Some Social Security recipients are upset about a new Social Security Administration policy, claiming that it is “changing its rules in the middle of the game.” ...
Under the old policy, people eligible for benefits could take them early, then change their mind and then withdraw their application for benefits — as long as they repaid the full amount of the benefits received. That allowed them to restart the clock, and reapply for higher benefits later. ...
The agency’s new rule, which went into effect in December, now limits the time period during which beneficiaries can withdraw an application to within 12 months of the first month of entitlement. It also permits only one application withdrawal per lifetime. ...Though the new policy is already in effect, there is a 60-day public comment period that ends today. The agency said it would consider those comments — there are more than 500 comments so far — and publish another final rule.
Several of the comments were from recipients who said they weren’t notified of the change. Many of them were angry, noting that they had made their decision to take benefits early knowing they could repay them later based on information received from their local benefits offices. Several people told the agency that this amounted to “changing the rules in the middle of the game.”
Feb 8, 2011
Do They Deserve Sympathy?
From Tara Siegel Bernard's blog at the New York Times:
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6 comments:
I think that people currently receiving benefits (which does not include me) should be allowed to withdraw their applications (once) and reapply for benefits later. They could be given a year, say, or just make the new rule apply only to applications for benefits that occur after the start date of the rule. If not, I think it is changing the rules in the middle of the game.
Well, I'm not sure when else you're supposed to change the rules. I mean, changes don't occur in a vacuum, any time you make a change in policy it's going to come "in the middle of the game." Those people just need to quit whining and get over it. Of all the other backwards, dishonest, idiotic and hurtful things the SSA does, THIS is what people are going to get upset about?
This interest-free loan scam should never have been allowed in the first place. The people who take advantage of this can easily afford to repay the money. They should be charged interest, as any "loan" would require. Get rid of the whole thing, IMHO.
Er, um, of course you change the rules in the middle of the game if you find that someone is taking advantage of the rules in a way that is inconsistent with the purpose of the game. Doh.
Supreme Court Case: Flemming vs. Nestor:
http://www.ssa.gov/history/nestor.html
The Supreme Court has ruled that the rules can be changed at any time.
It will stop the wishy-washy people from constantly withdrawing and coming back over and over again. I have seen one man do this in my office about 5 times already. He stops and then starts again. All rule changes and any other changes amount to in the "middle of the game".
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