Baltimore, Maryland – A Social Security user in Maryland found herself dealing with a frustrating situation after an overpayment error on her deceased brother’s account began impacting her own retirement benefits. Everlon Moulton, a senior resident of Maryland, shared the ordeal she faced due to an old mistake by the Social Security Administration. Following the error, the administration started deducting $233 monthly from Moulton’s payments, causing a significant financial strain.
The issue arose when Moulton’s brother passed away in 2006, but a law passed by Congress allowed the SSA to collect overpayments from the deceased’s benefits, leading to Moulton’s current predicament. Despite the overpayment of $6,899 being made to her brother, Moulton was the one bearing the financial burden. This unexpected revelation came to light for Moulton in November last year when she received a letter notifying her of the error made by the Social Security Administration.
Taking on the responsibility of managing her brother’s finances before his passing, Moulton found herself entangled in a situation where her own benefits were now being tapped into due to the overpayment. The law that Congress passed enabled the administration to retrieve Supplemental Security Income overpayments by withholding funds from the representative payee’s Social Security benefits. As a result, Moulton was facing a deduction of $233 each month until the full overpayment amount was recovered.
Despite her efforts to appeal the decision and seek a reconsideration, Moulton found herself embroiled in a bureaucratic process that left her frustrated and struggling financially. She emphasized that the money deducted was rightfully hers, earned through years of work in Baltimore City Schools. Despite attending hearings and reaching out to the administration, Moulton emphasized the unfairness of the situation and urged the SSA to reconsider their actions.
As Moulton navigated through the complexities of the overpayment issue, she advised other Social Security recipients to stay vigilant and double-check their payments for any discrepancies or errors. With reports of other users facing similar overpayment challenges, the need for increased awareness and proactive measures in dealing with such issues became apparent. The anecdotal experiences shared by recipients highlight the challenges faced by individuals navigating the Social Security system, emphasizing the importance of timely and thorough communication to resolve discrepancies effectively.