Among Friends

[hyacinth003]

My husband retired early in 2015.  He has been receving Social Security since then.

He got a letter in July, 2016 stating that he had made too much money in 2015.  That meant they sent us a bill for $12,000 and said they would cut his benefits in half.  They enclosed a bill and said to contact them if we couldn't pay it all at once!

To say we were stunned is an understatement!  They were the ones who calculated benefits, and we didn't question it. 

As part of the several pages included with this, it said that certain income was exempt from being counted as income.  It said if any of this applied, to contact them.  It is the epitome of "guilty until proven not guilty."  After a lot of calling and explaining, we obtained his records from his employer that broke down his income from 2015.  He only worked 2 weeks, and the rest was bonus and paid vacation time.  Turns out, this is income that is exempt from Social Security figures.

He goes down to the Social Security office.  He brings all the documents we spent 3 weeks getting.  Lady there says this is fine, it is exempt income.  Should be no problem to fix.  We thought we were DONE.  NOPE.  We get a letter Friday with all kinds of forms for his FORMER EMPLOYER to now fill out.  Even though he presented the documents from them.  They returned the documents with more paperwork for WHO KNOWS WHO to fill out.  After more than a month, they will probably start withholding money.

This is so frustrating.  We didn't even do anything wrong.

Hyacinth

[DottieBlue]

HOW AWFUL and sooooo frustrating!!!  I'd be so angry you'd be able to see the steam coming out my ears!

I sure hope you can get this straightened out soon.  I guess you just have to hang in there and keep at them until they finally get it right.

Good luck! 

[jannabelle1]

How maddening and frustrating.....another example of our too-big federal government. Did you get anything from the person you dealt with in the SSA office? I might consider going back to that office again to find out why their initial determination wasn't considered correctly. At some point you might also consider contacting your senator or representative. You're right about being considered guilty until you can prove you're not guilty. Good luck to you and your husband.

[itsmagic]

I sympathize with you!  I had a situation happen once where the IRS sent me a letter that we owed taxes on a health savings account withdrawal held at an out of town bank. We've never in our life had a health savings account and never banked at the named bank.  Yet it was my responsibility to get it all straightened up.  So I understand how frustrating it is especially when you didn't do anything wrong. 

[Mom2Dogs]

@hyacinth003.....I would be calling my state representative in the morning....they should assist you in clearing this up....it is ridiculous!

[luv-the-Q]

@Wayne-QVC Sorry, Wayne.  I knew it was wrong, but I couldn't help myself.  🙊

[3suwm5]

Last I checked, SSA is a government entity - enough said.

[patbz]

When I retired 9 years ago the identical thing happened to me (I was paid $25000 for accrued leave).  I emailed my Congressman and that expedited the solution.

[Imadickens]

I'm sorry you are having to deal with this! It can be maddening! My advice is to get a Social Security lawyer. It is too much to figure out and I think they make it hard deliberately so we don't argue! When my mother was dieing they put me through the ringer getting her nursing home paid and proving that tho she lived with us she had no ownership in our house! Time making me crazy was taken from time I could have spent with my mom during her last few weeks! If she had been all alone I don't know what she would have done! I wish you luck proceeding through this!