Imagine being on social security for your disability, thinking that your own government is helping you. But then you find out that you actually owe money to them and they can’t even give you a reasonable explanation as to why. This is exactly what happened to a man in California.
Tyler (@tylerlimaroope) lives with a spinal cord disorder known as spinal muscular atrophy. This is a genetic disorder that causes muscle weakness throughout his body and affects his voluntary movements. As a result, he receives social security benefits to help him afford living day-to-day. Two months ago, Tyler said he received a sudden “letter in the mail from Social Security.” It’s safe to say that he was shocked when he found out he allegedly owed them $1,500!
When Tyler gave SS a call to find out why he owed the money, they said they gave him the wrong amount. They tried to tell him it was actually an astounding $4,000 that he owed. When he demanded answers, the office told him they can’t “answer any questions.” They told him he would have to make an appointment to speak with them.
So, Tyler made a phone appointment for the next month. He told them he knows he doesn’t owe them $4,000 and had many representatives to back him up. At his appointment, SS told him, “Yeah, you don’t owe us $4,000. You owe us $8,000.” Tyler said about this, “Now I’m really panicking, because I feel like every time I call them, they’re just gonna double it and give it to somebody else.”
Finally, he gets to the bottom of things. They tell him that, for the last two years, he’s owed them money every single month. He was never aware of this. They told him they made this decision based on living arrangements he had with his mom. Not only is Tyler an adult and handles his arrangements, but he said, “They can’t just talk to my mom without me there.” The entire situation baffled him.
On top of this, Tyler received tons of letters in the mail that contradicted one another. He also discovered that you only have 60 days to appeal a Social Security decision. Unfortunately, they weren’t able to make him an appointment to appeal for about 58 days after he received the letter. So, how are you supposed to defend your case in enough time? Tyler went to this appointment weeks later to appeal his case. He brought receipts, letters, and screenshots of conversations he had. He even took his mother with him, as well as support from an advocacy group.
In the end, Tyler said there was some “pushback” at his appointment. But he did add that he “finally got through to the person I was talking to face to face.” They were able to remedy the situation for him so he could continue to receive his benefits without issues. He doesn’t say how they came to the conclusion about how he owed so much. But, thankfully, he’s now in the clear.
Commenters flocked to Tyler’s video, sharing the same sentiment: “Our government is a joke” and “They don’t know anything.” Commenters shared their frustration and anger with Tyler over this important social issue that affects so many people with disabilities in America. As one commenter shared from their own personal story: “This is happening with my brother who has cancer as a child. They are asking him to repay.” Another shared, “My mother died before I was 18.” The commenter received survivor’s benefits as a result. As she goes on to say, “They took all the money from my tax refund and I still owe money. $4,400 in total. I’m 24 now. Why is this a problem now???”
Commenters continue to share their opinions and outrage in light of Tyler’s eye-opening video. As one commenter added to the video’s comments: “1. No one should have to fight for insurance. 2. No medicine should cost $1 million.”
