I got a letter from #SocialSecurity informing me that they made an error and my benefits will be changing. The issue is, unlike normal where they underpay or deny someone a benefit they are entitled to, this time they say they underpaid me and giving me something I don't think I am entitled to. I used to rep people in SSA denials before the ALJ and write Appeals Council briefs and arguments. I'm not new to this.
Instead of asking for an appeal/Reconsideration for denial or underpayment of benefits, I am going to have to ask for a Reconsideration to make sure I am actually entitled to the benefits.
I can't afford a letter a few years from now that they made an error, and I must repay.
Asking for a Reconsideration should also setup safe harbor from having to repay back any overpayments, should it turn out the reconsideration in favor of the overpayment and benefits was wrong in the future. #law .
@paul It took me a year as a muggle to understand even the tip of the iceberg of ACA appeals and adjudications so good on you for being able to solve this in the proper way.
@vees Thanks. It's a mess. A convoluted mess.
When I was in college in the early 1990s, my volunteer activity and community service credits came from volunteering at a non-profit that handled SSA, black lung, etc denials and appeals.
I mainly did black lung benefits due to the personal connection to miners and family. I started in intake. After college, I kept doing it and advancing.
Until 2012 when my health declined, I still would volunteer for a couple cases per year. At that point, my knowledge came in handy for me. Not just with SSA, but insurance and health issues and rights, and anything that had an appealable right.