A SOCIAL Security recipient has claimed they saw distributions of $0 for several months after an overpayment issue.
The fuming American said they wouldn't get their typical amounts from the government in the future.
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They argued that the Social Security Administration (SSA) was responsible for the error.
"As most know for the past 3 years Social Security has paid me 0 for many months, or a percentage of my income depending, apparently, on the whim of its staff," the frustrated resident wrote in a post to Facebook.
"They claim that Social Security (not me) has made a mistake and 'accidentally' overpaid me."
The recipient continued to claim that "thousands" have been affected by a similar problem.
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They also noted a statement from the current SSA director, Martin J O'Malley, in March.
O'Malley confirmed the decrease of overpayment recovery rates to 10% of each check sent to recipients until the outstanding amount is paid back.
Despite the confirmation from the SSA about the rates, the recipient claimed it was a "feel-good lie," and they were still seeing $0 payments.
"Instead of getting my Social Security check on the 2nd Wednesday of March, I received 0," they wrote.
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"I then got a letter saying I would get 0 ZERO until July 24, 2024."
The recipient claimed the letter informed them that they would get about $471 on July 24, a reduced amount.
'This is my money,' rages woman after Social Security took $233 monthly from retirement over SS overpayment error
They'd then get the complete amount re-instated afterward, seemingly to resolve the overpayment error.
The resident added they were only able to resolve the alleged $0 payment in March because they went to their local Social Security office and "simply wept."
Another person responded to the resident claiming a nearly identical problem with the SSA — but they said they were initially able to get only $86 taken out of each check for three years to resolve the overpayment.
They then appealed the overpayment through a crucial form called the SSA-632 and got the money back in the distributions.
PAYMENT PAINS
As The U.S. Sun previously reported, Social Security overpayments have been a problem for thousands of Americans since last year.
Some recipients have said they've gotten letters requiring them to pay back tens of thousands of dollars from the SSA they hadn't realized was an issue for years.
One couple was told they'd have to pay back $37,000 in one month.
After being persistent with contacting the administration, they were ultimately able to absolve the outstanding amount.
The same couldn't be said about another, who's fiancée who got a letter about a $66,000 overpayment.
There was even one American who claimed they were ordered to send back over $100,000 in overpayments they were never notified about.
Filing Waiver Form SSA-632
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.
- The form is identified as SSA-632 on the SSA website and can be filled out and submitted at a local office.
- "If you agree that you have been overpaid, but you feel you should not have to pay it back because you did not cause the overpayment and you cannot afford to repay it, you should file Form SSA-632," the SSA notes on its website.
- It also lists multiple repayment options.
- Recipients with additional questions are urged to call 1-800-772-1213.
PROCEDURAL REVIEW
In October 2023, former SSA director Kilolo Kijakazi told Americans there would be an extensive review of "overpayment policies and procedures."
She even noted that a specialized team would be working on the matter directly out of her office.
O'Malley took over as director in December 2023, and it's unclear what the progress is on policy and procedure review.
SSA spokesperson Darren Luz told The U.S. Sun that the administration works diligently to "inform people about the fact and the amount of the overpayment, their right to appeal, and the options to repay, or, in some cases, have the money waived."
"We examine each waiver request to determine, among other factors, if the person caused the debt and their ability to repay."
"Each person's situation is unique, and we handle them on a case-by-case basis," Lutz added.
Read More on The US Sun
For more related content, check out The U.S. Sun's coverage of a Social Security recipient hit with an overpayment of over $7,000 and who claims they're not at fault.
The U.S. Sun also has the story of an American who cried out that the SSA "took all my benefits" after an overpayment of $13,000.
