A WOMAN was left in financial horror as the Social Security Administration (SSA) clawed back $17,000 in mistaken overpayments.
The SSA failed to recognise the fact that she was 10 years old at the time the money was taken out, and it was done so by her father.
A woman was left in financial horror as the Social Security Administration (SSA) clawed back $17,000 in mistaken overpayments[/caption]
On social media, a creator called Brianna Kree, shared her story of a $17,000 overpyaent debt she wrongfully incurred on behalf of her father.
Brianna’s father took out the money for disability benefits in the 1990s, but decades later, the SSA has decided he wasn’t eligible to receive that money and that he was overpaid.
The SSA then passed on that debt to Brianna, as well as another load of $17,000 to her sister to recover the money quicker.
The administration demanded to know how much Brianna makes to prove she couldn’t afford the debt.
The SSA also asked the same question of her husband, along with her 21-year-old and 18-year-old kids.
Desperate, Brianna turned to the internet to find out what she should do.
Another TikTok video shared a similar story, and Brianna was urged to contact her local member of Congress.
Brianna then reached out to Lucy McBath in Georgia, and Brianna said she immediately felt “so safe” in her video.
MOUNTING PRESSURE
The parent happily shared that McBath and her team were very helpful and offered to reach out to the SSA on her behalf.
McBath’s team also regularly checked in with Brianna to make sure she was ok.
But then the SSA asked to see Brianna in person to prove that she couldn’t afford the $17,000.
This is despite her having already sent the 14-page paperwork she was asked to fill in to prove this already.
Brianna shared that once McBath and her team did reach out to the SSA, it backed off and gave the debt back to Brianna’s father, with whom she has no relationship currently.
But Brianna did reveal that her sister hasn’t been so fortunate, and is still fighting the $17,000 in debt she was hit with.
HOW TO SUPPLEMENT YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY
Here’s how to supplement your Social Security:
Given the uncertainty surrounding Social Security’s long-term future, it’s essential for workers to consider ways to supplement their retirement income.
Senior Citizens League executive director, Shannon Benton recommends starting early with savings and investing in retirement accounts like 401(k)s or IRAs.
- 401(k) Plans
- A 401(k) is a retirement account offered through employers, where contributions are tax-deferred.
- Many employers also match employee contributions, typically between 2% and 4% of salary, making it a valuable tool for building retirement savings.
- Maxing out your 401(k) contributions, especially if your employer offers a match, should be a priority.
- IRAs
- An Individual Retirement Account (IRA) offers another avenue for retirement savings.
- Unlike a 401(k), an IRA isn’t tied to your employer, giving you more flexibility in your investment choices.
- Contributions to traditional IRAs are tax-deductible, and the funds grow tax-free until they are withdrawn, at which point they are taxed as income.
The sister has reached out to her local member of Congress to ask for the same support Brianna did.
ANGER IN THE COMMENTS
In the comments, people were shocked at what Brianna had to go through and shared their own stories of this happening to them.
One person wrote: “They did this to me when I turned 18.
“I was heated. I had to submit everything just like you. So glad it was resolved!”
Another chimed in: “Even if you could afford to pay it, YOU SHOULDN’T!!! That’s so crazy .”
And a third said: “They wanted to know how much the kids make though!?
“Were they expecting the kids to contribute to the debt.. That’s a messed up system.”
