Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 section 244

Payment to persons other than claimant or beneficiary

Section 244 sets out the regulation-making powers for appointing persons to receive and manage social welfare benefits on behalf of claimants who are minors, medically incapacitated, or deceased.

• A beneficiary may nominate another person to collect their benefit, and a person may be appointed to act for claimants under 16 or certified as unable to manage their own finances.
• The Minister may appoint a person to receive and deal with a reasonable portion of specified benefits on behalf of a claimant, subject to caps linked to the core personal rate of each payment.
• On the death of a claimant, a benefit claim may be made or continued in the deceased's name, and probate may be dispensed with so that the sum can be distributed to those entitled.
• Persons appointed to receive and manage benefits are subject to prescribed powers and obligations, including a duty to account for all sums received.