say at times, I鈥檓 sorry, we can鈥檛 take any more applications right now.鈥�
Rep payees provide a vital service, and the bond between volunteer and client runs deep.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a great relationship, it really is. Kurt has been a great help with my finances,鈥� Hendricks says,
And, he says, that kind of trust can鈥檛 be bought.
