Sandi Studer has been doing representative payee work for more than 20 years. She'll tell you it's one of those jobs most people don't know exists — until they need it. In 2006 she joined Finance for People, an organization that helps handle the finances and government benefits for people who are unable to, and took over the organization when the founder retired in 2020. Today the organization operates across two entities: a nonprofit that works directly with individuals on a fee-for-service basis, and a larger operation contracted through regional centers. Together, they serve approximately 700 people in Northern California.

The problem: sending clients checks was no longer practical 

For much of the organization’s history, Finance for People distributed client funds by paper checks, mailed out weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly depending on what each person needed. Most clients opted to receive their funds in weekly disbursements because smaller, more frequent amounts were easier for them to manage. That meant Sandi's team was printing, packing, and mailing checks to many clients every week, which used up a lot of time and resources.

Mail delays that started during the pandemic have never fully recovered, and the lead time needed to ensure their clients checks arrived on time stretched from two days to five or more. Even then, it wasn't guaranteed to arrive. Checks were lost. Clients called frustrated. Stop payment requests had to be filed and new checks reissued. And if a client's situation changed mid-week — an unexpected expense or an urgent need — there wasn't much the team could do to help with such short notice.

Discovering the True Link Visa® Prepaid Card

Sandi had often heard there were card-based alternatives for fund disbursement out there, but hadn't seriously explored them. The introduction to True Link came through another payee agency owner who connected her with the True Link team. "This seems like the solution," she remembered thinking after that first meeting.

Finance for People started small, rolling out the True Link Visa Card to a few dozen clients to start. While one staff member was initially skeptical and worried clients might lose the card or struggle with adding something new in their daily routines, she eventually came around. "It's a game changer," Sandi recalled her saying. Now, True Link is part of Finance for People's standard enrollment process.

How routine processes changed for the better

The most immediate shift for Sandi’s team and their clients was reliability. When a disbursement is scheduled to be sent at a specific time, it goes out — no five-day lead time, no lost checks. Recurring transfers are set up once and run automatically, but are also easy to modify if the need arises.

That flexibility turned out to matter just as much. If a client needs something the day before a scheduled disbursement, the team can change the amount, or send an emergency transfer on the spot. "The convenience of being able to adjust the amount, even the day before, was a major improvement," Sandi said. With checks, that kind of responsiveness simply wasn't possible.

The staff also saved a great deal of time on cumbersome processes. No more printing checks, stuffing envelopes, or calculating whether a check mailed Monday would arrive by Friday. The new online system just worked for both the organization and the clients they serve.

Spending visibility that helps support better conversations

One thing Sandi hadn't fully anticipated was how the spending visibility would shift her team's day-to-day interactions with their clients. When they relied on checks, clients would be spending with cash. Once the money was out the door, there was no way to know how it was spent, whether all the funds had been used, or if the check had even arrived.

Now, when a client calls to say they're out of money or never received their funds, the team can pull up the spending history in real time. "You can confirm they received their money, and remind them what they spent it on," Sandi said. It's not about controlling how clients spend their personal funds — that’s not the role of a rep payee — but having a clear record means those conversations can be grounded in facts and everyone can be on the same page. It also helps when a transaction may seem out of character, like potential fraud or card misuse, and Sandi noted that True Link's team has been quick to act in those situations and help prevent any further issues.

A support team you can depend on

Sandi spoke warmly about her experience working with True Link's customer service team, describing them as professional, responsive, and consistent. "I don't think I've had one negative experience with anybody at True Link," she said. The relationship has felt collaborative over the years. Feedback from Finance for People's staff has also made it into product updates, and Sandi’s team has felt heard when they've raised ideas or concerns. 

Advice for other rep payees

Sandi's advice to rep payee organizations still running on checks is straightforward: you might not realize what you're missing. "You probably don't realize what a benefit this will be to your organization and to the clients," she said. The True Link Visa Card gives clients more ways to access their funds, staff more tools to help support them, and everyone a clearer picture of where finances stand.

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About Finance for People

Founded in 1998, Finance for People has been a staple in the human services sector in Northern California for over three decades. The organization serves as a Representative Payee for Social Security beneficiaries and a Veterans Affairs Fiduciary, working closely with regional centers, ILS/SLS agencies, and community care facilities across multiple counties. Finance for People's experienced staff receives monthly entitlements on behalf of clients, works with each person to create a personalized budget, and maintains full transparency with their finances — with the goal of helping people with disabilities and other vulnerabilities reach financial stability and independence.

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How True Link Helps Representative Payees

True Link offers Rep Payees an alternative to checks, cash, and other prepaid cards with an easy, reliable way to send clients money digitally. Our easy-to-use dashboard helps you replace time-consuming processes and track spending, upload receipts, download reports, pay bills on behalf of clients, and more, all in one place. Talk with one of our Rep Payee specialists and see how True Link can help you today.

Learn more at https://www.truelinkfinancial.com/rep-payee-professional