The worst thing that happened this week....

United States
March 13, 2007 10:07pm CST
This was inspired by a discussion I just replied to. Today I got a letter from social security saying oops we overpaid you. Pay us back. They claim to have over paid in excess of $8000!! I am going to appeal but I am scared I will be paying them back for the rest of my days. (any praying people reading this please say a prayer for me not to have to pay this back)
5 people like this
16 responses
• United States
14 Mar 07
This has happened to me recently as well. My son gets SSI and when I had the yearly review, I took paperwork in that I needed, went over everything felt comfortable that everything was in order. Several weeks later, I was doing a balance check at the ATM and found out that my balance was almost $3000. Thinking the bank made a boo boo I called them and no, they didn't boo boo. I had a deposit come through for over $2800 from 'US Treasury' for my son. Thinking I shouldn't have that money because someone surely made a mistake, I called Social Security to ask. And yes, I was supposed to have it as they had not paid enough money for my son. Ok fine. It came at a time when the money was definitly needed. So several weeks later I am getting a letter saying that my son had been overpaid!!!! I called them up asking what the heck they were talking about. My son's case had been to one worker then to another (who was dismissed for not following prodecures) and then back to the first one. The one worker who was dismissed didn't enter information right or verify information so wrong info was transfered to the new case. I tried to appeal it and was denied. I had sent the info, copies of my originial documents, and the worker either lost it or didn't enter it and things were really messed up. Of course as the review was being done, I couldn't actually see what information was there and what was being input so I had no way of knowing what had happened. My appeal was denied even though I expressed that it would be a tremendous financial burden on us. They will be taking about $70 a month out of his check to pay it all back. He is 15 now...so I figure that by the time he graduates it will be paid back....I am so upset that better records aren't kept and that workers shuffles cases around so easily and things get lost, misplaced or not added at all. My thoughts are with you.
• United States
20 Mar 07
They didn't do an annual review. If they had this wouldn't have happened. They waited over a year to ask me for income verification. Then they increased his SSI twice after getting it and then they say they over paid by such a huge amount. They are terminating my case ... I am not sure how on earth we make too much so they won't be taking it out of his money they want it to come out of my hubby's income. I'm really upset that this causes him to lose his Medicaid. He needs heart surgery. How are we supposed to pay for that, hubby's insurance only covers so much??
• United States
20 Mar 07
What was the worst thing that happened to you this week?
• Australia
14 Mar 07
When the government makes a mistake, we have to pay. When we make a mistake, we have to pay. Doesn't sound right, but that is the way it usually happens. I certainly hope everything turns out right for you. The worst thing that happened to me this week was losing some friends here on myLot, especially one very dear friend. I think I might know why one was deleted. If my guess is correct, I'm not complaining, because it would be justified, but I'm not sure about the others.
• United States
20 Mar 07
Well I am certainly glad the worst that happened was losing some myLot friends. Nice to know life is treating you well. I can deal with losing his SSI (it will be tight but we'll survive) but I surely can't pay this back.
@ljcapps (1925)
• United States
15 Mar 07
That would terrify me. I think that if they overpaid you, that's they're mistake, and not yours, so why should you have to repay it? Unfortunately that's not the way this government works. Have you kept all of your check stubs from them? if so, i'd take that, and the paperwork to a lawyer, and find out if you have a chance of not having to pay it back. With this kind of thing, sooner or later a lawyers going to have to get involved anyway. i wish you luck,and we'll keep you in our thoughts over this!
@Tetchie (2932)
• Australia
14 Mar 07
Ouch, shock horror. Just when you think everythings going okay..whammo! I sincerely hope everything works out for you.
2 people like this
• United States
20 Mar 07
Yes it was definitely a horrific shock!! I am praying it works out.
• United States
20 Mar 07
So what was the worst thing that happened to you.
@byfaithonly (10698)
• United States
14 Mar 07
Oh goodness I feel bad as the worst thing I can think of that happened this week was the jerk spammer who messed with all my mylot discussions. He has been dealt with my mylot, thank you Jesus. I will pray for you dear, Heavenly Father you know the problems that face our friend and the concern over this large amount of money. Father I ask you today to please comfort our friend's heart as she goes through these trials and tribulations. Please Father put your hand on the people who are involved in this and let them do the right thing. I ask these things in Jesus' name, Amen, Amen, and Amen.
1 person likes this
@audreych (13)
• Australia
15 Mar 07
Yep, I feel for you. I've been there ($5000). The first thing is to call and say you can't pay it upfront and get them to take it out of your pay (the minimum is $25 per fortnight). Go through the appeal process and if you win you will get the money back. It took me 3 months to get my money back but it is better to have to wait for a few hundred than a few thousand. In the future keep all carrespondance, record names and receipt numbers. I even go as far as to get them to give me a receipt number when I go in the office when they want a photocopy of something. I don't care what they think of me, I want to cover myself. My prayers are with you.
@weemam (13372)
14 Mar 07
I am not too clever with things like this but surely if it were their mistake they can't make you pay for it , that just doesn't make any sense , I would send a letter of appeal straight away . take care my friend xx
@exodamus (1625)
• India
15 Mar 07
that is really very unfortunate. I will pray from my heart that you be spared from paying. God bless you
@lingli_78 (12822)
• Australia
15 Mar 07
OMG... that is really a large sum of money and i know how you feel about that... it is not your fault that they overpay you and now they are asking for it back all at once... well, i will definitely pray for you... please appeal for it and hope it will be approved... good luck...
@venshida (4836)
• United States
14 Mar 07
I pray its a mistake, because the government can make your life miserable if you owe them monies. They have practically free reign on your property with fines and penalties. Appeal, and if you owe try to see if they will negotiate a reduction. Good luck.
@Bee1955 (3882)
• United States
15 Mar 07
I just finished paying off SS after 3 years. They, too, claimed to have overpaid me when I moved from one state to the next. They took $120.00 each month out of a $550.00 check - now how was I to live on $430.00 for 3n years when I could barely do so on $550.00? Then they wonder why people move in with each other to live and not tell them (fraud). Prayers are with you!
@marlyse (1056)
• Switzerland
14 Mar 07
how can this happen? im so sorry for you and of xourse i pray for you and hope you dont have to pay it back. maybe it was a fault in the calculation and its not true that you have to pay back. i so hope it for you
@angel_27 (129)
• United States
14 Mar 07
Aww im sorry to hear that i hope and pray it works out for u for the best and u dont have to pay it. i know when i was on ssi they took mine away saying that when i got married i couldnt have it 'cause my husband made to much money, which in our opion he doesnt.
• United States
15 Mar 07
I am adding you to my pray list.
• United States
14 Mar 07
What a shock! Did you now know that you were getting too much? There would be many questions they would have to any to me before I would pay anything back. How did this happen? Why was I not told before it reached such a large sum? Who made the mistake? Then I would get legal advice. I dont know where you live but where I live they have legal aid and they were wonderful when I never legal advice. Typed all the paperwork necessary all I had to do was sign the documents and it was all for free.
@applsofgld (2506)
• United States
14 Mar 07
I am so sorry you are having to deal with this. It seems that when everyone started dealing with computers and all these automated systems, people are hard to reach to fix the mistakes. I pray your appeal will be quick and a success for you. I did say a prayer for you.