‘Sheer panic,’ cries Social Security user after agency enforces $84k in overpayments – and his benefits will be cut off | 1MND9K5 | 2024-04-30 17:08:01
'Sheer panic,' cries Social Security user after agency enforces $84k in overpayments – and his benefits will be cut off | 1MND9K5 | 2024-04-30 17:08:01
A SOCIAL Security beneficiary didn't eat for almost two days after getting a notice saying he would have to pay back $84,000 due to an overpayment.
To make matters worse, Dave was also told his Social Security Disability payments would be cut off.
The West Michigan resident and his wife felt "sheer panic" when they received notice that they owed $84,000 in November.
"He didn't eat for almost two days," his wife Rose told local ABC affiliate WHAS.
"He was so depressed and scared. We're both scared, like what do you do when all of a sudden your income is ripped out from under you?"
Dave has been on disability since 2012 while working part-time to remain within the income limits allowed to collect benefits.
"They laid out the ground rules, and I followed the rules and then still got penalized for it," he said.
He switched to regular Social Security and was told he was paid $84,000 when he should have been paid nothing.
"The lady told me straight out that during COVID, they weren't allowed to send any notifications out for anything or to change anything," Dave said.
"Well, that doesn't make any sense to me.
"If I was making too much money, why did they keep paying me every month? If it finds that some months I was over, and I have to pay that back, I'm fine with that."
Dave and Rose had to take it day by day but were worried about the future.
<!-- End of Brightcove Player --> He said there was a feeling of uncertainty about the future.
"We don't know what it's going to be like in two months from right now. We have no idea right at the moment," Rose said.
"We have zero income, as far as just from my little bit of Social Security and his part-time job. That's what we'll have."
Dave was given a waiver to fill out in an attempt to get the debt canceled.
To have the debt canceled, he would have to prove one or more of the following:
- They were not at fault for causing the overpayment
- Paying the fee would mean they wouldn't be able to afford housing, medical expenses, food, or clothes
- They believe paying Social Security back is unfair for another reason
The Social Security Administration says it is required by law to recover any debt from a person who received monthly payments they weren't entitled to.
About a million Social Security beneficiaries each year get notification letters that they were overpaid, according to the SSA.
<p class="article__content--intro"> Those who cannot afford to pay back the overpayment amounts noted by the SSA or feel they should not have to can file a specific form. </p> </div> </div> OVER IT
Florida resident Lori told local ABC affiliate WFTV that she was given only 30 days to repay the SSA an eye-watering $121,000.
"I'm so scared I'm going to lose everything," Lori told the news outlet.
She is a former postal service employee and has been receiving about $900 monthly since 2001.
Unfortunately, she had to sell her house to cover the debt.
"There's not one person I've shared this story with who believes that they could do that," she said.
If payments aren't made within the time frame, the SSA will start collecting the overpayment by reducing monthly benefits.
Another beneficiary said she would be paying back the SSA "until she dies."
See how a Social Security recipient lost their apartment after they paid an overpayment debt and lost their benefits.
More >> https://ift.tt/HmjlRSd Source: MAG NEWS
No comments: