WELCOME BACK.HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS
HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDSOF FAMILIES ARE NOW GETTING
OF FAMILIES ARE NOW GETTINGUNEXPECTED BILLS FROM
UNEXPECTED BILLS FROMTHE GOVERNMENT.
THE GOVERNMENT.PEOPLE WHO RECEIVED SOCIAL
PEOPLE WHO RECEIVED SOCIALSECURITY PAYMENTS SAY THEY'VE
SECURITY PAYMENTS SAY THEY'VEGOTTEN LETTERS TELLING THEM
GOTTEN LETTERS TELLING THEMTHEY HAVE TO GIVE
THEY HAVE TO GIVEBACK THOUSANDS OR EVEN TENS,
BACK THOUSANDS OR EVEN TENS, THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO THE
THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO THEGOVERNMENT BECAUSE
GOVERNMENT BECAUSEOF OVERPAYMENTS IN MOST CASES,
OF OVERPAYMENTS IN MOST CASES,THE RECIPIENTS SAY THEY HAD NO
THE RECIPIENTS SAY THEY HAD NOIDEA THAT THEIR PAYMENTS WERE
IDEA THAT THEIR PAYMENTS WEREWRONG.
WRONG.>> REBECCA JARVIS HAS MORE ON
>> REBECCA JARVIS HAS MORE ONTHIS INVESTIGATION BY ABC WSB, W
>> REBECCA JARVIS HAS MORE ON
THIS INVESTIGATION BY ABC WSB, T
>> REBECCA JARVIS HAS MORE ON
THIS INVESTIGATION BY ABC WSB, V
THIS INVESTIGATION BY ABC WSB, VAND WSOC.
AND WSOC. >> FAMILIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY
>> FAMILIES ACROSS THE COUNTRYGETTING SURPRISE BILLS FROM
GETTING SURPRISE BILLS FROMTHE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.>> ACCORDING TO THE INSPECTOR
>> ACCORDING TO THE INSPECTORGENERAL'S OFFICE, BETWEEN
GENERAL'S OFFICE, BETWEENFOUR AND $5 BILLION
FOUR AND $5 BILLIONIN OVERPAYMENTS GET REPAID EACH
IN OVERPAYMENTS GET REPAID EACH,BUT MORE THAN $21 BILLION
,BUT MORE THAN $21 BILLIONIS STILL NOT RECOVERED AND THE
IS STILL NOT RECOVERED AND THEGOVERNMENT WANTS IT BACK.
GOVERNMENT WANTS IT BACK.>> IT'S HARD TO ACTUALLY HEAL
>> IT'S HARD TO ACTUALLY HEALAND GET BETTER WHEN YOU CAN'T
AND GET BETTER WHEN YOU CAN'TSEE AND REVISIT THIS THE WORST
SEE AND REVISIT THIS THE WORSTDAY OF YOUR LIFE.
DAY OF YOUR LIFE.>> FORMER POLICE OFFICER MATT
>> FORMER POLICE OFFICER MATTCOOPER WAS SHOT BETWEEN
COOPER WAS SHOT BETWEENTHE EYES IN 2018 WHILE ON DUTY
THE EYES IN 2018 WHILE ON DUTYRESPONDING TO A SHOPLIFTING
RESPONDING TO A SHOPLIFTINGCALL.
CALL.HE AND HIS KRISTEN TELL OUR ABC
HE AND HIS KRISTEN TELL OUR ABCAFFILIATE WSB IN ATLANTA
AFFILIATE WSB IN ATLANTATHAT HIS SOCIAL SECURITY
THAT HIS SOCIAL SECURITYAND WORKER'S COMPENSATION
AND WORKER'S COMPENSATIONPAYMENTS ARE A BIG PART,
PAYMENTS ARE A BIG PART, THE FAMILY'S MONTHLY BUDGET.
THE FAMILY'S MONTHLY BUDGET.>> EVERY DECISION THAT WE MADE
>> EVERY DECISION THAT WE MADEFOR FAMILY WAS BASED
FOR FAMILY WAS BASEDON THE BENEFITS THAT WE WERE
ON THE BENEFITS THAT WE WERESUPPOSED TO RECEIVE.
SUPPOSED TO RECEIVE.>> SO THE COUPLE WAS STUNNED
>> SO THE COUPLE WAS STUNNEDWHEN THEY RECEIVED A LETTER
WHEN THEY RECEIVED A LETTERFROM THE SOCIAL SECURITY
FROM THE SOCIAL SECURITYADMINISTRATION DEMANDING
ADMINISTRATION DEMANDINGTHEY PAY BACK 30 THOUSAND
THEY PAY BACK 30 THOUSANDDOLLARS BECAUSE THEY SAY,
DOLLARS BECAUSE THEY SAY,AS THEY CHECKED OFF THE BOXES
AS THEY CHECKED OFF THE BOXESAND DID EVERYTHING RIGHT,
AND DID EVERYTHING RIGHT,THE AGENCY FAILED TO CORRECTLY
THE AGENCY FAILED TO CORRECTLYFACTOR IN MATCH WORKER'S
FACTOR IN MATCH WORKER'SCOMPENSATION IN ITS
COMPENSATION IN ITSCALCULATION.
CALCULATION.>> OVER IN ORLANDO, FLORIDA,
>> OVER IN ORLANDO, FLORIDA,LAURIE WHO WORKED FOR
LAURIE WHO WORKED FORTHE POSTAL SERVICE UNTIL A BACK
THE POSTAL SERVICE UNTIL A BACKINJURY LED HER TO FILE FOR
INJURY LED HER TO FILE FORDISABILITY AND INSURANCE
DISABILITY AND INSURANCEBENEFITS, TOLD OUR ABC
BENEFITS, TOLD OUR ABCAFFILIATE WFTV THAT SHE WAS
AFFILIATE WFTV THAT SHE WASSENT A DEMAND LETTER FOR
SENT A DEMAND LETTER FOR$121,000 CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT
$121,000 CONCERNED ABOUT WHATSHE COULD LOSE.
SHE COULD LOSE.LAURIE SOLD BIG, LIKE HER HOUSE
LAURIE SOLD BIG, LIKE HER HOUSEAND CAR AND REMOVED MONEY FROM
AND CAR AND REMOVED MONEY FROMHER BANK LIKE FUGITIVES.
HER BANK LIKE FUGITIVES.YOU KNOW, THAT'S A REALLY.
YOU KNOW, THAT'S A REALLY.SO YEAH, NO NO MONEY IN MY BANK
SO YEAH, NO NO MONEY IN MY BANKACCOUNT FOR THE FIRST TIME
ACCOUNT FOR THE FIRST TIMEIN MY LIFE, YOU KNOW, AND JUST
IN MY LIFE, YOU KNOW, AND JUSTAND JUST BECAUSE WE DIDN'T
AND JUST BECAUSE WE DIDN'TI DIDN'T WANT THEM TO TO REACH
I DIDN'T WANT THEM TO TO REACHIN AND GRAB IT.
IN AND GRAB IT.>> FORMER LEGAL AID
>> FORMER LEGAL AIDATTORNEY REBECCA VELEZ TELLS
ATTORNEY REBECCA VELEZ TELLSOUR ABC AFFILIATE WFTV
OUR ABC AFFILIATE WFTVIN ORLANDO SECURITY'S
IN ORLANDO SECURITY'SUNDERSTAFFING AND OUTDATED
UNDERSTAFFING AND OUTDATEDTECHNOLOGY MEANS THESE CASES
TECHNOLOGY MEANS THESE CASESCOULD TAKE YEARS TO SETTLE.
COULD TAKE YEARS TO SETTLE.>> WE HAVE AN OVERPAYMENT
>> WE HAVE AN OVERPAYMENTCRISIS ON OUR HANDS, AND IT'S
CRISIS ON OUR HANDS, AND IT'SLOW INCOME BENEFICIARIES
LOW INCOME BENEFICIARIESWHO ARE GETTING HARDEST HIT.
WHO ARE GETTING HARDEST HIT.>> AS FOR THE COOPERS,
>> AS FOR THE COOPERS,THEIR APPEAL HAS BEEN DENIED.
THEIR APPEAL HAS BEEN DENIED.THEY'RE NOW ASKING FOR
THEY'RE NOW ASKING FORA WAIVER.
A WAIVER.THE SYSTEM HAS DEFINITELY LET
THE SYSTEM HAS DEFINITELY LETUS DOWN AND WE THOUGHT IT WAS
US DOWN AND WE THOUGHT IT WASSOMETHING THAT WAS GOING
SOMETHING THAT WAS GOINGTO PROTECT US IN A TIME
TO PROTECT US IN A TIMEOF NEED.
OF NEED.>> AND ALEXIS CHRISTOFOROUS
>> AND ALEXIS CHRISTOFOROUSIS JOINING ME NOW FOR MORE ON
IS JOINING ME NOW FOR MORE ONTHIS.
THIS.ALEXIS, IS SOCIAL SECURITY
ALEXIS, IS SOCIAL SECURITYADMINISTRATION SAID IN
ADMINISTRATION SAID INA STATEMENT THAT WHILE STAFFING
A STATEMENT THAT WHILE STAFFINGLOSSES AND RESOURCE CONSTRAINTS
LOSSES AND RESOURCE CONSTRAINTSHAVE CHALLENGED OUR SERVICE
HAVE CHALLENGED OUR SERVICEDELIVERY, OUR PAYMENT ACCURACY
DELIVERY, OUR PAYMENT ACCURACYRATES REMAIN HIGH.
RATES REMAIN HIGH.SO IF THAT'S THE CASE, HOW DOES
SO IF THAT'S THE CASE, HOW DOESA MISTAKE LIKE THIS HAPPEN?
A MISTAKE LIKE THIS HAPPEN?YEAH, AND THAT STATEMENT,
YEAH, AND THAT STATEMENT,LITTLE CONSOLATION TO THE
LITTLE CONSOLATION TO THETHOUSANDS OF FAMILIES GOING
THOUSANDS OF FAMILIES GOINGTHROUGH IT, AS YOU SAW THERE
THROUGH IT, AS YOU SAW THEREIN THAT PIECE, IT PART OF THIS
IN THAT PIECE, IT PART OF THISINVESTIGATION.
INVESTIGATION.OUR AFFILIATE SPOKE TO SOME
OUR AFFILIATE SPOKE TO SOMEFORMER SOCIAL SECURITY
FORMER SOCIAL SECURITYADMINISTRATION EMPLOYEES
ADMINISTRATION EMPLOYEESWHO SAID, LOOK, WE WERE DEALING
WHO SAID, LOOK, WE WERE DEALINGWITH OUTDATED TECHNOLOGY AND WE
WITH OUTDATED TECHNOLOGY AND WEARE ALSO GROSSLY UNDERSTAFFED.
ARE ALSO GROSSLY UNDERSTAFFED.SO AS YOU HEARD OF THE PIECE.
SO AS YOU HEARD OF THE PIECE.THESE THESE CASES COULD TAKE
THESE THESE CASES COULD TAKEYEARS TO COME UP AND TO
YEARS TO COME UP AND TOACTUALLY HAVE SOME SORT OF A
ACTUALLY HAVE SOME SORT OF ARESOLUTION.
RESOLUTION.REMEMBER, WE WERE TALKING
REMEMBER, WE WERE TALKINGABOUT THE IRS BEING ANTIQUATED
ABOUT THE IRS BEING ANTIQUATEDAND THE GOVERNMENT GAVE THEM
AND THE GOVERNMENT GAVE THEMA HUGE AMOUNT OF MONEY TO SORT
A HUGE AMOUNT OF MONEY TO SORTOF COME BACK INTO THE 21ST
OF COME BACK INTO THE 21STCENTURY.
CENTURY.THAT'S NOT THE CASE, AT LEAST
THAT'S NOT THE CASE, AT LEASTNOT YET WITH THE SOCIAL
NOT YET WITH THE SOCIALSECURITY ADMINISTRATION.
SECURITY ADMINISTRATION. >> SO WHAT SHOULD PEOPLE DO IF
>> SO WHAT SHOULD PEOPLE DO IFTHEY GET ONE OF THESE SURPRISE
THEY GET ONE OF THESE SURPRISEBILLS, ONE OF THESE LETTERS
BILLS, ONE OF THESE LETTERSIN THE MAIL?
IN THE MAIL?>> I THINK BEFORE IT GETS
>> I THINK BEFORE IT GETSTO THAT POINT, WHEN YOU LOOK
TO THAT POINT, WHEN YOU LOOKWHEN YOU DO GET YOUR PAYMENTS
WHEN YOU DO GET YOUR PAYMENTSIN THE MAIL, IF FOR SOME REASON
IN THE MAIL, IF FOR SOME REASONTHAT PAYMENT SEEMS MUCH HIGHER
THAT PAYMENT SEEMS MUCH HIGHERTHAN IT NORMALLY IS OR MUCH
THAN IT NORMALLY IS OR MUCHLOWER.
LOWER.THAT RIGHT THERE IS A RED,
THAT RIGHT THERE IS A RED,YOU NEED TO REACH OUT TO THE
YOU NEED TO REACH OUT TO THESOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION.
SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION.BUT BECAUSE YOU ARE LIABLE FOR
BUT BECAUSE YOU ARE LIABLE FORTHE MONEY, WHETHER IT'S YOUR
THE MONEY, WHETHER IT'S YOURMISTAKE OR THERE IS, YOU NEED
MISTAKE OR THERE IS, YOU NEEDTO STAY VIGILANT.
TO STAY VIGILANT. IF YOU DO BELIEVE THAT IT HAS
IF YOU DO BELIEVE THAT IT HASBEEN AN ERROR, THE BILL
BEEN AN ERROR, THE BILLAND IT'S NOT AN ERROR,
AND IT'S NOT AN ERROR, YOUR PART, YOU CAN APPEAL.
YOUR PART, YOU CAN APPEAL.WE SAW THE COOPERS IN MY STORY
WE SAW THE COOPERS IN MY STORYAPPEAL.
APPEAL. SADLY, THEIR APPEAL WAS DENIED.
SADLY, THEIR APPEAL WAS DENIED.IF IT IS STILL A HARDSHIP
IF IT IS STILL A HARDSHIPTO THE MONEY BACK.
TO THE MONEY BACK.YOU CAN APPLY FOR A WAIVER.
YOU CAN APPLY FOR A WAIVER.YOU CAN DO THAT.
YOU CAN DO THAT.YOU COULD BOTH APPEAL AND APPLY
YOU COULD BOTH APPEAL AND APPLYFOR THE WAIVER RIGHT ON
FOR THE WAIVER RIGHT ONTHE SOCIAL SECURITY
THE SOCIAL SECURITYADMINISTRATION WEBSITE.
ADMINISTRATION WEBSITE. >> AND IF THERE IS STILL NO
>> AND IF THERE IS STILL NORESOLUTION THAT YOU'RE HAPPY
RESOLUTION THAT YOU'RE HAPPYWITH, THEY DO OFFER PAYMENT, SO
WITH, THEY DO OFFER PAYMENT, SOAT LEAST YOU DON'T HAVE TO PAY
AT LEAST YOU DON'T HAVE TO PAYIT ALL BACK AT ONCE.
IT ALL BACK AT ONCE.THE SOCIAL SECURITY
THE SOCIAL SECURITYADMINISTRATION TELLING US,
ADMINISTRATION TELLING US,THOUGH, BECAUSE THIS
THOUGH, BECAUSE THISIS TAXPAYER MONEY, REGARDLESS
IS TAXPAYER MONEY, REGARDLESSOF WHOSE