Government Goes After Disabled Orphan for Social Security Overpayment
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An Omaha, Nebraska orphan has been asked by the Social Security Administration to refund money that was paid to him 30 years ago.
Jay Rovang, 50, said that he received a letter from the SSA which said that they wanted to be paid benefits that he was overpaid which total $662. Rovang is disabled and lives on a fixed income.
According to Rovang, he began receiving survivor benefits at the age of two, after his mother passed away after an auto accident. His grandparents, who raised him, got the benefits until he turned 18.
Rovang said that he did not understand the SSA's demands for a refund now. He said he is especially confused because a monthly Social Security check is his only income. Rovang wonders why the SSA could not have asked for the refund when he was actually able to work.
According to a representative from the SSA, there is no time limit placed on collection of over payments by the agency. The representative noted that the system to collect the childhood debt was not triggered until he recently began receiving disability checks.
According to the rules of Social Security, the debt may be waived by the agency if the overpayment is determined to not be the fault of Rovang, if Rovang is unable to meet his necessary living expenses, or if the overpayment is recovered.