Exclusive: Social Security chief vows to fix "cruel-hearted" overpayment clawbacks

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: CBS News

March 14, 2024 / 3:01 PM EDT


The Social Security Administration's new chief is promising to overhaul the agency's system of clawing back billions of dollars it claims was wrongly sent to beneficiaries, saying it "just doesn't seem right or fair."

In an interview with KFF Health News, SSA Commissioner Martin O'Malley said that in the coming days he would propose changes to help people avoid crushing debts that have driven some into homelessness and caused financial hardships for the nation's most vulnerable — the poorest of the poor and people with disabilities or persistent medical conditions or who are at least age 65.

O'Malley, who took office in December, said that "addressing the injustice we do to too many Americans because of overpayments, the rather cruel-hearted and mindless way that we recover those overpayments," is among his top priorities.

He said he has concrete steps in mind, such as establishing a statute of limitations, shifting the burden of proof to the agency, and imposing a 10% cap on clawbacks for some beneficiaries. "We do have the ability and we do have the authority to address many of these injustices," he said, suggesting that the SSA won't have to wait for congressional action.

Read more: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/exclusive-social-security-chief-vows-to-fix-cruel-hearted-overpayment-clawbacks/

[FSogol]

1. K & R n/t

[AllaN01Bear]

2. i was a victom of these . appealed evry one of them and succeded . i was tolld that i wasnt getting backpay

and so fourth. i got it and the ss tried to take it back and i said nonsense , u made a mistake so choke it. i didnt put my appeal in those terms though.

[Always Blue]

3. Stories like this

Helps the republican narrative against Social Security. I have to wonder if they perpetrated this. How about clawing back our tax money from the billionaires.

[BumRushDaShow]

4. See this

https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143201925

https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143198264

Already happening.

And welcome to DU.

[Always Blue]

6. That's a little

But I meaning the billions that they have just been given. The repug hollering point back when Reagan and Bush Sr in was that the USA standards was to high and that foreign countries' governments subsidized the companies in their countries. So since then the companies really don't care if they have customers since they are getting our tax money.

[BumRushDaShow]

7. Those "subsidies" translate into "profits" that are "taxable"

The battle has been to have "fair" tax rates and making sure that the tax cuts for the wealthy that expire at the end of next year, are not renewed for the billionaires, and that the loopholes are closed to keep them from evading those taxes (in addition to the links indicating actually AUDITING THEM instead of coming after the little guy's measly income).

[Always Blue]

8. How many times do we have to pay

No subsidies. Or the government can subsidize all of us. It's cut throat capitalism for us and socialism for the rich. They don't pay taxes. Everyone who works pays more than them. Government should have never been allowed to subsidize these companies. There is no benefit to the American people. Take for instance, government pays farmers, then the pay companies and then the grocery stores, most cases the multi millionaire owners have the government pay for employees earnings, health care , food and housing. Then charge us for the products that have already been paid for with our tax money. These companies don't care if they have customers or not they all are still getting their's.
All these failed gop hair brained ideas needs to be undone. Good place to start would be the terrible Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act. It is usury and onus burdens. While companies who are deemed people keep filling bankruptcies.

[BumRushDaShow]

10. To address -

How many times do we have to pay

No subsidies. Or the government can subsidize all of us. It's cut throat capitalism for us and socialism for the rich.

The multiple stimulus payments during the pandemic under Pres. Biden were "subsidies" (in a way) to Americans.

They don't pay taxes.

They mostly "pay" but no where near enough.

Everyone who works pays more than them. Government should have never been allowed to subsidize these companies. There is no benefit to the American people. Take for instance, government pays farmers, then the pay companies and then the grocery stores,

So then you are against President Biden's "Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill" (now law) that provides money ( "subsidies" ) to fix roads, bridges, water pipes, etc.? So robots or enslaved people are doing that work with no salary?

You think that fixing infrastructure won't offer any "benefit to the American people"?

most cases the multi millionaire owners have the government pay for employees earnings, health care , food and housing.

Huh?

Then charge us for the products that have already been paid for with our tax money. These companies don't care if they have customers or not they all are still getting their's.

I think you misunderstand what is going on with subsidies.

All these failed gop hair brained ideas needs to be undone. Good place to start would be the terrible Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act. It is usury and onus burdens. While companies who are deemed people keep filling bankruptcies.

There's a lot that Congress needs to tighten up in some of these regulatory laws as the courts have thrown out some provisions of many of them.

[DENVERPOPS]

9. Yes!!!!!!

There is a TON more money to claw back from the Corporations and Millionaires, as well as Billionaires.......

[elleng]

5. SSA Commissioner Martin O'Malley said that in the coming days he would propose changes

to help people avoid crushing debts that have driven some into homelessness and caused financial hardships for the nation's most vulnerable.'

[TexasBushwhacker]

11. I hope this helps my friend

She has a herniated disc which makes it so she cannot drive, fibromyalgia and chronic migraines. She used to be a branch bank manager. After much trying and appeals, she was approved for SSDI and got it for years. Then during TFG's administration, she got a letter that it was all a mistake and she needed to pay back $140K!

[Mysterian]

12. O'Malley should run for president again

He would get my vote.