Contact 2 helps resolve Social Security issue
Chris and Maureen Franchi may live on Easy Street, but the Union, Missouri, couple says they’ve fallen on hard times.
UNION, Mo. - Chris and Maureen Franchi may live on Easy Street, but the Union, Missouri, couple says they’ve fallen on hard times.
“It’s depressing because I don’t know what to do about it,” Maureen said.
Both of the Franchi’s are on disability. Each month, the government takes a portion of Chris’ disability check and pays it out in child support from previous marriage.
Chris showed us a letter he received from the Social Security Administration in June. It explains how for more than three years the government overpaid nearly $5,600 in child support, and the recipient of that overpayment has not repaid the money. The letter goes on to say how the law allows the government to recover the money from “other benefits payable on the same record."
For translation, the letter states that Social Security made a mistake, and Chris is responsible for paying back the money.
“They don’t want to take responsibility for it. They want me to take responsibility for it, and I think it’s ridiculous,” Chris said.
Attorney Kelly Staley added, “There’s a lot of pitfalls that I think are built in for people to give up.”
Staley specializes in Social Security disability law. He says government bureaucracy often stands in the way of fixing their own mistakes.
“The truth is, the process Social Security has developed to look at issues like this, unfortunately, is very robotic. It does not take into consideration circumstances or things that discretion could really help clear up,” he said.
While Staley says protocols exist to resolve issues like this, it can cost you time and money.
“It’s just a travesty that once you’re plucked out. Whether it’s their fault or not, you’re stuck in that line,” he said.
Contact 2 got the Franchi’s unstuck. We asked Social Security to take a closer look at their situation, and a representative told us they couldn’t comment on individual cases but that they’d reached out to Franchi and resolved the matter.
“If it wasn’t for you and your pushing, I don’t think we would’ve gotten the kind of response that we got, and we still would be stuck paying for this $5,600 we never received. We really want to thank you,” Chris said.
After months of difficulties, life on Easy Street is looking up for the Franchi’s.
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