A new federal law has boosted Social Security payments for more than three million people.
But a suburban Pingree Gove woman said her payment increase was stolen before it ever reached her. NBC 5 Responds found many Americans may not even know they’re owed more or where to turn when something goes wrong.
It’s not every day someone tells you you’re getting more money.
“I had actually gotten a letter from Social Security, probably in the spring, saying that I would now receive monthly benefits from my deceased husband,” said Jo Howard, a retired teacher living in Pingree Grove.
It wasn’t just Howard. Last year, the Social Security Fairness Act took effect, ending two rules that cut benefits for certain government workers, including teachers, police officers and other public employees. It meant bigger monthly checks, plus back pay for Howard and more than three million other beneficiaries.
“We realized that my mom was eligible for that money, but she had never received it,” said Holly Howard, Jo’s daughter.
So last summer Jo and Holly Howard visited the Social Security office in Woodstock. The good news: Jo Howard was issued a check for almost $55,000. The bad news – she never got it.
“This is the check I should have received. This was the forged signature, which doesn’t even come close to my signature,” Jo Howard said.
It turns out, just five days after the check was issued in June, it was cashed. According to the police report, the ‘female suspect, employed by Amazon inc’ was using an ID with Jo Howard’s information.
“We thought the case would be solved, that she would be prosecuted,” she stated.
According to the police report,there was even video of the suspect cashing the check at the bank. But the officer “could not open the encrypted file.” That lead was quickly abandoned, and then Old Dominion Bank stopped responding to the police department, police stated.
“So the police just closed the case,” Holly Howard said.
NBC 5 Responds reached out to Old Dominion Bank for comment regarding the surveillance video but did not hear back.
According to the Pingree Grove Deputy Police Chief Jeff Pokorney , Jo Howard’s check “was intercepted in the mail and subsequently cashed at a bank outside of [their] jurisdiction,” and there are “no further” steps they can take. In the meantime, Jo Howard said she also wasn’t given any information about how to report the check stolen to the Social Security Administration.
“I made seven trips to the Social Security office. Every time you see a different person, you get a different story,” she said.
On the seventh visit, Jo Howard said she was told to file a theft report with the U.S. Treasury Department. Now almost a year from the theft, she said the investigation is just ramping up.
With all the delays in the investigation, Holly Howard said she fears many seniors may never learn they’re owed money under the Social Security Fairness Act — because thieves have already stolen their benefits.
“I am certain there are other old people entitled to chunky checks out there that might [have] no idea,” she stated.
As for Jo Howard, she is optimistic her check may be reissued. And she already has big plans for the money.
“I really want to start a scholarship fund for law students to study animal rights and become animal rights lawyers,” Jo Howard stated. “I’m a strong animal rights advocate and I really think that it would be good.”
Here are some key takeaways:
If your Social Security benefits are stolen, file a police report and contact the agency immediately by phone or go to one of their offices.
One big change to be aware of: the government is phasing out paper checks, so make sure your electronic banking information is up to date.
You can find out if you’re owed more under the Social Security Fairness Act by checking your “My Social Security” account, watching for an SSA notice or calling Social Security directly.
