The goal in selecting a payee is to select the person, organization, or institution that will best serve the interest of the annuitant. In making the selection, the agency considers—

(a) The age of the representative payee applicant. An individual must be over the age of 18 to serve as a representative payee, except as listed in § 849.303(a);

(b) The relationship of the person, organization, or institution to the annuitant;

(c) Legal authority, in the form of conservatorship or guardianship, that the person, organization, or institution has to act on behalf of the annuitant;

(d) The amount of concern that the person or organization shows in the annuitant;

(e) Whether the potential payee has custody of the annuitant;

(f) Whether the potential payee is in a position to know of and look after the needs of the annuitant;

(g) Whether the representative payee applicant is currently serving, or has previously served, as a representative payee for other annuitants; and

(h) The potential representative payee's criminal history.