The United States Social Security Administration
reviews and complaints

THIS IS AN ATTEMPT TO HELP IMPROVE CUSTOMER SERVICE FOR US CITIZENS.

I recently got the decision from SSA that I was approved for benefits and should receive them in my bank account around August 13th, 2023. With this in mind, on Monday, August 7th, I went into my local office at Rock Hill SC and gave my banking information directly from my checkbook. Well, by August 15th, I went to my bank looking for the deposit, it had not arrived.

So, immediately, I go back to the local SSA office, on August 15th, I spoke to the Teller in the pod - D. Explained my problem, and He proceeded to tell me that my benefits had been sent out twice. (without any notification via email) I would've loved to have been contacted when my benefits had to be returned the 1st time but it turned out the teller who took the info from my check failed to enter all the account digits. After running back and forth from the local office to the bank my bank told me where the problem was. And when I went to correct the information, naturally, I wanted to confrm. But the teller refused.

December 30th 2022

We received a monthly statement from his new insurance charging LEP for Part D so we drove down to the SSA office at 17925 SE Division St Portland, OR 97236. We found out that he has been paying LEP for Part B.

The gentleman assisting us said he needed to bring in a proof that he was covered and write a letter explaining the situation.

I contacted Providence Choice which is who he had coverage with through his ex wife’s employer. They said we would receive it within 7 business days.

January 11th 2023

Contacted Andrew from Providence Insurance because the letter didn’t go back far enough. He said they can only go back 24 months in their system but was willing to explain that to SSA. We did a conference call with SSA and spoke with Techoma. He emailed documents that needed to be filled out and faxed to [protected]. Told us to check back in a week to make sure they received the fax.

CONTINUE REFER TO E-MAIL

January 18th 2023

Contacted SSA by phone and was hung up on when I asked to speak with a supervisor.

January 19th 2023

Went down to the same SSA office and showed them a recent verification letter for January and pointed out how much getting taken out is incorrect. He said there is nothing they can do so we requested to speak with the supervisor. When I tried explaining the situation to him he was rude to me. He didn’t want to talk to me. He told me to go sit down. My husband defended me and said my wife does not need to go sit down and said that he needed me there. Whenever I tried to explain something he just blew me off. I decided to go to the car hoping he would help my husband.

After I went to the car my husband said that he told him to file a reconsideration and to use the exact wording and wrote it on a post it note.

January 20th 2023

We submitted the forms online.

February 2nd 2023

Didn’t hear back from anyone so we went online on SSA site and commented on the situation and asked for someone to contact me but never heard from anyone.

We provided proof of coverage through 7/31/2017. He qualifies for the SEP Period which allows 8 months gap for people who were covered under their spouse employer. He signed up for part B with Kaiser before the 8 month period. Therefore he should not have LEP and we would like to be reimbursed for the periods he has been charged.

March 23, 2023

Filed discrimination complaint

I have 2 issues that I am dealing with.

1. Prior to September 2022 we received a letter asking for information on any pensions I was receiving. I sent the application back, advising that I wasn't receiving a pension. September 29 2022 I received a letter advising me that they hadn't received my application and that my benefits were being reduced. After speaking to someone on the phone I went into the office and filled out an appeal and put it in the drop box, per the rep in the office, to be mailed out. I have called multiple times and I am advised all they can do is send over a message for someone to call me back. The rep did confirm they received the appeal I've received no call and no update.

2. In November I received a medicare care, which I didn't sign up for. When I spoke to Social security I was advised to fill out the form with the card and send it back and medicare part b would be removed. I sent it back, this time with return receipt requested, but I am still being charged for part b and still haven't received a new card that I am only on part a. I've spoken to a rep and was advised they received the request.

I received a letter stating:

We need updated information about your work to make sure that we pay you the right amount of Social Security benefits. Earlier, you told us that your earnings this year would be $44,000. We want to review your estimate since your plans may have changed, We also need to know about about your plans your plans for 2023,

As soon as I got this letter I called. Waited for a long while. I explained to the lady that when I was asked what I expected to make in 2022, I did not know how to respond. Initially I thought they wanted to know much I made yearly as a teacher, I responded $44,000. Then I told her if they were going by my 2022 school payment for the five months I worked before retirement it would be $20,000. Social Security paid around $14,000. I did not work anywhere after I started retirement.

She said she understood and it would be corrected and if I didn't receive a letter to call back. I didn't receive a letter so I called back and was told the same, I had to call back in December and this time was told it was to late to do anything about it. They went ahead and withheld $1950 and are planning to withhold a total of over $10,000. I will have to put a lien on my Condo to get me by until I can start getting benefits again. Pay the loan with interest.

I taught school all my adult life for very small salaries and this is how I am rewarded. It really is terrible to go through this.

Cecil Gainey, 1100 Possum Trot, F216, North Myrtle Beach, S.C., 29582

This is a comment about an SSA worker and I hope I'm in the right place to file this. I had received a notice from SSI that my monthly payment was going to be reduced because I was over the 2k limit monthly. To be honest I wasn't even vaguely aware of this situation. My basic monthly income now is $948 total including SS, SSI and State (which is a small amount of $87).

But the notice said the agency had overpaid me from May '21 to May '22 and they were going to deduct $84 and change each month till total sum of $3,688 was reached which is what they said I owed back to them.

I was astounded by this news. It's not that I'm an imbecile but I'm not living high class either. Firstly, I'm a senior of 78 years and somewhat mobility impaired. My hearing is degraded. So getting around is poor. I have to speak quite loudly on the phone to hear myself at all.

In any case, I called SSI to get some info regarding this situation. It was an interminable wait to get an agent on the line. Finally a woman connected. I tried to explain about the letter I'd just received. She interrupted and in a very strong aggressive voice told me to "stop yelling" at her. I tried to explain that I had hearing issues and was not yelling at her. She repeated the command.

She barely listened. What began as a stiff lipped lecture progressed to a nasty accusatory harangue as if I were deliberately trying to cheat the SSA out of funds. When I said I had a phone interview on Nov. 2nd with an SSI rep, she read the files. Apparently she had the same summary I received after the interview.

She began again, getting ever more strong in her accusations, ever nastier in her tone of voice and ever more aggressive and belligerent in her overall attitude till I was basically overwhelmed and began to stutter, something I do only when I'm completely upset and overwhelmed.

This didn't change her approach. If anything she seemed to take pleasure in my reaction and you could almost detect a smile in her approach. She had beaten me down to a pulp if that was her aim!

It is inexcusable and unforgivable (!) that reps from the SSA are permitted to deal with people who call them for help, are permitted to treat those people so abominably. It's almost as if they are encouraged to take this horrendous approach by their superiors. Something I find hard to believe even if it were true. It's just an unforgivable way to deal with people, many of whom are disabled or impaired in some way and would much rather be working legitimately for a living rather than grovelling in this manner!

I am infuriated and appalled that a person of such a flagrant lack of decency and some humane understanding is not only permitted to man the phones in this way but apparently almost encouraged (!) to react in such an unforgivable manner!

I don't know who to contact about this. Or how to suggest that a retraining course be scheduled for any SSI person who treats a caller this way. People don't call to give them a hard time. We call for help, not to be beaten down, belittled, or treated like scum. People who call would undoubtedly wish to change their circumstances if they could.

When I got of the phone with her, I was practically in tears. Her parting attitude was one of a victor lauding it over a victim and this could be heard in her voice and the horrendous sound of a "snicker"(!) just before she said goodbye. Shame, shame, shame on the government for allowing people like this to represent it. Truly shameful!

My name is Giosepina Diiorio May 21,1970 my daughter is Izabella Diiorio April 27,2008 was born with Down Syndrome, we live in NEW YORK STATE, since she has been on the system in getting her SSI ever month, I fax over my pay stubs as I am supposed to do, from the beginning is has always been an issue.

I am told now this year that they have not been getting my pay stubs which I find very hard to believe because I have been faxing them over every month.

I went down to the social security office in Mineola, NY and handed them a copy of my pay stubs, they asked for November 2021 through present year (2022) I received a letter and again they made yet another huge mistake.

Can you please tell me why my daughter who was born with down syndrome born in the greatest county in the world, born in New York State has to go through this.

She never asked to be born with Down Syndrome she was born here and zi don't understand why.

Please please help

warmest regrads.

Giosepina Diiorio

giosepina. [protected]@yahoo.com

[protected]

I went to Social Security office today to talk about Medicare. My number was call (D-195) and I report to window 17. This woman jump front of me an told the clerk that she had a doctor appointment can you see me now, with no acknowledgment of me proceeded with this woman request. At the same time this security guard not ask me but told me to sit here on the bench even after I told him what happen, I should have been acknowledge that I was next in line and she had to wait her turn as everyone else or ask me is it ok to handle her request first that is more appreciated. There are things that I had to do that were very important, like going to my doctor appointment. This is disrespectful at the highest level. The clerk must be train better including the security guard that never understand the situation after being told what had happen. This kind of behavioral cannot be tolerated especially at this level of organization (The Government). I will never stand for this, I am somebody.

I have been helping my mother in law since the first week in May to get her deceased spouse benefits. We did the application over the phone the first week in May with Ali at the Glendale office. We then went in person on 5/12 and dropped all required paperwork that she needed to get the claim filed. Today is 10/31 and the application is still pending. We have spent so many hours on the phone, on hold and still you have not got her claim filed. We didnt know until later in august that Ali had not done a claim with the RRB before, then she should have had someone that had worked with RRB before help or take over. We have been calling RRB and getting a different story from them and then we call Soc Sec back and you say it is RRB. My mother in law is 92 years old her spouse has passed away and she has been worrying about this for 6 months now, there is really no excuse for this. We want to get her signed up for more programs to help her but we cannot do anything until the survivor benefits are done, there is no excuse that she should be going through this weather she is 92 or not! I know you are busy but seriously how difficult is it. I know you were asking for forms and different items that we were told by RRB that they were done or it was the wrong form. We shouldn't have even been having to call them constantly and send them stuff when it was what they needed from soc security all along. We have left message for a supervisor to call but no one ever did or the other 2 employees that we were told would. We are not seeing in light at the end of the tunnel.

My daughter's birth name is Sabrina Flores. My eldest daughter researched and found out that her last name has been changed to Sass and that she is living in Round Rock, Texas. She was wrongfully adopted at the age of two and I don't understand why the adoptive mother's are receiving her benefits. I confirmed this last week. If they are so appropriate and able, why do they need to collect

Sabrina's benefits. This is very troubling to me. Hopefully something can be done, so that the benefits can be saved for Sabrina's ultimate use.

Sincerely,

Stephanie Flores-Sneed, MS

SSA computer keeps adding my 2021 income to my 2022 income, I only worked 1 week this year. Computer say's $34,275, but w-2 said $30,189.54. The computer was re-set at least twice. After more than 20 phone calls, the computer shows I owe 0, but at least 4 payments are on high promo. I requested 6 supervisor call backs and waited by the phone, I think I got one. I was told I would be set up with a manager to manager with the processing center in Richmond CA. This did not work either. Sept 2021 I paid $10,403. in fines being a senior citizen handicapped veteran. I requested a reduction, ever see a, "WE don't care about you!" in a form letter. My doctors diagnoses didn't mean nothing to them. I was suppose to drag my broke back, weak heart, long covid side effects out the house to regular doctor appointments. I am in pain. With what money, they have it all. Even my military approved disabilities were denied by SSA. Looks like I will be homeless, with pain all over my body.

I went to the SSA office in Fort Myers last week to get my account password reset. I was discriminated against when I tried to enter the office. The security guards would not accept my exemption for wearing a medical device over my only 2 breathing holes and I was not allowed to enter to a building that I, as a US tax payer have every right to enter.

What accommodations, as required by law, are you going to offer me to have access without discrimination?

Ian

Needing to talk to a different representative about my issue. I need help figuring out where the copy of my case file is because I paid for it but I haven't received it. I talked to Dawson and we verified the money order was paid.

I requested to that representative and I don't want to talk to that representative and want to a different representative to resolve my issue. But Dawson keeps calling me and coming across as rude saying to call by the end of the day be great.

I'm disabled and take medicines and I'm very sleepy

I really need a different representative because I will get mad and angry if I talk with the Dawson representative that I don't want to talk with.

8/30/2022 8:30a-9:20a

I am a payee representative/parent for my 3 autistic children who receive SSI Disability benefits. When Covid hit and the govt shut down, we kept getting the same SSI payment during the shut-down despite reported and verified wages. I had an income review once things opened back up and they said everything was good and to keep reporting wages. So I did. I began receiving notices of overpayment shortly after and my boys are getting less and less each month since. I filed a dispute and it basically got dismissed still claiming an overpayment of 4000 or so dollars. Our income was reported and verified so how did we get an overpayment? It wasn't our mistake it was yours, I have every letter to show this. Also, we moved the end of May and I still can't update our current address. The phone says all offices are closed, 9:30 am on a Wednesday. I call once a month to try to get through and receive the same response! I work full time and I went to the office one day and the system was down. What else am I supposed to do?

After calling [protected] and waiting for what seem like forever, I hung up and called the local office OGDEN Utah [protected], and after waiting on the phone I kept being prompt to press 1 if I wanted to continue holding. Every few minutes I had to keep pressing 1 to keep holding.

Never got to speak to representative. The SSA demonstrated no service just a stone wall.

Ms. Clara Jolicouar social security monthly funds have been cut by $300.00, she would like to know why this happened and why she wasn't informed by mail before this happened. And can the money be repaid?

I am the rep payee for my daughter during the start of the pandemic I was told by her case manager that she would be taking care of the reporting of child support through her contact person at the Idaho department of child support. A while after during the reconsideration determination I was notified of a huge overpayment of the SSI I contacted the local child support office and asked to speak with the individual that was reporting to the case manager at ssa I found out that child support has and has not had a individual that reports to the SSA. I then started receiving notices in the mail in regard to the overpayment each letter stated a different amount I then started reaching out to the local office to find out what is going on. I was only met with rude and threating comments about the case manager was going to withhold the full ssi payment every month until the over payment was paid back. I contacted the local office and spoke with a supervisor and asked for a new case manager due to all the issues I was having with the case manager I was denied this request based on I like her, and I feel she does a good job. I explained all the issues I am having with this case manager and her refusal to speak with me or return any phone calls. I got a letter on June 24,2022 and it states that the ssa is stopping the payment to collect the overpayment of 2,873.11 I phoned the local office to speak with the case manager and again the case manager refused to get on the line and speak with me so I called later in the day and asked to speak with the supervisor and got told the supervisor could not speak with me. I would get a call back I explained to the lady that answered the phone that by law ssa could only keep ten percent of a overpayment collection not the full benefit amount I also had other questions I was trying to ask and get answers for and was only told "I don't know" I requested that I get a copy of the law that stated the ssa could keep a full benefit payment amount for a overpayment and was told"Im not sure I can do that but I was told to tell you we can keep the full benefit amount." I know that by law and the ssa rules that it is allowable to only collect ten percent and the individual still is to receive the rest of his or her benefit. With holding the full amount is depriving my daughter her right to thrive and met her financial obligation and every overpayment I received had a different amount on it so I am unsure how much and really if this case manager knows the exact amount also it deprives my daughter the right to meet her financial obligations and the right to a new case manager if she feels mis treated by her current case manager. I as rep payee have tried to resolve this issue and have only been meet with threating comments and individuals who don't know and phone calls that are never returned... This kind of treatment causes nothing more than stress and frustration as well as feeling that the rights of an individual with a disability to choose has been taken away by the ssa. This is unacceptable the local office has to follow the rules and laws just as someone receiving disability just because they work at that level they cannot and should not be making and writing their own rules and applying to individuals that they feel cannot advocate for them self's.

My name is maria garcia

s.S. #[protected]

date of birth 10-02-1966

alien no. A021-773-351

drivers lic. G620-[protected]

i have been disable since july 9 2021, i was shelter at camillus house shelter there is where i applied for disability because of an anal cancer. I was given a homeland cd with the credencial of my immigration file and prove of legal alien status. I was denied to received the monthly check acorinding to there explanations i did not have a fl id. But i have quetioned there procedure du to the fact that i was granted a medicad sunshine health insurance. And all my medical bills have been paid. At reach this socioal security office that is near me (1555 nw7 ave) i felt fusturated. I don't know if you could be of help but i would like for you to open a complaint. Perhaps i could see my income be better. I believe someone with the local office is cashing my check from what i have gather but is not suffient evidance is camillus health clinic nurses with a woman named daisy morales.

On March 22, 2022 my husband retired and we both applied for Medicare B as our group insurance coverage ended on that date (I had retired earlier and was covered on his group insurance until his retirement). Forms were sent in with an effective date of 4/1/2022. My husband's Medicare B issued quickly, mine did not. I resubmitted, and then realized I was missing the Employment Verification Form CMS-408 for the dates I carried my own group insurance. Was never informed of the needed form, I figured it out on my own. Resubmitted all materials on 5/18/2022. Did not hear back. Called on 5/23 and was told application was in "payment processing" and would be another 45-60 days. Was told it would be backdated to 4/1/2022. Was also told it would be dated as of issue date. Also learned that both my husband and I (despite all the pertinent information on our applications regarding the termination date of our group insurance) are listed as "Working Elderly" with Medicare secondary to our former group coverage. So at this time I am paying out of pocket for medical bills.