[pigdog]

That's easy. The SSA is the agency best equipped to handle the wire transfers, check printing, and SSA number processing and verifications involved.

The mechanism of sending the refunds by wire is pretty simple and quite inexpensive ... many if not most SSA payments are presently handled this way.

[Your Nightmare]

That's easy. The SSA is the agency best equipped to handle the wire transfers, check printing, and SSA number processing and verifications involved. The mechanism of sending the refunds by wire is pretty simple and quite inexpensive ... many if not most SSA payments are presently handled this way.

Treasury handles Social Security check printing and wire transfers, just like they do income tax refund checks. The government doesn't give a department or agency a task because they are capable of handling it, they give it a task because it fits within their mission. The Social Security Administration's mission is "to advance the economic security of the nation's people through compassionate and vigilant leadership in shaping and managing America's Social Security programs."

Maybe I need to modify my question to make it more clear - why would the Family Consumption Allowance be "provided" by the SSA?

To answer my own question, the goal of the Family Consumption Allowance must be to "advance the economic security of the nation's people."