Another disappointment

[Bob Wright]

Got my telephone call from Social Security this morning. They have denied the Lump Sum Death Benefit for Nita's death as Nita never worked under Social Security. Also, they denied my waiver for overpayment since large medical bills are not considered a hardship.

I had received Nita's SS in July. I had a form from SS requesting waiver of return of that payment as it would "pose a financial hardship." Didn't have to return it. They just held it from this month's payment. Very convenient.

Bob Wright

 

[buckaroo]

Sorry to hear about your wife Bob, yeah, Social Security is a tough group to deal with. It's all to the letter of the law. And they have seen and heared it all. And Medicare can be another story as well, fortunately they've been good to me but some of the providers are shysters. I'm waiting on a bill to come in now and if I see them trying to over bill I will be reporting them and Medicare doesn't play, you lose them and that's a chuck of income.

 

[Kevin]

I had a form from SS requesting waiver of return of that payment as it would "pose a financial hardship." Didn't have to return it. They just held it from this month's payment

I'm not old enough to deal with social security just yet, and so, I don't quite understand, if you had a waiver to be allowed to keep the money, can't you go and get it back since they held it out of this month's payment?

 

[Dan in MI]

I'm not old enough to deal with social security just yet, and so, I don't quite understand, if you had a waiver to be allowed to keep the money, can't you go and get it back since they held it out of this month's payment?

The problem is the same IRS, SS, Medicare. An agent can tell you XYZ, and you follow that only for agent B to say it’s all wrong. Then you get to pay the difference for their mistake. Gearing up for that fight now as my wife is low on SS credits and older than me. No matter she is short 10 credits and I have 160 extra.

 

[Bob Wright]

I'm not old enough to deal with social security just yet, and so, I don't quite understand, if you had a waiver to be allowed to keep the money, can't you go and get it back since they held it out of this month's payment?

I had a request for a waiver, which I sent in. This was denied. apparently I was not poor enough or pregnant.

Bob Wright

 

[whittsailor]

It’s ridiculous. I’m sorry you’re having to go through this sir.

 

[Bob Wright]

It’s ridiculous. I’m sorry you’re having to go through this sir.

What's the saying? "What doesn't kill you makes you tougher?"

Bob Wright

 

[rugerguy]

sorry to hear Bob yes they can and do seem to "pile it on"......and for how long now the death benefit is still $255....what a crock..................you take care Sir and God bless..........

 

[57springer]

+1 on the Death benefit . Those rates are most likely from year 1910 . Yet we can give the Illegals all the perks .............. Something is very wrong here !

 

[blume357]

Let's don't get political... I suggest if we comment to make ones that might be helpful to Bob. My first thought on the medical bills is to talk to the hospital...there are organizations that will help out with things like this.

 

[vito]

I'm not a lawyer but I know that Medicare and Social Security issues are often complex legal matters. There are lawyers that specialize in this area. A visit to one of these type lawyers might be worthwhile for you. Many lawyers provide the initial consultation free of charge, and this might be enough for the lawyer to determine if you have any chance of winning against these agencies' decisions.

 

[Ranger]

2nd the suggestion to check with the hospital for reduced costs. Many were formed under the Hill Burton act and have to. Others are non profit and have to provide a certain amount of free or reduced care to maintain that status (which can save them big bucks on taxes).

https://www.hrsa.gov/get-health-car...d a,loans for construction and modernization.

 

[Huskerguy72]

First,let me ad my condoelnces as well to you during this time.

I admit I do not have enough information to make any valid suggestions. As far as the overcharging by the hospital to Medicare, that should not happen. Medicare has schedules that determine how much reimbursement the hospital or Doctor receives. The hospital can charged all they want but Medicare determines how much they will pay. Hospitals do have the authority to charge up to 20% more as I understand it. Few do that.

Best wishes as you navigate this.

 

[Bob Wright]

First,let me ad my condoelnces as well to you during this time.

I admit I do not have enough information to make any valid suggestions. As far as the overcharging by the hospital to Medicare, that should not happen. Medicare has schedules that determine how much reimbursement the hospital or Doctor receives. The hospital can charged all they want but Medicare determines how much they will pay. Hospitals do have the authority to charge up to 20% more as I understand it. Few do that.

Best wishes as you navigate this.

HA! My Medicare statement often reads something like:

Hospital (or Doctor) billed: $795,000
Medicare approved: $2, 400
Medicare paid: $1, 940



Bob Wright

 

[Mike J]

I am sorry this has happened to you Bob.

 

[Bob Wright]

I am sorry this has happened to you Bob.

I thank you for that sentiment, but that's just another speed bump on the road of life.

Bob Wright

 

[moparclan]

I feel your pain, still dealing with the IRS on my deceased mothers estate 2020 tax return. been almost two years now and no refund, finally got my state representative involved so we'll see what happens. Probably be audited every year for the rest of my life!
On a better note Social Security, Medicare and the VA have been good to me. Also having a supplement helps too.

 

[rotor]

Sorry to hear about your wife Bob, yeah, Social Security is a tough group to deal with. It's all to the letter of the law. And they have seen and heared it all. And Medicare can be another story as well, fortunately they've been good to me but some of the providers are shysters. I'm waiting on a bill to come in now and if I see them trying to over bill I will be reporting them and Medicare doesn't play, you lose them and that's a chuck of income.

Overbill means billing for things that they didn't do, actually quite rare since it means jail time but does happen. On the other hand, billing a high figure for what they actually did is legal as medicare reimburses a set figure no matter what. If you feel your doctors are "shysters" go elsewhere. The real shysters are actually the government that doesn't pay when it is supposed to and there is no recourse.

 

[2Late45]

So very sorry for your loss Bob. Your experiences seem to mirror mine exactly. My wife passed on the 27th of February this year. One day short of the full month, so her benefit had to be repaid. Her time in the work force was too long ago and S.S. had no records of her early working periods, so no death benefit.

 

[blume357]

My suggestion is don't panic and I can only tell you what happened to me and how I saw it.
back in 2019 my 4 and a half days in the hospital bill was 395,000 dollars until they discovered I had insurance...then it was dropped to 97,000. What I determined by this initial bill was that is what they were going to in the end declare as a deduction from their taxes as a bad debt. I believe that is what hospitals do... they jack up the initial bill .... if one does not have insurance for it then they more often than not right it off. Once my insurance paid most of that 97,000 would you believe my hospital then wrote off the rest? I assume they did because I started to pay it off and then the balance just kind of disappeared.