Memo August 14 2007

From: Davidson, Liz [mailto:Liz.Davidson@ssa.gov]
Sent: Tuesday, August 14, 2007 11:24 AM
To: Matsuoka, Karen Y.
Cc: Drew, Kathy R.
Subject: RE: 0960-0630

Karen,
SSA agrees to add a check box as suggested. Thanks.

Liz Davidson
SSA Reports Clearance Officer
DCBFM, OPLM, OPUM
410-965-0454
Pager: 410-909-8175
Fax: 410-965-6400

From: Matsuoka, Karen Y.
Sent: Tuesday, August 14, 2007 10:41 AM
To: Davidson, Liz
Cc: Drew, Kathy R.
Subject: RE: 0960-0630
Liz, thanks. That makes sense. Can we add a check box to the form so that the interviewer/auditor can
affirmatively indicate whether it’s the bene or the rep payee who is answering the questions? If so, then I
can clear this ICR. Thanks. - Karen

From: Davidson, Liz [mailto:Liz.Davidson@ssa.gov]
Sent: Tuesday, August 14, 2007 9:32 AM
To: Matsuoka, Karen Y.
Cc: Drew, Kathy R.
Subject: FW: 0960-0630

K aren,
See response in blue below. Also, we revised the second sentence of item 2 of the
supporting statement (attached) to make it clear that it is the beneficiary who is being
interviewed. We set up this interview through the representative payee.
Please let me know if you have further questions. Thanks.

Liz Davidson
SSA Reports Clearance Officer
DCBFM, OPLM, OPUM

410-965-0454
Pager: 410-909-8175
Fax: 410-965-6400
From: Matsuoka, Karen Y.
Sent: Monday, August 06, 2007 3:58 PM
To: Davidson, Liz; Lipsky, Faye
Subject: 0960-0630
Liz, just one question about this ICR. The ICR says that either the bene or the rep payee will be
interviewed. Presumably, people who have rep payees are people who are incapable of taking care of
themselves. Therefore, in what % of cases will the beneficiaries be capable of being the interviewee? And
in those cases where the rep payee is the interviewee,

H istorically, the beneficiaries that we have selected for interview have generally been adults
and older children. In most cases the adult or child was capable of being interviewed. If I would
have to put a % on it I would say 95%.
How reliable is the information going to be if the answer is coming from the rep payee (i.e. the very
person SSA is investigating)?
In those situations where the beneficiary is not capable of being interviewed (i.e. a small child, or
someone with a serious mental impairment), we then rely more on the auditor's observations of the
beneficiary's living environment.

If a rep payee is not doing a good job, is it realistic to believe that the rep payee will confess to this?
No. That is why we try to interview the beneficiary and observe the beneficiary's living environment to
make an overall assessment if the beneficiary's needs are being met.