Social Security Administration Reviews

So, I re-applied and guess what? I was awarded. I couldn't believe it. Nothing in my medical chart changed from the year I applied in 1992 to 2000 when I was awarded. Except for my mental pain and thought. I was at my end.

The stress along was enough to kill. Ten years of fighting for benefits almost cost me my life. Then I'm told that if I re-apply...I would get it! I still can't believe this happen. I suffered, my daughter suffered on a massive scale June 1993-2001. I was only paid one year and a half back pay.

I would like an attorney (I can't afford a money down) to sue them for my due money, lawyer costs, and as much extra that I can get for the hassle and ignorance that they've shown me. Any takers, I have all the proof I need and it's open and shut case. Easy money. I rely on that refund to take care of my family.

The Dr. that the SS sent me to, spent a total of 4 minutes with me, had me walk across the room and touch my toes and then told them, I was faking as he told me he was late getting hay for his horses. The shrink they sent me too, told me I was bi polar and severely depressed but yet I was still denied. I had to move from my husband to get medical care and lost my home, car, credit, life insurance, and health from the stress of no income. I was able to get unemployment for a bit of the time I have been waiting, since being denied SSI, I had no choice but to attempt to find work or die or go homeless, but never once even given a chance to interview.

As the time has gone, by my health has basically left me bed ridden 90 percent of the time. I cannot get a decent sleep of more than one or two hours. I am dysfunctional from the pain and other meds. I am so stressed from not being able to pay bills on my lousy 140 a week UE, and my attorney of over a year never even requested records until three weeks prior to trial. At that point, I had records still not available and was given 16 days, which my attorney failed to accomplish. By the way, I got 90 percent of the record because they waited too long to request prior to court. So I sit here, two months after court and find just now that they still have not gotten records. I called on the 30th of May, 8 days before deadline by judge and told them to let me know if they did not get them in two days. My therapist said they were sent and since I heard nothing, I thought they were.

So now I sit here, almost three years later, I have nothing left to pay bills with, my UE ran out in June, and my sons 22 yr old friend just told me he got his SSI after two months of filing. I am so upset. First of all the people processing are not medically trained so how do they get away with any decision matters. Second, there is no way I can hold a job. I know I have to try if I want to survive, but I know even if I took one it would not last, I cannot get out of bed every day and the depression and mood and anger has me just thinking of dying daily. But I lost my life insurance so I can't even do that for someone has to take care of my disabled adult son.

I don't know why SSI has not been sued for pure negligence. Having unqualified people make life and death decisions seems like a very serious matter. When over 68 percent of all claims are approved at court level, it seems that is enough proof that the people are not doing the jobs they are paid for or even worse highly unqualified. I want my life back, I want my home, my car, my life insurance, my family, I deserved this. And because some "state" employed who is not qualified to make the decisions effecting millions of lives and in addition or a Federal program seems gross negligence.

I want to start a class action suit against the social security administration. I want compensation for all I have lost due to the inability to make an educated and trained decision. They should be accountable for the wrongful and blatantly negligent decisions they have made. Oh and here is a kicker, because I was on workers comp, they are saying if I do get a settlement this will be deducted. First of all, I or my employers pay workers comp, it is a state insurance program and completely separate from SSI, so how is a federal program, which I pay into and a state insurance I also pay into, even allowed to be in the same consideration.

Then they are giving me grief about filing unemployment, which my understanding is not illegal to file for UE and SSI. I understand that there is a contradiction but to be honest, I was denied over two years ago. I had no choice but to attempt to find work even if I could not do said work for maybe more than a day I had to try, I had no choice. If I am denied SSI, I will have to continue to look for work to the best of my ability. No difference. I would not have had to file UE if they would have done their jobs and qualified me. How do all of my sons young friends get SSI no problem, never working a day in their lives and many of us who have worked decades are denied over and over. My mom was diagnosed with terminal stage four lung cancer, died being denied, but a 22 yr old with ADHD is getting it within two months of app.

Whats wrong with this pic. Lost everything, life insurance, home, car, credit, have had bad checks, being sued for unpaid bills, haven't been able to see any of my grand children ever, my health is worse than ever from stress, my depression is suicidal, my relationship with mate and children I isolated myself and am completely alone. I have no social life. No savings and no way to continue to even afford my meager 240 a month ** 40 yr old RV I live in as of end of July. I will be homeless and probably will kill myself and I hold the US government and SSI personally responsible.

There was and is enough medical and mental proof of my disability since day one. Being denied was negligent and they should pay for all my losses in the sum of hundreds of thousands, I will never get my credit back, or my car, or my home or the years with my family or my well being. I have been forced into a life of pure poverty by their reckless indifference by people but in power who have no credentials to make this kind of determination or a federal program that has no business have a state office control.

I spoke to several people and I thought I was all set and everything was work out. But problem after problem kept coming up. Over pay after over pay was cited. I found out they have interns several of them working on my case. No one knows who is doing what or they were doing it differently. Long story short, my husband I lost 2 income checks to them saying I owe $9,400 in over pay. Because of that stupid ticket work program. So beware and say no to the program. It will come back to bite you. They made a ton of mistakes and the program is full of flaws and no one knows how to run it. I try to reapply in January and have it expedited because of my shoulder again. I am suppose to get preliminary payments while I am waiting on the decision and have received nothing. Only thing I got was threats I would go jail for committing fraud to take my future income checks, my future paychecks. I was called rotten names and my children was threaten also. I have tried to receive help. And was told they do not make mistakes and it is all my fault. Now what am I to do. I have yet to receive my payments. I was told do to my supposing 16 over pays, I am a risk that they are not going to take again. I need help.

My husband is laid off. We have no income. I have a daughter that I need to support and the bill are piling up. I can not work due to a very bad shoulder. I have had 2 surgeries done on it and may need more. I have no medical to pay for them.

As Mr. ** finished his conversation with the person in front of me, I was about to step up to the desk when his counterpart immediately informed him that she had an applicant from FEMA and he needed to speak with her. I stepped aside so I could wait to speak with him after the lady from FEMA was done. Unfortunately, that was not an option, the SSA female rep told me to come to her line and that she would assist me. The first question out of her mouth was "What can I do for you?" Well, it was obvious to me that I wanted to inquire about employment opportunities with the SSA agency. I extended my hand for a shake and stated my name, she did not give her name and acted like she had an attitude.

I stated the names of the positions (Claim Rep.; TeleService Rep.; Claims Authorizer etc.) all GS-5 to 7 Grades and I would like to apply for either one of them and discuss the requirements. I informed her that I had worked for a Sports Agent for the last 14yrs. and he was moving to LA, he offered me a job, but I did not want to move to LA. She stated "are your kids grown" I said "yes" and then she gave me a look like what is the problem, I then informed her I do not want to live in the West Coast, I like this area. Then she stated with a loud and rude voice "do you have a degree? ", again I stated "yes." So I gave her my resume, which she didn't want to take. "All of my education and job experiences are listed here," I stated to her. She looked at my resume' and started frowning her face and shaking her head saying no, no, so I was about to ask her "what is the problem and then she stated "what is your GPA? " I said a 2.5 and she "stated "oh no you couldn't work for us, you need a 3.00 or 4.00 to work in our agency. "

I asked her "if my work experience of over 25 years of customer service, managerial and administrative positions could substitute for the GPA? " She stated "No, you must have the GPA to work for their agency since I was coming off of the streets and had never worked for the government. " I asked her would she accept my resume' any way just in-case a position became available and then she told me to check the website daily. I would like to know three things 1. Is this true? You need a 3.0 or higher GPA to work for the SSA? 2. Why did she treat me in such a harsh manner? Maybe it's because of my disability 3. Is this a form of discrimination with the GPA?

I watched her line of applicants and Mr. ** each time they spoke to someone you could barely hear them but for me I was put on public display. I was embarrassed and upset by the incident that I left the job fair. I didn't want to be recognized as the one told she could not work for the SSA agency. The female representative did not handle this in a professional manner, if she knew they would not hire me, just take the resume' and tell me to have a nice day. But for me to get all of the questions right off the back "what can I do for you; do you have a degree; what is your GPA; I am almost positive that is not how she started her conversations with other applicants because I would see her smiling and acting pleasant. This was a big disappointment to attend a job fair and not even get a fair chance to apply for a position. There was no physical damage done, mostly emotional damage and economic because I felt awful and left the fair without trying other agencies.

Section 1917 (d)(4)(A),(d)(4)(B),(d)(4)(C) of the Social Security Act allows SSI claimants to protect assets or setup Special Needs or Supplemental Needs Trust and receive SSI without penalty. I never received this information from claims representative and I was told to spend down my financial resources to the maximum amount allowed in order to be eligible for the public benefit.

The actions of the claims representative are deceptive and misleading. The Deceptive Trade Practices Act on Section 17.46[b] states that acts or practices deemed to be false, misleading or deceptive is a violation of the DPTA. I contacted attorneys in Houston, Texas submitting my support documentation as evidence. None of the attorneys contacted would take my case due to my economic status (SSI). I was evicted from my residence in February 2010 for non-payment of rent. SSI was not enough to pay rent and utilities, and my credit profile has been destroyed. All of my retail accounts are in collections. I am unable to perform preventive maintenance on personal vehicles, purchase insurance and registration. My vehicles have been sitting in the driveway since April 2004 until the present, April 2010.

I filed a civil judgment as a "Pro Se Litigant" in U.S. District Court, Southern Division, Houston, Texas with case number ** and Judge David ** on June 2008. It was violation of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and violation of the Deceptive Trade Practices Act. The status of Civil Judgment is pending. I contacted my government representative (Rep Sheila **) but no one from her staff has responded to my request for assistance. Support documents are available for review. I was employed by the Houston Independent School District for 20 years as a public servant. I am a college graduate and at a loss of 95% of my possessions due to eviction judgment (non-payment of rent).

After depleting my investment portfolio, I have no retirement savings. I am unable to get physical rehabilitation due to lack of financial resources and my vehicles need major mechanical repairs. My quality of life has been taken from me involuntary.

I have tried on numerous occasions to call the S.S.A. Bloomingdale office. I have spent two days redialing repeatedly the phone number and always getting a busy signal. Today, after spending the entire day (until 3 p.m.) continually dialing, my call was answered and for one hour, I continued to receive the same recorded message. After one hour, a live person said she would be right with me. Several seconds later, I was disconnected. I have worked on this all day (what do people do when they can't sit all day on the phone? ) and am nowhere.

This same thing has happened to me previously on this same issue. I have gotten through their line four times. Two times I was disconnected after a live person got on and said she'd be right with me. My question is "Do they take your call, tell you they will be right with you, put you back on hold and then hang up so that it counts as a call they have processed?

I understand they are probably overworked and understaffed. But for the life of me, I can't figure out how anyone has the time or fortitude to stay more than an hour on the line after calling for days to get the recorded message and then get disconnected after waiting another hour on the phone. Does loss of my time and temper qualify as a damage? How does anyone get through ever? My main worry/complaint is that these calls are being taken and then hung up on by the phone representatives because they either don't want to take them or because it will count toward a call they handled although they didn't handle it at all.

This is not right. I have spent an entire day on just calling to see if the appointment next week is necessary and if we should cancel it. I am going to stop trying and just not show up for the appointment. Please check to see if by picking up the phone and telling you that they will be right with you, putting you on hold and then hanging up on you counts toward calls they've handled or something else that would give them a reason to take your call and then immediately disconnect you. Thank you.

I got so fed up with this that I gave up for years but now he is 16 and needs his card to get his driver's license. So I gather all of my info, take off work and head up there. I had his adoption decree, his shot records, his birth certificate and his social security number (I do have that). Well, they told me that none of this would work because it is not current.

They want me to go to his doctor and get the doctor to write a letter on his letterhead that states my son's name, both my name and my husband's, his date of birth his medical record # and it must be signed by the doctor and cannot be a stamped signature. This must be an original, not a copy. Why would that be more proof of his identity than the materials that I had provided? How can his adoption papers be not current? You only get adopted 1 time not every yr! Nowhere on the paper that I filled out does it say anything about the documents being current and when I pointed that out, all she could say was, "Yes, I know it isn't very clear." Then she said we were done and until I had the proper paperwork she could not help me! Well, I'm sorry to say that I had the proper paperwork according to their paper and I got a little mad and yes, I did yell, so I was told to leave.

The number 765- is always a busy signal. 765-7 started out being a busy signal, but now always rings but never gets answered. I have put two appeals in for a friend, with my number as a contact number. They called me when I was with a client at work. I have spent all day calling back. I do not know if they want to tell me they have the appeal, do not accept the appeal. I do not know what is going on.

The woman on the phone talked so fast none of us could understand her. When asked to repeat, she hung up on us twice! Don't contact me, I just want this added to the list of complaints, in the hope that some of these government workers, though not all are bad, will gain a little humility. They have to step out from behind the bullet proof glass sometime, and we shouldn't have to clean up the mess!

The damage that results from this is the fact that these agents are dealing with people who already have a plate full of problems, cannot work, in the process of being starved out from labor and industries, SSI, and unable to afford medicines prescribed for problems mostly caused by this type of abuse! Just keep poking these folks with sticks and see what happens!

I requested a case review at the end of January 2010 because we have tried to explain this fact several times to SSA and the issue keeps coming up and now has gone to the extent of our son's benefits being cut off. We believe this is not right. I actually asked to come in with a lawyer and was put off, being told this was not necessary. I explained that my son's living situation is being compromised by the cut off and that I think he has the right to a case review with an attorney present. I did get an appointment, but I am only scheduled to speak with a claims representative on Thursday March 18, 2010 and I do not know if there will be any effective action taken for my son's benefits. We are $1700 behind (two months on our rent) and Isaac has lost his health insurance benefits.

Everyone is sorry for me and gives me their sympathy but that doesn't feed me or pay my bills. I also lost my widows disability check of 350.00. Leaha told me on 1/20 that it had been cashed and I needed to order a fraud packet. I've ordered the fraud packet numerous times. I contacted the treasury department to request a copy of the check today 2/23 and was informed the check hadn't been cashed and the treasury department stopped payment on the check on the 17th! They also stated, no one requested reissue of either check! I feel like I'm dealing with children who are lying to protect themselves. It's been 7 weeks! I've done all the work because they won't.

In Nov 2009, I mailed a new letter again to the local Soc Sec office with delivery confirmation. I explained the same as I am now, along with including copies of everything I mention above and mailing receipts. Again, I have received no response whatsoever. Please make the Soc Sec Admin do right and pay back the premiums they took from my benefits unlawfully. Thank you. These are 21 months of Medicaid premiums unlawfully taken from my Soc Sec benefits creating unnecessary financial hardship for my family and numerous hours of my family's time taken to write letters, make copies, keep records, and visit local SSA office, and the cost of mailing with delivery confirmation (having learned the hard way historically that SSA "habitually" loses much of what is sent to them, especially if it involves benefits being paid out).

When I call the office, I am told I have to talk to Ms. **, the person who is handling the claim. I leave messages but she never returns the calls. When I phoned the main Social Security number (800 toll #) I get this sad but true story about how everyone is so overwhelmed, yada, yada! This is no excuse for not having claims timely handled. The agent also told me some people's claims are so old and not yet handled that they are having to deal with having their utilities cutoff, and all sorts of difficulties because of this inefficiency.

I am a hardworking taxpayer, like both my parents. I am very discouraged and disappointed in the manner in which Social Security is treating my mother. My father was a WWII veteran, 100% disabled who plucked his comrades from the ocean when their carrier was attacked by the Japanese and he definitely paid his dues. Why is my mother being treated so wrongly by our government? If I am not doing my job where I work and didn't return calls or handle my business, I'd be immediately dismissed. Why is this happening at the Social Security Administration? Where are our tax dollars going if not helping our own people? If they are short handed, then hire people for Pete's sakes?!

In March of this year, I didn't receive my monthly check. After making several unsuccessful attempts to reach my local SSA office by phone, I asked my attorney to see if they could find out what was going on. My disability was ended, because, unknown to me, there was a warrant out for my arrest. I then received a letter from SSA stating that "benefits may be terminated if a warrant is issued for either a violent or drug-related offense." I then contacted the court, which issued the warrant; and they stated that there was no warrant. I contacted my attorney with this information, and they passed it on to the SSA employee handling this matter and were informed that I would have to provide proof in writing and mail it to them. I did, after not hearing anything for a week.

My attorney contacted the said employee to see if we were good to go. She replied that she couldn't accept the proof, because it wasn't on the county's letterhead. I had the clerk of court not only re-write the letter on county letterhead, but she also personally contacted the said agent to make sure the letter would contain all the necessary information. Again, after not hearing anything for a week, my attorney re-contacted the said agent; and they were then told that the only way for me to resolve this matter was to petition the court to strike the order for arrest. This is when I discovered that this warrant was issued for a failure to appear in Child Support Court, not a violent or drug-related matter.

When my attorney re-contacted the said agent with this fact, the agent replied that it didn't matter and that I would still need the order stricken. On May 18, the order was stricken. After I didn't receive my June or July checks, my attorney contacted the SSA office, and they were told that the matter was in the process. Now, August is here, and still, there's no check. We again contacted our local office, and they said that they would call the payment center to see what the delay was. As of last week, still, nobody knows what was going on. Yesterday, in the mail, I received a letter from the SSA; and I foolishly thought it might be the letter explaining what is happening. I couldn't have been wrong. The letter stated that since my Medicare premium of $96.40 was not paid within the time limit, my medical benefits have ended.

So now, I'm "a medically disabled American" coming up on 4 years now. I not only have lost my food stamps and Medicaid, because I was awarded Disability (which isn't coming in), but I've had to live for 4 years on only 4 disability checks. And now, I have no medical insurance whatsoever, because the SSA has been dragging their tails for 3 months.

They need to fix this. Their agency caused this mess, and now, I have to continue to suffer. I need my monies, and I need my medical insurance. I have ongoing medical problems that I cannot address without them. I have an office visit with 1 of my many doctors this Friday, 8-21, for an upcoming procedure. I need to have resolution by the end of the business day on Thursday, 8-20-2009, or I will have to postpone this important procedure.

I did. It seemed like forever. There was no way that I could tell whether the line had gone dead or not, so I finally hung up. The call was around noon. I called back three more times and just got a busy signal. Finally, my calls just rang continuously for the next 45 minutes. Finally, Ms. ** answered again and attempted to assist me but told me that a claims representative would have to call me back. She agreed that she saw no reason for me not to be processed. I questioned her as to whether the social security office was closed during lunch and she told me that someone was supposed to answer the phones. Near the end of the day, I called back, and got a message to leave another message and someone would return my call within three days.

My question is, what kind of service is this from our local office in St. Augustine? Is this protocol? This may be an example of the worst customer service in history. This is a federal office, not a private business. Phones should be answered during Federal Business hours. This is too much stress for the average senior.

The worst of all? They sent me a bill for $2,790.00 saying they overpaid him when they haven't been paying him. This was when I contacted the Richmond office and had the horrible experience with Bob **. Without exception, most of these employees are rude, unpleasant, unhelpful and they just don't care. Apparently, they can't be fired and have no accountability. These are our tax dollars at work! I had to borrow money to pay for his part of our living expenses and they owe him about $6,000.00. I've had several panic attacks and the stress has been tremendous. Every time you have to deal with these people, you can bet it will be an all day, extremely unpleasant experience.

They made an appointment for June 10th, 2009 for me to go to the Norfolk, VA office and file a claim. They asked me to take all my proof and I did including my daughter herself. After filling out all the paperwork, almost at the end of the session, the SSA rep that we saw in the Norfolk office told me that a check went out on May 26th to the rep payee in NC. I asked the question how when she had to prove that she had custody. How when she is paying child support to me for my daughter on behalf of her brother? I filed a fraud claim on the 11th of June; however, I have not heard anything as of yet. I wonder I have a case against SSA for sending the check out to the wrong payee and not verifying custodial information which includes school records and everything. My child has been attending high school the last four years in Chesapeake, VA not NC. Do I have a case? Please advise.

After going through all the required information I needed to provide, I had a question. I asked the man if my next check would be mailed or deposited into my new account and he began chastising me about closing my other account first. First, that was not my question, and second, I was well aware that there was a possibility of the check returning to them and then being mailed to me. I had no problems with this. I proceeded to try and ask my question again politely and before I could get a few words out, he cut me off as if he knew what I was asking about and started answering a question I was not even asking. After he finished, I proceeded to try and ask my question again, and was rudely cut off again.

This man spoke in a very condescending voice and he didn't even know what I was asking. This time, I cut him off and said, "Excuse me sir. Please let me finish the question." Before I had time to finish that statement, he was yelling at me and cursing at me saying, "Are you ** through yet? Are you?!" I never got an opportunity to ask my question. I can also tell you that I went through about 20 minutes of automated stuff holding for this person and I got hung up on.

I never got my question answered and I am very concerned that he may mess with the payment he set up for me and cause me financial hardship. I did yell back at him trying to get his attention, but that didn't work. He just kept repeating the above and hung up on me. I can't find anything on the internet or anyone I can contact in regards to this. All I wanted to do was ask a very brief question and I am not at all long winded. This is by far the worst customer service I have ever experienced! It is very hard to reach someone. After you go through approx. 20 minutes of automated services, they will send you to a busy signal usually.

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.

Obviously, I'm incensed at what has been done to us as I'm sure all of those receiving such "second hand" citizen treatment 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 who 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 be eligible, the money paid to them will not be sued within 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 government should not dictate or legislate the law of individual 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 within 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.

Eventually, I called and was told that all I needed to do was make sure I completed and turned in the annual income form that they would send to me. I made sure to do that every year immediately upon receiving it. Since I still was unsure about this "income limit", I wrote again and again for over two years. I never once got a response. Because I was going through the divorce, struggling with keeping myself alive through my depressions, trying to keep my daughter in school, trying to take care of my mother, and trying to keep myself employed, months would go by before I thought to write them again. I finally gave up and decided since I hadn't heard from them, I must be doing what I was supposed to be doing. I had been able to find their website which had an "annual exempt earnings" page, which I was well under so I felt confident all was right.

On the third year, I received a letter from them saying I owed them $6,000. I had since lost my job, was remarried, but we were still barely making it. We were able to pay our mortgage payments and necessary expenses, but nothing else, including food. We didn't qualify for food stamps because he earned $10 over their limit–$1900 a month for a family of three! Our mortgage alone was $1200 so we did not have money left over to even eat. Both my husband and I had also gone back to school in an effort to get out from under government assistance, which we were able to pay for through grants.

When I got that letter, I became hysterical because I had tried so hard for three years to make certain I did all I was supposed to do and they never once even acknowledged my letters let alone explained the rules. I did find that there is something called "not at fault" which you can claim; and if you meet their criteria for that and paying them back would basically ruin you, then you do not have to pay back the money. There are four criteria and I met every one clearly. It was also abundantly clear that paying them back would cause us to be homeless. So I filed my waiver request. They denied me stating that on the last criterion in the last half of the sentence it says if you could have been expected to know you owed them, you are responsible. But how could I have known unless they told me, which they refused to do for over three years? They did say I could appeal. I did. I met with an employee at the Norcross office. A woman named Mrs. ** and explained again why I was not at fault. I had never withheld information. I turned in timely annual reports, etc.

When I looked through my file at that meeting, however, I did not see any of my letters for the two years I wrote to them and I asked her why they were not there. She acted like she didn't know where they could have gone and tried to suggest that I sent them to a different office or that they might have been in a different file in storage. She assured me she would track them down. She never did. She didn't even have my most recent request for the waiver in the file! I wound up having to go home to pull that letter off my computer and fax it to her. All other correspondence to them would have been in old computers that I no longer have. I do have two hard drives, but as was pointed out to me by a friend, even if I paid money I don't have to have the letters pulled off the hard drives, they could still simply say they never received them.

After that meeting, in spite of the fact that I clearly met the criteria and proved that I would be beyond destitute if they took that money, they denied me anyway. They completely ignored their own rules. In the letter they sent me telling me of my denial, they told me I had the right to a second appeal before an administrative law judge. They didn't even provide the form, which they said was enclosed in the envelope. After tracking it down on the website, I printed it, filled it out, and sent it in that same day.

Two months later, while I am awaiting my appeals court date, I get a letter in the mail telling me they are beginning the withholding of my disability check starting the following month and I will not receive it again until March 2010! I couldn't believe it. There was no mention of my second appeal at all. Not a word. What's worse is that even though they have the authority to only take a portion of that money each month, they chose to take every dime – including my Medicare payments! When I called to find out what happened to my appeal, they said they had no record of my appeal request. What a shock. She informed me that Medicare would bill me directly, but they only allow you to pay in three month installments that would total over $400.00.

I just do not understand how they can get away with this or why on earth they would choose to take every dime when they were fully aware I would already face losing my home without the check every month, so I certainly couldn't afford to lose the check and come up with the money for my health care. How can they get away with "losing" all the documentation that supports my position while still conveniently having any correspondence they sent me? Why would they ignore my legal rights to my appeal and be so careless with these documents that people's lives are dependent on? Why would they take every dime from me, including the Medicare payment, knowing my life literally depends on that medical care, especially when they had the option not to do so? What does that say about these people?

I repeatedly asked them for help understanding the process and my responsibilities and they just "lose" my paperwork? I was completely honest and ethical, reported every dime I earned every year, I met every one of their criteria for "not at fault," and none of that matters to them. It is my accusation that they didn't bother to do their jobs by not fully explaining my responsibilities and carelessly misplaced my correspondence. When they learned I was going to hold them accountable, they simply denied my claim. I think they were angered that I dragged my commissioner into it, and so they tossed my application for my appeal in the trash and just said they never got it. Then they maliciously withheld every single dime of my disability check to include the only means of medical care I have to keep me alive.

The whole purpose of this administration is to help people who need help. I proved positively that I did all I was supposed to do and they just cannot admit they made the errors, even if it costs someone their life. These people are lazy and do not do their jobs and then make you pay for it with your life. I can't even find an attorney willing to sue them. The only attorneys are the ones who want to take the easy win, get you on disability, but no one is willing to make these scoundrels accountable for their careless and malicious behavior.

My complaint is that neither my father nor I ever made this 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 truly 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.

How many other elderly people who may be confused or do not have somebody to help them are wondering what happened to their money? Again, to me this seems like theft of Social Security money or at the very least taking advantage of the elderly. Somebody took it upon themselves 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 paperwork 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 person who is being affected. I would really prefer to use the phrase "being scammed", but I will wait until this is resolved.

I was also told by somebody in Social Security that all I need to do is call the bank, Comerica Bank, and they would cancel 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 father’s expenses are minimal so that he has nowhere to use a debit card that now has $2,670.00 on it.

You must get to the bottom of this and help me correct this mess. To withdraw the money from the debit card will cost him about $35.00 (for cash withdrawals), and why should he use his money for something that was done without his permission? I hope to hear from you soon, to see what information you have and to see how this can be prevented from happening to others in the future.

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 resources 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 benefits have been terminated in the end of 2007 and I have no medical or financial benefits or income. I did call the Social Security administration 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 I am trying to patiently resolve the matter.

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 hastily handed my paperwork to her co-worker to take over. I stepped over to the other teller and apologized sincerely and she also stated that I was very rude and had come at her co-worker swinging. At this point, she called 3 security guards 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.

We began to wait since there was only one counter person attending to the many people waiting. Finally, after an hour, our number was called and we were informed that they no longer issue SS Cards and we needed to go to the Jamaica location. We can't believe that we waited there for more than one hour for this answer when the security guard could have informed us as soon as we entered the facility. In addition, for the hour that we were there, there was only one person at the counter at which time we observed at least 12 people walking around doing nothing. Is this where our tax payer money is going? We would like a response as to why people are treated so poorly at a government facility and as to why we wasted an hour of our day and accomplished nothing.

i don't understand what takes so long to schedule a hearing, which i should have never been denied in the first place. i had spinal cord surgery, replaced 6 discs with metal spacers, and fused a metal plate over the 7 vertabrae. my left side is permanantly numb, i cannot sit, stand, or lay for more than 30 mins. i cannot work, i cannot think, i am in constant pain...all because 2 people choose to run red lights.

i am angry at that even with the congresswoman's help, i was still denied and she cannot even have my hearing moved up. the saga goes on and on but i will spare everyone. i just wanna vent and let anyone who cares know, that if you ever are injured, and need to rely on social security you better start now, so you get benefits by the time your 65!

I contacted Congressman John Peterson and his office was wonderful. They inquired into the situation and straightened it all out (or so I thought). No money was due for either child. Around the same time(1/08-2/08) they sent me 2 identical overpayment letters 2 weeks apart for December 2006. They incorectly had income recorded for me even though I didn't work. I had to go through the whole process of fighting them twice because of this.

During the next couple of months I received several letters with new amounts of back pay my son was owed. They were all different amounts. I could not understand why they could not figure this out unless this was just a stalling practice which I now believe it was. So far, as of today, July 16, 2008 my son still has not seen a dime of that 2nd installment.

In June 08 I informed them (the local office) my husband was laid off. Within 1 week I received another overpayment notice for my other son. All that was in the envelope was a letter. Nothing to show me where and how this could have happened when our income level has continued to drop. I contacted Congreessman John Peterson again. His office responded and said they are looking into this. That is where we stand now. I don't know if this local office is extremely incompetent or just seeking retaliation for reporting them to the Congressman. I need to know my rights and options. Please, if anyone can help, I would be so deeply grateful. Thank You.

I have Lyme Disease with severe complications. I take 11 medications on a daily basis and am currently awaiting for my SSDI hearing date. My health has continued to decline even though I am under the care of 3 doctors. I have already had 2 IV infusions at home since October 2006. My local Social Security Office is fully aware of my medical condition yet they continue to harass me. They are my number 1 cause of the tremendous stress I have been under since getting sick. For this reason, I am not only interested in getting my son's payments back on track but, I would also be seeking compensation for damages they inflicted directly on my health. If anyone can help, especially attorneys familiar with citizens rights. Please do not hesitate to contact me. Thanks so much.

The FEDS should have their own lending Departments instead of selling it to the private banks and lenders. The interest earned would fund additional needed monies and secure our current Social Security, Medicare, Education, and other voter approved programs. I still think that the Social Security Program is a failure under its current income and expense system. The Program must be funded by 5% Employer and Citizen contribution along with assets that increase in value and are backed by the American Home Owners, Business Owners and other Secure Assets. The FEDS should have seen that the Money received from our citizens should be used to fund our citizens needs.

Step back and think for a minute. You will see that Trillions can be earned from interest by tax paying citizens for Mortgage Loans and other Secured Asset Loans. All Local, State and Federal owned materials that are ready for recycle or disposal should be sent to Federal Recovery Plants. There they may be sold, traded, or used for Non Profit Orginizations. The rest would be recycled instead of tossed of in the ocean or landfills. This would create jobs, protect the earth and bring in additional income. Just a thought.

Went to soc. sec. office March 24 to correct their error. Still waiting for money to be put back.

I am working in USA for 20 years under my own name and own Social Security Number. I had paid my Social Security taxes, Medicare, Federal and State taxes. I also filled out my taxes every year since the first year to present.

A month ago I went to the SSA office to claim for my benefits but they refused to pay me my benefits because they said I am an undocumented allien. But 7 years ago my brother who is an american citizen claimed for me and now I am in the waiting list.

While I was paying my taxes my money was legal but now that I am claiming my benefits my money are illegal.

I want to know if anybody can help me to claim, to the Social Security Agency, my benefits.

Last February, my wife lost her part-time job at the Garner, Kohls store. In an effort to keep up with my bills, I called SSA and cancelled the Medicare Plan B account that I had had since April of 2000. I thought that I was still fully insured under the family covered GHI (Group Health Insurance) plan that I had enrolled in with my prior employer, The Brooklyn Union Gas Company in November of 1967. Premiums were still being taken out of my pension check.

Unfortunately, the GHI plan had been changed from full coverage for me, (but not for my wife) to a supplemental plan when I became sixty-five.

I should have known this.

I found out in May when my leg ulcer opened up again after being dormant for over twenty years, and Medicare refused to pay any of the approximately $7,000 in medical bills.

I contacted the SSA and admitted my egregious stupid mistake and I offered to pay the premiums that I had missed since my foolish Plan B cancellation provided that I could be re-instated in Plan B.

SSA refused. There was no explanation for the refusal. Mr. Dawkins, the office manager of the Smithfield branch did telephone me to inform me that the SSA has regulations.?

SSA insists that I can only enroll in Medicare Part B during January through March of 2008. Medicare Part B will not pay any bills until July of 2008.

My doctor has informed me that unless I have my leg amputated or broken and reset, the ulceration will spread and I run the risk of a fatal blood clot migrating from the wound.

I made an old mans senseless error. At least, I think that I should be reinstated in Medicare Part B at once so that I can have the potential life saving operation NOW.

I was able to change my Texas Driver's License, to obtain health insurance through my husband's employer, to file my income tax return, etc. with my new name, no problems.

HOWEVER - when I went to the SS office to get a new card with my new name on it, I was denied. I was told that despite the Social Security Act stating that the SSA recognizes a marriage as valid whenever the State of the applicant recognizes the same, that provision was only for benefits and that I could not get a card with my new name without a court order.

My husband and I are trying to adopt 2-3 children via the state foster care system. We have every other requirement met, even having been fingerprinted and checked by the FBI/NCIC. No problems with our marital status at all.

Now, because the SSA refuses to give me a new SS card, our being certified as a foster/adoptive family is in limbo and we are being forced to get a ceremonial marriage license and start from scratch in the marriage department even though we ARE LEGALLY MARRIED to each other already.

Did not receive check, 12/6/05 wrote letter to Social Security Administration on line. No response.

12/13/called office above no check, they didn't like me attitude and hung up on me. 12/6/05 Called Mrs. Borjohn,not mailed in November wait until 12/16/05 and then call Mrs. Cant.

replaced with incorrect ZIP codes.

This bug has been present for at least five years and has caused the
social security cards for three of my children to be lost in the

mail after their births.

The first two times this happened to me, the SSA resent a duplicate
card when I contacted them and complained that the original had never

arrived.

investigate why the original card never arrived.

investigate, and the bug was exposed.

The SSA refuses to admit that the behavior of their software is a bug,
despite the fact that any competent software engineer familiar with
address-canonicalization technology would understand immediately that

it is after being given a test case illustrating it.

The SSA refuses to issue a duplicate card for my youngest child unless
I file a form SS-5, which requires that I either (a) send original,
personal identification documents through the mail, which I am
unwilling to do because of concerns about identity theft and document
loss, or (b) submit the form SS-5 in person at one of their offices,
which I am unwilling to do because I think it's entirely unreasonable

for me to have to miss work to correct the SSA's error.

This cancelation is documented and AARP is pending the credit to my card. To date I have not received a credit from the Company. I have written several letters to both AARP and Security Providers. Yesterday I received a phone call form Thomas Peart and he informed me that the bank they had been doing business with has closed and it will take awhile before receiving credit. AARP will only hold the temporary credit until this month. I was told back in October that it would take two billing cycles, and now I am being told the bank went under back in October. I have letter documenting all my phone conversations. I have now asked my niece to help me because I recently lost my husband and can't deal with the added stress. Please tell me what I should do now.

Edith should the New Jersey Attorney General's office. A similar scam goes under the name R&R; Consultants.