GREENVILLE, Mich. — "It's not appropriate for an individual just you know, working every day, and doing their stuff, and then retiring, and then finding out you know, you've got to this huge responsibility that you never thought would ever come your way," said Phyllis Calkins, almost three months after her husband's social security overpayment was resolved.
In 2022, Dan and Phyllis Calkins received a latter and a call from Social Security saying that Dan was overpaid $37,556 dollars between June of 2018 and June of 2022.
"I had a little bit of a meltdown," said Phyllis.
She said the administration wanted the money paid back within 30-60 days.
After their initial file for reconsideration was dismissed, the Calkins had set up meetings with Social Security, and after their second meeting, they were told that they would not need to pay.
Phyllis said at the second meeting, their agent told her and her husband, "I'm making sure that you don't have to pay this money, and everything is all set."
She said the agent explained to them the overpayment would be dismissed due to "equity and good conscience," and also due to their mortgage being partially determined by the income given to them by SSA.
13 ON YOUR SIDE has reported on other Social Security recipients being told they owed tens of thousands of dollars.
Now, Senators Gary Peters and Debbie Stabenow are urging the SSA to address mistaken overpayments, saying in a press release that "Recent reporting has shown an increase in the number of mistaken overpayments to beneficiaries, often due to errors or lapses by the agency."
Peters and Stabenow said the issue has created "severe, undue financial distress for many households whose beneficiaries are asked to abruptly repay the overpayments in full, or whose payments are halted or significantly reduced in an attempt by the agency to rectify the incorrect payments."
Senator Peters added in a statement: “People rely on Social Security benefits to afford health care, groceries, and a roof over their head. I’ve heard from too many people across our state who have faced issues with benefit overpayments, and my office is in contact with the agency and doing everything we can to help them resolve their cases as quickly as possible."
Phyllis hopes that members of Congress can press for change and said individuals should not have to be held accountable for mistakes made by the agency.
"Be in contact with Social Security, be in contact with the people, with the constituents," Phyllis said towards those in Congress. "Find out the most you can about the situation in general, maybe specifically, to help that person who's shaking in their boots, trying to figure out what the heck they're gonna do."
In their letter addressed to Commissioner O'Malley, Senators Peters and Stabenow said: "We have heard from numerous Michiganders regarding the impact unexpected overpayments that were sent by the SSA have caused on some of the most vulnerable beneficiaries of Social Security, who often include the elderly, disabled, retirees, and many who struggle to get by on limited income and resources."
The SSA provides benefits to more than 71 million Americans, including more than 2 million Michiganders.
The SSA's financial report for the 2023 fiscal year showed the agency paid more than $11 billion of overpayments in the 2022 fiscal year.
You can read the full letter here.
Peters asked that anyone who has experiences issues with social security overpayments to contact his office.
The Social Security Administration said in a statement issued in October 2023 that:
"Each person’s situation is unique, and the agency handles overpayments on a case-by-case basis. In particular, if a person doesn’t agree that they’ve been overpaid, or believes the amount is incorrect, they can appeal. If they believe they shouldn’t have to pay the money back, they can request that the agency waive collection of the overpayment. There’s no time limit for filing a waiver."
►Make it easy to keep up to date with more stories like this. Download the 13 ON YOUR SIDE app now.
Have a news tip? Email news@13onyourside.com, visit our Facebook page or Twitter. Subscribe to our YouTube channel.
Watch 13 ON YOUR SIDE for free on Roku, Amazon Fire TV Stick, Apple TV and on your phone.