It won't stop. Help

[Bar71]

I have been trying to get my benefits to stop for a year and a half now. I went back to work. First they said I owe them 7000. Then they said I need to pay all 42000 back because I never should have been approved. Then they send me a letter saying I have been reinstated and owe nothing and sent me a check for 15677 for the months they stopped paying. I gave the check back and said I want benefits to stop. Now after waiting several months I get yet another check for 15677! I am at my wits end. What do I do to make it stop?

[MSW1963]

What I could do with $31k.

An MS'er I know also notified SSA upon returning to work, and like you continued receiving benefit payments for over a year. Years later SSA recovered the funds by reducing SS benefits when the MS'er again qualified for SSDI benefits.

It's probably a good idea to not cash the check or spend the funds until the problem is resolved. SSA will probably attempt to recover benefits paid to you in error. If you do not have the entire amount available for repayment, SSA's repayment plan includes withholding income tax returns until the amount is repaid (assuming you are still working), or withholding funds from benefits you become eligible for in the future, the repayment arranged in installment payments withheld from monthly SSDI benefit payments in the future.

You should consider consulting with an SSDI attorney about resolving this really troubling problem you're having with SSA. If their accounting and benefits approval is as disorganized as indicated in your post, your repayment bill could be over $73k, that's if SSA only bills you for all benefit payments you received, and no additional amount is billed to you in error.

If you had an attorney when you initially filed for benefits, that would be a good place to start.

Rich mentioned in a previous benefit overpayment post, that there is an appeal process available. So there's that!

Good luck and keep us posted on your progress.

[Bar71]

I plan on seeking out a lawyer when I return home next week. I did not have a lawyer when I got the benefits. I always take the check back to the ssdi office and get a receipt of return. I just don't get how they can yell social security is going broke and then make it so complicated and difficult to get off disability. You would thing they would want to get rid of people faster to save money. Oh well disorganization at it best. Thank you for you reply.

[Rich Feingold]

Wow, Bar71. Sounds very confusing. It's too bad you have to go through this. Are you able to meet with someone at the Social Security office, hopefully someone in charge. Perhaps sitting down with them may help.

Rich