After years of planning and preparation we decided to retire last year. We submitted all the necessary information on line to Social Security and our monthly benefits started as planned. Last month I received a letter that said I owed 9000. The reason stated was that I made too much money for the year which was incorrect. Instead of waiting on the phone for hours, I went directly to our local Social Security office. The agent that helped me couldn’t have been nicer and more helpful. He looked at the letter, typed a few things and said it’s all taken care of. He said that in some cases when you file on line the information doesn’t necessarily go to the correct file. In hindsight had I know this I would have made an appointment and done the necessary paperwork in the office. So, if you are considering starting retirement it’s in your best interest to visit your local office.
Social Security overpayment
- Thread starter Mojo88
- Start date
So after paying in your entire life to a bucket that the feds dip in to whenever they want they say you still owe them 9,000 before you can start collecting the money you already paid in??? Wow.
I won’t have to deal with that headache in 25 years thankfully…or un-thankfully.
I will say though…as much as we hate on the government I’m always surprised at the extremely cordial attitudes I’ve had dealing with government employees. They are typically very nice and helpful. At least in my experience.
I won’t have to deal with that headache in 25 years thankfully…or un-thankfully.
I will say though…as much as we hate on the government I’m always surprised at the extremely cordial attitudes I’ve had dealing with government employees. They are typically very nice and helpful. At least in my experience.
If I recall correctly when I filed online,
the website was only open during regular business hours.
I thought that was strange since there was no part of my filing
which required a human response in real time.
the website was only open during regular business hours.
I thought that was strange since there was no part of my filing
which required a human response in real time.
As a retired attorney who dealt with the SSA too many times ALWAYS deal with them in person and get the name and direct dial number of the agent you dealt with.
Just like any other large organization, for routine issues, their AI fueled phone system works fine. When there is an exception issue (like the $9,000) calling on the phone is frustrating to hopeless. Discover Card in the only exception I have encountered. .
- Thread starter
- #7
After I was in the office, I decided to get on line and make sure the overpayment was taken care of. It was early in the morning and I received the message that the website wasn’t available until business hours. I thought it was unusual also.
Retired at 50, collected SS at 62, been collecting on it for 17 years.
- Thread starter
- #9
When we initially filed the process wasn’t moving at all. It seemed we were stuck in a holding pattern. I decided to call and wait the two hour hold as I was driving that day. The agent came on, pulled up my information and took care of processing in a few minutes. I called my wife, explained what to do and she commented on how professional and knowledgeable the agent was. I have to say we were pleasantly surprised.
Face to face works best, and yes, more often than not, the agents are professional and sympathetic.
My wife and I made appointments with SS when we turned 63 (4 years apart), but we both went together each time, which was helpful, when the agent had questions. When my wife filed, the agent even compared the amounts of her collecting under her own vs under mine to see which would be more. It was a toss-up money wise, so he suggested she file her own. It was a pleasant experience, both times, unlike dealing with most State and Federal agencies.
It was a different story with the IRS, who one year held up our refund saying that we were owed a bigger refund. Our accountant said his figures were correct and told us to prepare for a long delay in getting the original amount. Finally after months of being bounced around, and phone calls transferred and disconnected, I filed a written complaint with a timeline of contacts with our congressman. His office got it sorted within a week of receiving our letter, and our original refund was processed.
It was a different story with the IRS, who one year held up our refund saying that we were owed a bigger refund. Our accountant said his figures were correct and told us to prepare for a long delay in getting the original amount. Finally after months of being bounced around, and phone calls transferred and disconnected, I filed a written complaint with a timeline of contacts with our congressman. His office got it sorted within a week of receiving our letter, and our original refund was processed.
IRS phone system is hopeless.
My big brother went to the Social Security office to get the whole thing started. I probably will too. However, IRS is an entirely different issue. In 2019 I submitted a paper return with a check for my underpayment. They cashed my check, but when the government started handing out money during Covid I got nothing. I found out, they thought I didn't file my taxes. I found this out by using the online resources which showed I had a credit balance, but no return filed. Phone was absolutely impossible. We have a local office, but there is no way to visit it as the door is always locked. Finally I contacted my congressman's office. They got me squared away and were incredibly helpful. He earned my vote.
Thank you!
Once, and only once, "I'm from the government and I'm here to help" actually came true.
- Thread starter
- #16
The mail came a few days ago and my wife received a similar correspondence. Her’s didn’t have a monetary amount, it just wanted to confirm that she had retired and she didn’t exceed the maximum earnings . We went to the Social Security office and similar to my experience it was taken care of in a few minutes. Fortunately we live in a small town and the wait isn’t long.
I started drawing SS at 70. I went to the office. The agent was very friendly and efficient. For the next two years I kept getting notifications from the SSA about minor adjustments, some up and some down. Then I had an audit to ensure I was getting all I was entitled to get. I basically had to explain my income for every year back to 1965. OMG!
Similar threads
