Widow claims government mistake cost her $4K

Social Security Administration apologizes for inconvenience

ORLANDO, Fla. – The day after News 6 first published this report, Maricarmen Tate received a check from the Social Security Administration reimbursing her for the $4,362 she claims the government erroneously withdrew from her account.

“(News 6) really exposed everything,” said Tate.  “If it weren’t for you guys, nobody would know.  I’d probably still be waiting for it.”


Original Story:

Shortly after her husband Charles died from brain cancer in the spring of 2016, Maricarmen Tate said she notified the Social Security Administration (SSA) that the disability benefits he had recently applied for would no longer be needed.

But weeks after the funeral, the government began electronically depositing thousands of dollars into the couple's joint checking account.

"This is wrong.  This is not my money," said Tate, who claims she immediately alerted SSA to the error.  "I was honest.  I was very honest."

Yet despite her frequent phone calls to the federal agency, Tate claims $2,181 continued to be deposited into her account every month.

"I put that money aside because I knew it was not mine," Tate told News 6.

In August 2016, after it appeared the erroneous payments had finally been stopped, Tate wrote a personal check to SSA for $8,724 to reimburse the government.

Tate later received a letter from SSA confirming that she did not owe any more money.

"Your current overpayment balance is $0.00," the letter stated.

But three months later, Tate's troubles with SSA escalated.

Instead of Tate owning money to the government, she claims SSA suddenly owed her thousands of dollars.

"They removed more than $4,000 out of my checking account," Tate told News 6.  "I was just stunned when I saw I had money missing there."

A letter Tate received from Bank of America shows the government debited $4,362 from her account to reclaim benefits paid to her husband after his death.

"I just felt violated," said Tate, who claims that neither SSA or the U.S. Department of Treasury notified her that they would be draining money out of her bank account.  "This is just not right."

A spokesman for SSA told News 6 the agency could not specifically comment on Tate's situation due to privacy laws, but acknowledged that their staff was in contact with Tate and taking action to address her concerns.

"This incident is a very rare occurrence," SSA Deputy Regional Communications Director Frank Viera wrote in an email to News 6.  "When an error occurs, we act quickly to correct."

But Tate said SSA's response has been anything but quick.

Despite dozens of phone calls and several visits to the local SSA office, Tate says she has now been waiting more than nine months to get her money back.

"I need that money now," said Tate, who was her husband's full time caregiver until his death.  "I'm a widow.  I'm not working right now.  I depend on my savings for everything until hopefully I get a job."

Over the past year, News 6 has reported on other instances of SSA and the U.S. Department of Treasury erroneously attempting to withdraw money from Central Floridians' bank accounts.

In two of the cases, the government mistakenly believed the benefits recipients had died.


"When an overpayment or underpayment occurs, our policy requires that we notify the individual and take collection or refund actions when appropriate," Viera told News 6.  "We apologize for any inconvenience and remain committed to public service and the people we serve."

Tate acknowledges that the government needs tools to prevent fraud, including the ability to reclaim benefits payments sent to deceased individuals.

However, she believes SSA needs to take additional steps to verify no errors have occurred before withdrawing funds from bank accounts.

"Let people know what's going on," said Tate.  "Give me an explanation before you take that money."


About the Author:

Emmy Award-winning investigative reporter Mike DeForest has been covering Central Florida news for more than two decades.

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