The Overpayment
Nobody talks about them, but everybody- and that is everybody – who has returned to work from SSI or
Social Security Disability has one. Many of you have no idea how or when the overpayment happened, and least of
all, how they ever came up with the ridiculous sum of money they say you owe.
In the last couple years, Barrier Breakers has assisted about a dozen people in fighting their overpayments. We’ve been
around since 1990 and only worked on one overpayment beore 2003. Why so many, why now?
It’s because from 2002 – 2005, GAO – the General Accountability Office – issued three reports to Congress: One about
SSDI beneficiaries, one about SSI recipients, and one about dual eligibles, all stating that the group in the report owed
billions – literally billions – of dollars to SSA due to overpayments. GAO presented these reports to Congress; Congress
got all over the SSA, so then you got a letter, after years of working, or having quit working years ago, telling you that
you owed the government $26,814.58, and could use your Mastercardc or VISA, etc. Many of you, looking at the
hopelessness of ever repaying that amount, threw it out or hid it in a drawer, hoping it would go away as suddenly as it
came.
But it didn’t go away. It was put on your credit report as a bad debt. SSA took your federal and state tax refunds if you
worked, and took money out of your SSI or SSDI check if you didn’t. And the letters kept coming
HELP!!
Barrier Breakers can help. We can investigate your overpayment, and in the great majority of cases, help you fight it.
We have eliminated overpayments as high as $80,000.00. Most of these alleged overpayments are extremely old, and
were not based on evidence at the time of determination.
Of course there is a charge. The reason you get real advocates who fight for you in a “no holds barred” way, is that we
are not a charity, and have no “funding agency” or public image to worry about. Our only concern is justice for you. Our
fee is $50 an hour. Most overpayment cases cost $50 - $200. If you can’t afford it, check with Voc Rehab, your disability’
s organization, a community mental health program, county case managers, etc. Barrier Breakers will also accept
payment arrangements of as little as $25 a month.
But the bottom line is, you will get action from us.