One retiree was shocked to learn he was obligated to repay his mother’s debt to the Social Security Administration dating back to 1978.
Jimmy Byrd, of Arlington, Texas, received a letter from the SSA last September asking him to pay $1,400 for overpaying his mother.
Byrd’s mother, who died in 2011, received Social Security benefits 45 years before the letter arrived.
“They said they owed me $1,434,” the 62-year-old told the Fox News affiliate. KDFW.
“I read the documents here and found that they date from January to June 1978.
“I was only 17 in 1978. It was not money I had ever seen.”
Read more about overpayments
Byrd’s father died when he was young, so his mother received Social Security benefits on his behalf while Byrd was a minor.
“If we do not receive a refund within 30 days, we will recover the overpayment by withholding the full benefit from the payment that would normally be received on or about November 15, 2023,” the letter from SSA said. Are listed.
“We will continue to withhold benefits until the overpayment is fully recovered.”
Bird appealed directly to her local social security board for payment, but two weeks later she was informed by letter that her appeal had been denied.
“If you can show me a check from 1978 with my name and signature on it, I will be happy to refund your money,” he told the Social Security Commission.
After learning that Mr. Bride’s appeal had been rejected, he again appeared before the board in person.
“The gentleman behind the counter looked at me and said, ‘You know what, that’s what it is,'” he told KDFW.
To end the troubling period, Byrd agreed to let the SSA deduct $100 a month from his $1,800 Social Security check for the next 14 months.
“There’s groceries over there!” he yelled.
“There is something wrong with the system and I am worried that other people will also receive letters like this.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if some people might have a heart attack over this.
“Please stop. Please stop here because this is not right. I almost feel like you owe me an apology,” he told SSA.
This was announced by a government spokesperson. news They argued that he was responsible because his mother was ineligible for benefits because he was working at the time of the payments.
Viewers expressed their shock at this story, calling it “disgusting.”
“Why should you refund your money if it doesn’t have your name on it? Unrealistic,” one person wrote in the comments.
“This is awful,” added another.
A third man said: “It’s a mess. It’s ridiculous.”
The US Sun has reached out to the SSA for comment.
