Woman finally gets Social Security problemfixed

Sometimes the Ombudsman Office can assist in clarifying miscommunications that have existed for years.

A woman contacted our office in May 2020 about a Social Security Administration problem. Sheapplied for benefits severalmonthsprior to her 65th birthday, which was in 2016. She received several checks, but then the checks stopped coming altogether. She wasworking part-time and concluded her incomemust have been too high for her benefits to continue. She received no check for five months, so she visited the SSA office in late 2018 and subsequently received a check for $5,000. In April 2020 she received a letter fromthe SSAinforming her that her account need to be adjusted from 2017 and that her benefits would be held beginning November 2020 in order to bring all balances in order.

Because of the COVID19 restrictions on personal interaction and the special criteria for a Face-to-Face visit at the Social Security Administration, thewoman’s request for a visit could not beaccommodated. However, her account was reviewed, andafterthatwascompleted, it was determined that the woman had indeed been overpaid.

An arrangement was agreed upon whereby she would receive a withholding of $170 from each monthly benefitforthenexttwoyears.

The woman was thrilled to reach this agreement and to have the accounts clarified and settled.

TheOmbudsmanColumn, a production of the JointOffice of Citizens’ Complaints, summarizes selected problems that citizens have had with government services, schools and nursinghomes in the Dayton area. Contact the Ombudsmanby writing to the Beerman Building, 11W. MonumentAvenue, Suite

606, Dayton, Ohio 45402, or telephone (937) 223

4613, orby electronic mail atombudsman@ daytonombudsman.org. Additionally, please“like”us on Facebook at “DaytonOmbudsmanOffice.