Social Security Horror Stories Come to Light: ‘This Is So Cruel’

Social Security beneficiaries who were asked to pay back thousands of dollars due to overpayments talked about being scared of losing their homes as they were unable to gather the sums requested by the Social Security Administration (SSA), CBS News reported.

The SSA sparked outrage after a recent investigation found it had asked for billions of dollars back from beneficiaries, including some of the most vulnerable people in the country—those on low incomes, retirees and disabled people.

According to the federal agency, these beneficiaries were not entitled to receive the money that had been sent—and likely spent—, often due to SSA’s own procedural mistakes.

Data from the SSA’s inspector general, shared by news companies, shows that the agency received a total of $4.7 billion in overpayments in the 2022 fiscal year, while $21.6 billion remains outstanding.

SSA benefits are paid based on earnings records for people aged 62 or older or those with a disability who have enough work credits. For many people who are unable to work or are retired, payments form the bulk of their income. The agency normally claims back this money by reducing or stopping monthly benefit payments, intercepting federal tax refunds, or seizing wages.

Many have spoken to Newsweek about being scared of “losing everything” due to recent overpayment demands. Now, more stories of struggling Social Security beneficiaries are coming through.

Talking on the news channel’s 60 Minutes Overtime, the family of a former Social Security beneficiary with cerebral palsy, Roy Farmer, said they were asked to repay several thousand dollars because of overpayments.

When Farmer was still a child, the SSA ruled that he was no longer eligible to receive benefits. In the years that followed, his family continued to receive checks from the agency as they appealed the decision—money that the agency now wants back as the appeal was denied. Farmer was told he owes $4,902.

A 73-year-old Virginia retiree, Jean Rodriguez, was told she owed $72,000 in overpayments after the SSA calculated her benefits based on her salary. While the agency has been taking back the money, Rodriguez has not received a check in two years, she told CBS.

A couple from Chicago, Steven and Becky Sword—who are both currently at low-income jobs—were told they had to repay $51,887 in overpayments in 30 days.

The news of the three case has caused anger among many members of the public, with journalist Yashar Ali calling the SSA’s requests for overpayment “cruel.”

“This is so cruel. A Chicago couple was stunned to learn they owed Social Security $51,887 and were expected to pay it back in 30 days. The reason? Social Security mistakenly overpaid them,” he wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.

“What a nightmare! For SS to ask for the money in 30 days even when they didn’t get it in a lump sum is cruel,” another user commented. “Especially considering it was the agency’s fault. I hope they get help, now that the media is covering this.”

Many others said they had the same experience, or knew someone who did. Some said the SSA should not ask for money back when it was their mistake in the first place.

Newsweek contacted the SSA for comment by email on Monday.

After 60 Minutes published their stories, the three households who were previously denied a waiver on their debts were told they would not have to pay the money back.