From KTLA:
Mamie Walker is sick and tired of the government abruptly cutting off her social security benefits, leaving her unable to pay her rent and buy food. She said it’s all because of a mistake no one can explain, KTLA sister station WFLA reported.
Walker hasn’t received benefits for the past two months. She received a letter from the U.S. Social Security Administration saying she owes over $237,000 in “overpayments” and won’t receive benefits again until September, 2034. She would be 100 years old. ...
This is the second time Walker asked for help after her social security benefits were cut. In 2019, the government claimed Walker owed over $200,000 in old student loan debt. Walker, who never went to college, had no idea what that was about. ...
A Social Security Administration representative said this would be investigated again and they’ll try to assist Walker in getting her benefits back.
I saw KTLA also reported that Walker was given a $999.00 'emergency' check from SSA. I wonder if that was before or after all the media publicity?
ReplyDeleteI wonder if she is the victim of identity theft and someone is using her SSN to take out student loans or other things that SSA is picking up?
ReplyDeleteI'd totally get a lawyer. I'm assuming she's retired/old age SSA. There's no reason she should not get her SSA payments. Yet AGAIN, the media is an ombudsman to SSA. That's ridiculous.
ReplyDeleteThis blog really has to stop blaming SSA for everything. If someone is using her SSN for a student loan, SSA would have no idea. In addition, SSA has no control over federal debts outside of it's own. So, if someone used this woman's SSN to obtain fraudulent student loans, that is a Department of Education issue and they can put a hold on the collection until it's resolved. SSA cannot stop or modify the collections from other federal agencies. If the government says you oew federal debt, they will use the treasury to collect it from you federal benefits.
ReplyDeleteI agree it's awful, but to blame SSA in any capacity is ridiculous. SSA finds out about the debt just like the claimant does...we have to read the offset letter issued by the other agency.