mdyoung

I ran across this SSA OIG audit report the other day and thought it might be of interest to someone.

Title II Beneficiaries in England:

http://www.ssa.gov/oig/ADOBEPDF/A-01-06-26131.pdf

Ray

During our visit to the address on SSA’s record for one beneficiary, we determined the beneficiary no longer lived there. We sent a letter to the address on SSA’s record for the beneficiary’s wife—which was a different address than the beneficiary’s. The beneficiary’s daughter replied to our letter and informed us the beneficiary died in January 2005 and his wife (who also received benefits) died in July 2006. These beneficiaries were overpaid $5,689 in benefits between February 2005 and September 2006. Additionally, if SSA had not terminated the benefits based upon our review, the Agency would have paid these individuals $8,052 in benefits over the next


I wonder who was getting the money ....

mdyoung

Chances are the daughter knows. LOL Not sure how much recourse SSA/U.S. government has on overpayments of people living outside the U.S. that are not U.S. citizens. Here they can snatch your tax refund, turn you over to a collect agency or in cases like this go after the estate.

Ray

I would not be surprised if a lot dead people are still claiming benefit ..
both sides of the pond ...

Elvira

According to a report in the Observer the other week, once you reach a certain age they ask you periodically to prove that you're still alive...

mdyoung

It is surely happening especially in countries like the Philippines. Less likely here, since SSA gets information from States and funeral homes have a form (SSA-721) they can submit to report a death.

It's almost as likely to have someone report you as dead when you aren't. If you are getting Social Security benefits and you want to report an address change, they will only except the report over the phone from the beneficiary or the Representative Payee if they have been assigned one. However, they will accept a death report from anyone. Of course they are supposed to be able to answer the right questions, but I'm sure an ex-wife or two have done it to get even. LOL

Silly Sod

Almost makes you wish you were dead lol

veronica jayne

Maybe we should just add it to our answering machines Hello, this is Veronica, I am not here at the moment but AM still alive

scrubbedexpat099

My Grandad used to get an allowance instead of Coal.

He got a form every year from the Coal Board.

cindyabs

After reading his obituary in a newspaper, Mark Twain laughed off the erroneous report stating, "Rumors of my death have been greatly exaggerated."

Rete

My friend was declared dead by her daughter. The daughter was pissed at the mom for going to live with another daughter after her stroke so the revengeful daughter who had power of attorney, took all the money out of her bank account and contacted SSA and reported mom had died and effectively cut off her income. Friend who could not walk or talk had to go INTO the SSA office personally to prove she was alive.

cindyabs

"How sharper than a serpent's tooth it is to have a thankless child."

mdyoung

Bill Cosby quote, "I brought you into this world, and I can take you out and make another one just like you!".

Elvira

what does he know - I have 3 and apart from the fact that they look kind of similar you wouldn't think they were in any way related...

veronica jayne

My sister and I do not look anything like each other and very different in personalities too! So there