We lost our house today, thanks to the SSA

[Heathen57]

I am really hacked off about the way the SSA has treated my wife and I. After fighting 7 years for disability, she finally got a favorable decision last June. The judge took her date of onset back enough years that she is due a good amount of back pay.

Now we are closing in on 9 months that they have been playing games, promising dates, phone calls that have gone unreturned, even getting our Representative's Office involved (Repub, unfortunately. His office was worthless) and trying to hold off the bank, we still haven't seen it. They haven't even paid our lawyer.

Their payment center has been contacted at least 7 times and they always say "we're working on it." I know government agencies are slow but this is past that point.

I guess the bank got tired of their bullshit because we got a notice on Tuesday that they were taking control of the house.

After trying to survive on $400.00 a month for over 3 years that money would have been enough to save the house and get the creditors up to date. Now it will go finding a moving company, storage area, and someplace to live.

If any of you have suggestions, they would be much appreciated. I have written to the district director of the SSA, the White House, and our Senator. I am also going to write to the local papers and television stations.

[lunatica]

1. I just found this on another DU thread

http://www.nationalhomeless.org/need_help/index.html

[JCMach1]

2. I wouldn't give up so easily on the house...

Did you call your Senator's office? (since the Rep. was worthless). And don't automatically think party is going to be the determiner there... There are perfectly nasty Republican Senators who actually work wonders for their consituents.

God I wish you good luck...

[ProfessionalLeftist]

3. SSA response is only going to get worse because house/senate/Obama just...

...signed a bill to GUT SSA almost completely. They will be furloughing many SSA employees so claims and issues like yours will take even longer to resolve. Then, they'll say SS is a broken program that doesn't work and just can it altogether. "Starve the beast" modus operandi.

When you write, you might want to mention this trash they just signed that cuts SSA in light of your situation, reminding them that millions like you will face even worse circumstances due to the cuts. They need to hear from people like you. Because any of us could be next.

[elfin]

4. Make an in-person appointment

at your nearest SSA office, if you haven't already done so.

Go in seeking an ally rather than expecting one more avenue of rejection.

While widowhood is an extremely different reason to interact with the SSA, I and other friends have found that it is the one and only agency that expedited our concerns.

Having a personal advocate helped me assemble the records to prove that I was due something called Death after Disability payment. I did not even know such a benefit existed until it became evident upon the thoughtful questioning by the human representative.

I know things are taking a turn for the worse in the current climate, but a real human being might make all the difference.

[Tsiyu]

5. So sorry about this

I hope you can somehow keep your home.

I have no advice but I can offer a :hug:

[mdmc]

6. ..