Biden Charges Secret Service to Rent Cottage Next to His Home

Vice President Biden speaks at the Ohio Democratic Party's annual state dinner June 25 in Columbus, Ohio. (AP)

In between keeping Vice President Biden and his family safe, the Secret Service is also cutting him a rent check every month.

The Secret Service pays the vice president $2,200 per month to rent a cottage next to his waterfront home outside Wilmington, Del., FoxNews.com has confirmed.

The Washington Times first reported that Biden has raked in more than $13,000 since April from the agency tasked with protecting him, and under the terms of their contract could make up to $66,000 by the end of 2013.

Though taxpayer watchdogs questioned the arrangement, it may be a matter of convenience.

"Having our command post in close proximity to the vice president's residence affords us a level of security that we wouldn't have otherwise," Service spokesman Edwin Donovan told FoxNews.com.

Biden's mother used to live at the cottage before she died in early 2010. According to the Times, Secret Service agents assigned to Biden had previously been renting properties in the area, but a year later the Service approached him about renting the cottage instead.

While the arrangement is rare, Secret Service agents apparently rented property from the Clintons in Chappaqua, N.Y., a decade ago -- however, the Clintons reportedly declined to accept payment from the Secret Service at the time.

Click to read the full story in The Washington Times.