We realize it may be a stretch for ordinary people to want to keep up with the comings and goings of the Social Security Administration, but sometimes circumstances permit where someone does want to follow the latest news regarding the agency due to a possible retirement or disability interest. This blog is an ongoing piecemeal of recent stories that have involved Social Security. Some are tidbits and some are important things that should be known in the world of retirement or disability and others are just interesting stories and nothing more.
Social Security To Remain Open
The number of days of the partial government shutdown over funding for a boarder wall President Trump insists of has now reached double digits, but Social Security will remain open for business. As you may already be aware, the shutdown is just a partial one and many agencies continue to operate during the shutdown, this is because an appropriations bill was previously passed and signed by Trump providing funding for these agencies to operate. The longer the shutdown endures could cause issues for some Americans, but as of right now and the foreseeable future, Social Security is open for business.
What Is Going On In Sacramento?
Two recent stories were reported where Social Security funds were misused by a Social Security employee and a representative payee in separate incidents. All combined, authorities say more than $900,000 was stolen from Social Security beneficiaries. According to a story from The Sacramento Bee, a 13-count indictment was issued against Eric Lemoyne Willis, 42, and Darron Dimitri Ross, 33, for defrauding Social Security out of more than $450,000 between 2015 and 2018. Willis, a Social Security operation supervisor, allegedly provided Social Security beneficiary information to Ross to setup fake bank accounts to transfer payments to the fraudulent accounts. According to authorities, at least 148 beneficiaries were impacted from the fraud. Willis and Ross face up to 37 years in prison.
In a separate incident, Lorene Deanda, 59, was charged by a federal grand jury of 10 counts of mail fraud and one count of conversion of Social Security benefits for allegedly stealing more than $516,000 from Social Security beneficiaries. According to another story from The Sacramento Bee, Deanda worked for a charitable organization that served as a representative payee for beneficiaries who were found unable to manage their own benefits. Documents related to the charges indicated Deanda would allegedly setup bank accounts for beneficiaries and put benefit funds into those accounts on behalf of the organization. Between 2009 and 2015 authorities believe Deanda stole more than $500,000 to use for her own expenses. If convicted, Deanda faces up to 20 years in prison.
New Year Reminder
We are now in 2019, and the new year means annual changes to Social Security programs. One of the more significant changes in the increase in pay to retirees, the disabled and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) beneficiaries will receive. For a complete list of Social Security changes in 2019 visit www.ssa.gov.
