Social Security Claws Back Money, Leaving Recipients Baffled - AMAC & ABCnews.com
In this long, comprehensive piece, authors David Hilzenrath and Jodie Fleischer explain how the Social Security Administration (SSA) can overpay recipients followed by the long, complex process that ensues thereafter. The SSA is trying to reclaim billions of dollars from many of the nation’s poorest and most vulnerable — payments it sent them but now says they never should have received. The SSA handles more than retirement benefits. Most overpayments occur in the Supplemental Security Income and Disability programs. With low staffing, complicated rules, and changing life situations when it comes to income, mistakes appear more common than they ought to be. The authors explain how recipients can negotiate a payback scheme with the SSA if they were paid too much in benefits. Full piece here.