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Social Security Administration

Edward of CheongWon Kun,Chungbuk, Korea Sout June 16, 2009

I've recently learned that I'm not eligible to receive "one time additional Stimulus check payment of 250.00" due to my temporary address in the Republic of Korea.This is quite contrary to last year's Econoic Stimulus whereby I received 600.00. Mary and I are currently living only on our monthly Social Security payments. My wife Mary and I have resided here in the Republic of Korea since my retirement to avail ourselves of special medical treatments. My permanent residency is the State of Hawaii, permitting to vote for President Obama last November. President Obama then signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. I'm one of 55 million Social Secirity recipients in the United States. Apparently, the Social Security recipients, currently living in foreign countries, have been excluded from the receipt of "one-time" additional Stimulus check payment of 250.00 as of November 2008. In my personal opinion, I feel it's just not justified for President Obama to have signed this Bill without "deep" thinking. Under the current "global" economic surroundings, discriminating among Social Security recipients based on the location of each resident I consider unfair and a big mistake! this appears to equate with the "renewal of the old "Jim Crow Law" practiced in the Southern states many decades ago. It is immoral. We simply cannot and will not go back to exercising the principles of isolationism during our jet age! I've read President's auto biographic books and noted that his mother survived on "food stamps" in Hawaii for a while. How would President Obama have felt if the State of Hawaii had not granted benefits to her because of his divorced Kenyan father? Who was a foreign student attending Harvard in Boston. The situation appears similar to these Social Security cases. Obviousely, I'm incensed at what has been done to us, as I'm sure all of those receiving such "second hand" citizen tretment are as well. The issue is a matter of principle and not 250.00 per se. It's hard to rationalize the reasons that could have caused this "slap in the face" from our government. I highly recommend that our President Obama immediately initiate action with Congress to correct this injustice! From a political standpoint those, that voted to exclude selected citizens from the Stimulus provided to other citizens, have "shot themselves in the foot." I for one will not support them in future elections, and encourage many others to do the same unless they apologize, reverse this "asinine" policy, and correct this discrimination. Lastly, I'd like to share a couple of "sentences" in response to my recent inquiry on the subject of "Stimulus Check 250.00 Exclusion" I've received from SS Admin which I vehemently don't agree: "I understand where you are coming from. The Main reason why the Economic Stimulus was approved was to stimulate the the Economy of the USA. If Social Security Beneficiaries who are outside the US would also eligible, the money paid to them will not be sued with in the US, thus defeating the purpose of the Stimulus Package".... It doesn't make any sense at all. It's all conceptual but impractical. how does this person know for sure that I'm going to donate the entire 250.00 to my old school- New Hampton Prep School(Class of 1956) at New Hampton, New Hampshire in the USA, which I had planned to contribute under the campaign of "Giving" program. Frankly, our goverment should not dictate or legislate the law of individaul spending plan. Why then, President Obama is so apprehensively concerned about the money paid to Social Security recipients in foreign countries "will not be used with in the US". After all, President Obama appears to be soon forgotten that this country is a nation of all immigrants, therefore, we're all deeply rooted in the US with the rest of the world economically and socially.

Naomi of Northridge, CA May 26, 2009

I am emailing on behalf of my 93 year old father. My father moved from nothern California to Southern California and I called in a change of addrress form for him. When he did not receive his check for April I assumed it went to his old address and that it would be forwarded to him. When the April check and then the May check did not arrive, I started to make calls to Social Security to find out what happened.

After many phone calls this is what I was told. My fathers checks were being sent to ComericaBank and that the April and May check plus the stimulus check were all in his debit account. My complaint is that neither my father nor I EVER made these arrangement or were EVER told about this arrangement. Now I am having a very hard time withdrawing the money from this debit card to put the money, where it belongs, into his checking account. I want to know who set this account up and under whose authority. I want to see any document that has my father's signature on it agreeing to this arrangement. It is causing so many problems and I want to know how it happened. I truely believe that this could be construed as elder abuse or theft of his money. Whoever set this up and did not inform my father of this is basically cheating my father.

Somebody took it upon themself to do this and I want to know who did it and at the very least what you are going to do about it so that it does not happen to others. I want to see paper work with my father's signature on it allowing this to be put into motion. I would think any kind of bank debit card involving Social Security money would need to be signed off by somebody, specifically the perosn who is being affected.

I was also told by somebody in Social Security, that all I need to do is call the bank, ComericaBank, and they would cancell the debit card and send my father a check for the money. The bank said there is no way this could be done since they are a paperless bank. I am very glad for the ecology system but again, it is creating a mess for my father. The assisted living place that my father lives in does not take debit cards, cash or checks only, and my fathers expenses are minimal so that he has no where to use a debit card that now has 2670.00 on it. To withdraw the money from the debit card will cost him about 35.00, for cash withdrawls, and why should he use his money for something that was done without his permission.

Barb of Brooklyn Park, MN May 11, 2009

Have a repayment that needs to be paid back. I did not recieve any notices that my check would be garnished until garnishment began. This was also put on my credit and I wasnt notified of any of this otherwise I would have made arrangements. Social Security claims they sent the letters to me but the only one I recieved was the one about the garnishment. please help in any way possible.

Richard of NYC, NY May 7, 2009

On 12/29/06 I applied for my social security card at 26 Federal plaza, however, to date have not received it. After this on 2/9, 7/24, 11/5 of 2007 respectively, I applied at the social security office at 650 E. 12th street but still without success and because of this I a unable to receive a drivers license or NY state ID as I was refused on this basis and, am lso unable to get employment for lack of a social security card. I do have a social security number verificaton form verifying my number but am being told by employers this is not a legal instrument and it has been more than 2 1/2 years and still I do not have a social security card.

I was born and raised in NYC and my card was lost. As a result I have been homeless, living on the street, and have no resource with which to support myself. I am presently living with a friend but face the danger of being on the street again. My pa, medicaid and food stamp benefts have been terminated in the end of 2007 and have no medical or financial benefits or income. I did call the social security adminstration numbers in November 2008 and April 2009, but was informed that I could not be helped. At present I don't know what to do other than seek judicial relief, but am trying to patiently resolve the matter.

NA of NA, PA May 6, 2009

I just spoke to Lynn at the Social Security 800 number. I Called around 8:00 am, May 6th. She was extremely unpleasant and unhelpful. Rude, Blunt, Irritable and impatient. Please speak to her about her customer service skills. Thank you.

Lisa of Detroit Lakes, MN April 23, 2009

I went to the SSA to obtain a copy of my sons social security card. I drove 45 miles with my infant son just to obtain this information. I went in with my son and took a ticket (#27) and was called immediately. I went to the teller on the left side of the office and tryed to explain that although my son was issued a number I never physically received a card. She then stated I was wrong and they did send one. I then tried explaining that I still don't have one and that's why I was there that day. We went back and forth w/her saying they sent one, me stating I didn't receive it. All I was trying to get her to understand was that I didn't have it and would like a new one.

She then whispered something to herself and I asked "what?" and she then stated that I was very rude. I said that was not good customer service and at this point she hastedly handed my paperwork to her co worker to take over. I stepped over to the other teller and apologized sincerlely and she also stated that I was very rude and had came at her co-worker "swinging".

At this point she called 3 security gaurds to come in. She then finished my paperwork and handed it to me. I had asked if I could receive the actual number (which I stated to the first teller) and she then asked what I needed it for? She also very rudely asked me if I needed it to file my taxes. I feel that it is none of her business why I needed the number, I actually just wanted it for my records.

Phyllis of North Plainfield, NJ April 4, 2009

Phyllis of North Plainfield NJ (04/04/09)
A while ago, social security administration advised me that I had beenoverpaid while I was collecting Widow's Survivor benefits, after my husbands death, while raising my two daughters

a schedule of repayments was worked out wtih them. As agreed, I was repaying them 25 per month Last week I received my Federal Income tax return, with a notice attached that Social Security had petitioned IRS to take out the total balance of the overpayment' which they did. THey did NOT pre-advise me of this, I did NOT receive any notification of intent.

This is against their contract with me We had made an agreement, and I was keeping my part of it, This is causing an extreme financial hardship for me.

I am just about making ends meet with my financial situation.

Dorene of Rochester, NY March 23, 2009

Dorene of Rochester NY (03/23/09)
I tried several times to take care of my benefits with social security and to no avail I was ignored and hung up on twice.I only get half of my SSI check. I'm separated legally and SSI won't give me my other portion despite the fact I brought in the necessary documents. I was given a letter saying I'm getting my benefits but then they are taking out 67 dollars b/c of my husband's overpayment of work despite the fact we were not living together. Social security takes out 70 dollars because I'm married plus 23 dollars for the state.I should be getting close or near 800 a month. I'm not getting near that amount.

I went to the office to get my benefit amount changed and they sent me a letter for what I owe them but won't give me what I'm owed.When I asked Social Security representative for their Identification number she hung up on me. I was actually hung up on three times today. I'm sick of this; if they act this way now imagine what it will be like when I'm elderly?

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