What's worse than dealing with a government department?

Oh, mipen! I can understand and TOTALLY sympathize AND empathize with you! I just posted yet another discussion about our Social Security Administration AND Bureau of Support Enforcement (child support collection agency). Both of those government agencies have been screwing up for YEARS now! I'm not talking one or two years, no. It's been going on for seven years with Social Security and over 20 years with the Bureau of Support Enforcement! My ex owes me just under $14,000.00 in child support arrears. I've been fighting them for over 20 years to go after my ex. I've always done all the legwork for them, things they are supposed to be doing but never have. I've paid for services to track down my ex each time he would move to avoid paying. Sometimes, I'd notify the Bureau about him getting ready to move again to avoid paying and they would do absolutely nothing until months AFTER he moved! I just received a letter in the mail from them yesterday, telling me that they were closing my case against my ex because, they say, he owes less than $500.00. HUH????? According to my records and their own website, he owes almost $14,000.00 so I have no idea how they came up with him owing less than $500.00! Then, I've been fighting Social Security for over seven years now to get disability insurance. I worked for 40 years and paid into this system just for the time when I could no longer work or when I retired. They JUST approved me this past August, yet I didn't receive anything until this past Wednesday! Yet, I received another letter from them today, telling me that they need more information if I am to qualify for SSI (Supplemental Security Income). SSI is for disabled people who have not worked enough to qualify for Disability. It was established that I DID earn more than enough to qualify for Disability, which means I'll be getting more money each month than what SSI pays. Not only are they telling me I have to call them if I want SSI, but they sent it to my maiden name, which I have not used for over 4 years now! I notified them of my married name when I first got remarried. They've been sending me mail in my married name all this time, yet all of a sudden, they're back to using my maiden name????? Oh, and the child support letter also came to my maiden name, not my married name. They, also, know my married name. I notified them 4 years ago of the change. It was even reflected in their records online until recently, when it went back to my maiden name. So, yes, I can understand and sympathize with your dilemma. I honestly think that all governments hire the most stupid people they can find! Oh, I'm not saying that all government workers are stupid, not at all. I've known some very intelligent government workers. It's just that the ones I've encountered have all been more stupid than a rock. I do hope that you'll be able to get the information you need very soon. I would love to give you hope but, because of my ongoing insanity dealing with my government, I think you'll hear from them when one of the workers decides to finally address your issues. Good luck!!!

I have been wondering how your arrangements have been going and whether your wife’s visa has been extended but why am I not surprised that you still haven’t been given an answer? It is all sitting at the bottom of someone’s in tray probably and they will get around to it! And as far as Centrelink goes, keep calling them over and over again; it’s like a lottery and you may eventually come out a winner and actually get someone on the line who knows what he or she is talking about; believe it or not it has happened...Once...Maybe twice... Good luck, mate!

I am glad to hear that it isn't just the United States government that is difficult to work with. I guess it is any government body, as they have so many people to keep track of. I suppose they have more customers than any other business. LOL I, myself, haven't really had too harsh of a time, at least not recently that I can recall. I think the most difficult thing that I have had to do is actually get a live person on the phone to ask them a question about taxes. My boyfriend, on the other hand, is now going through a mess with the Bureau of Motor Vehicles. He has a motorcycle which he put in the back of the barn years ago when it wouldn't run. Recently he started restoring it. When he went to get new license plates, they told him he couldn't and wouldn't explain why. Instead told him to get a police check. Then, when he brought that in, they still didn't want to say why, but told him he had to do a title search...even though he has the title. Evidently, someone else now has this title in their name. And he has to do all of the legwork and find out why, even though they aren't aloud to answer his questions. Yes, the government can be difficult with all of their red tape!

hi mipen, personally i have not experienced dealing with immigration but social security i have. i dont understand why going to thailand would cancel your pension. is it something in the contract that you are not supposed to go out of the country? but it is already pension, why not try to read on the rules again. i dont settle down when they say i should wait for a month. i keep calling and going to their office especially if due date has lapsed. i dont care if they get annoyed but i want my answer. i guess you should write them a letter copy furnish their higher ups. then keep calling and going to their office. i know its time consuming and irritating. but what else can you do? hey, try asking for legal opinion, see a lawyer. ann