PECULIAR, Mo. (KCTV/CNN/CNN Newsource/WKRC) - An elderly man is facing homelessness after Social Security ordered him to repay over $60,000.

  • athos77
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    817 months ago

    More than 65 million Americans receive benefits from Social Security, but about a million each year get notification letters saying they were overpaid.

    That’s way too high a percentage.

  • @QuarterSwede
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    807 months ago

    Apparently this isn’t uncommon. There should be a statute of limitations on how long they can request repayment back for their mistake, 6 mo max or something like that. That way you aren’t having to pay back decades of their fault.

    • @CompostMaterial
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      707 months ago

      I would argue that if the government makes a mistake then it is on them to own the problem, not the citizens. I might make an exception for a partially large mistake, but presumably most people would report if they suddenly received a million dollars in their social security check so I doubt it would be that big of an issue. Any smaller mistakes should be a write off.

      • @[email protected]
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        137 months ago

        I see a million pop up on me in social security I’m moving it to another bank, converting it to crypto hopping a plane to Ghana or some shit, buying up like $850,000 in silver, and enjoying the rest of my life.

      • @QuarterSwede
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        -17 months ago

        Banks make mistakes and this is generally how it works. Most people will not give 1M back. Statues make it fair.

        • @cephus
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          187 months ago

          That is most certainly not how it works. If a bank accidentally gives you a million dollars it’s best to inform them and give it back in whatever process they determine. They will not just write it off. They will figure it out eventually.

          • @j4k3
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            257 months ago

            Rando gets an extra zero is one thing. Getting disability is nearly impossible. I wasted years trying, they gave me a lump sum and then denied the ongoing claim. I’ve spent 80% of every day in bed for 10 years. When my folks die, I will buy a bullet with whatever is left in the bank. Disability doesn’t pay close to minimum wage and no one is living off of minimum wage. Anything given to people in this circumstance should be written off. Anyone in my situation should be buying a second bullet for the assholes coming after people like this. I was just riding a bicycle to work when I got hit. I rode to help save money for my daughter. Providing less than it takes to survive in a country with over 750 criminal billionaires is just as bad as the Nazis sending the disabled to gas chambers. The misery is just strewn out longer in one case.

            • @cephus
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              57 months ago

              Ahh sorry, I misunderstood you.

    • @LemmyKnowsBest
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      7 months ago

      This happened to my mom while she was terminally dying in a nursing home paralyzed in a wheelchair, yep the government just stopped giving her social security benefits and started garnishing everything. “oH SoRRy wE oVeRpAiD yOu, wE’rE tAkiNg iT aLL bAcK nOw.” She lived like 10 more years after that. absolute hell.

    • @crashoverride
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      47 months ago

      No, no repayment, if someone errors in your favor, they are at fault, not you. They must bear that repayment burden

      • @QuarterSwede
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        17 months ago

        While that would be ideal it’s also unrealistic. Banks don’t even operate that way because people make mistakes. A statute of limitations is fair to all.

    • Certified Asshole
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      37 months ago

      It should be gradual decided by the sum of payments: if you own more, you have a longer term.

  • @saltesc
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    397 months ago

    So the literal opposite of social security.

    • @SalamendaciousOP
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      207 months ago

      Literally. I feel like if the government made the mistake then they should bite the bullet.

  • @alienanimals
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    137 months ago

    Huge banks and institutions that “accidentally” give people too much money are entirely at fault in these situations. They should be held liable, not the poor person who is on the brink of homelessness.

  • FlavoredButtHair
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    7 months ago

    This is the type of stuff we need a gofundme for. Hopefully he can get a good lawyer.

    • @SalamendaciousOP
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      77 months ago

      Okay… so your username. Is that referring to an additive that tastes like butt hair? Or is it something to make your butt hair more palatable? Either way I’m willing to bet there’s a market out there somewhere for your product.

          • @ohlaph
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            17 months ago

            Buttering both sides of the bread I see.

      • FlavoredButtHair
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        17 months ago

        Some people have asked me what flavor is my butt hair, whatever flavor you want it to be lol.

        One of my Call of Duty teammates named herself KrustyButtHair. So I changed to FlavoredButtHair. The rest of the clan didn’t follow through with other butt hair names.