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Saturday, September 26, 2009

Social Security owes "fugitive felons" millions under settlement

After cutting off "fugitive felons" who are neither fugitive nor felons, Social Security now owes millions to those caught up in the error.

According to the Wall Street Journal:

The supposed fugitives include a disabled widow with a previously suspended driver's license, a quadriplegic man in a nursing home and a Nevada grandmother mistaken for a rapist.

At least 200,000 elderly and disabled folks were among those who lost their benefits under the Fugitive Felon program launched in 1996. Under a recent settlement, monies to them will be repaid. Among the errors that led to this were cases of mistaken identity and the use of outstanding warrants for even minor offenses, whether the person was actually fleeing. Even when the warrants were cleared, Social Security went after people for overpayment.

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