HESPERIA, Mich. (WOOD) — More than a decade after the Social Security Administration overpaid a Hesperia couple, they’re being told they owe the federal government nearly $22,000.
Janet and Edward Marshall said they were floored when they got a letter last week telling them to repay the money within 30 days. They have no idea how they’re going to come up with the cash.
“I’m almost died. My husband almost died. Couldn’t believe it,” Janet Marshall told 24 Hour News 8 Thursday. “I mean, after 15 years you send a letter? And what part of disability don’t they understand?”
In each check sent to the Marshalls between 2002 and 2005, Social Security overpaid them by roughly $600.
“(In) 2004, he was receiving $1,038 and he should’ve only got $463.60,” Marshall said, reading the letter from Social Security.
In all, they got an extra $21,970.
Marshall said her husband, who is a U.S. Army veteran, is disabled as a result of a work accident and started receiving Social Security payments because he could no longer work. She said they had no way of knowing they were being overpaid and are afraid of losing everything they own to pay the money back.
She said they’re going to appeal the notice.
“What do we got, you know? It’s not fair, it’s not right. They should’ve caught this, not us,” Marshall said.
24 Hour News 8 reached out to the regional Social Security Administration office in Chicago, which oversees Michigan, asking how the mistake could happen and if the department is willing to work with the family on payments options.