Iowa Administrative Code
Agency 495 - IOWA PUBLIC EMPLOYEES' RETIREMENT SYSTEM
Chapter 20 - RECOGNITION OF AGENTS
Rule 495-20.1 - Recognition of agents

(1) Recognition of agents in general. When a member or beneficiary desires to be represented by an agent before the system, the member or beneficiary shall designate in writing, using a power of attorney form or other acceptable legal form, the name of a representative and the nature of the business the representative is authorized to transact. Other acceptable legal form can be a guardianship, conservatorship, other similar court order that appoints an agent to act upon behalf of a member or beneficiary, or social security representative payee documents for the individual so designated. An agent can be an institution or facility acting upon the member's or beneficiary's behalf. Such designation on the part of the member or beneficiary shall constitute for IPERS sufficient proof of the acceptability of the individual to serve as the member's or beneficiary's agent.

(2) Payment to members or beneficiaries with a recognized agent. When it appears that the interest of a member or beneficiary would be served, IPERS may recognize an agent to represent the member or beneficiary in the transaction of the affairs with IPERS. Such agents have all the rights and obligations of the member or beneficiary unless the document creating the agency relationship limits this authority as it pertains to the system. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no agent shall have the right to name the agent as the member's or beneficiary's beneficiary unless approved to do so by a court having jurisdiction of the matter, or unless expressly authorized to do so in a power of attorney executed by the member or beneficiary.

(3) Revocation or suspension of power of attorney. Any person serving as an agent by power of attorney under this rule can have the agency relationship rescinded by the member or beneficiary by notifying IPERS in writing. A power of attorney shall be suspended and given no effect when the system receives written proof of the appointment of a guardian, conservator, or court order that appoints an agent to act upon behalf of the member or beneficiary. The power of attorney shall be reinstated when the system receives written proof that a guardianship, conservatorship, or court order appointing an agent no longer exists, has expired, or is invalid.

(4) Revocation of other representative agents. Any person, institution, or facility serving as an agent under a guardianship or conservatorship may not have its agency relationship revoked unless by court order.

(5) Social security representative payees. The system shall accept the federal social security administration's appointment of a person, facility, or institution to act upon a member's or beneficiary's behalf only with regard to the deposit of system benefits. The appointment of a person, facility, or institution by the federal social security administration shall be suspended and given no effect when the system receives written proof of the appointment of a guardian, conservator, or court order that appoints an agent to act upon behalf of the member or beneficiary. A power of attorney or court order will take precedence over the federal social security administration's appointment of a person, facility, or institution to act upon a member's or beneficiary's behalf.

(6) Agent standards. A person, facility, or institution serving in the capacity of an agent shall act in the best interests of the member or beneficiary. Payments made to the agent on behalf of the member or beneficiary will be used for the direct benefit of the member or beneficiary. The failure to serve in the best interests of the member or beneficiary will cause discontinuance of the agency relationship and may serve as the basis for legal action by IPERS, the member, or the beneficiary.