Little-Acorn
04-15-2014, 10:17 AM
Looks like the govt is stopping this program, now that they've been caught at it.
But I'm astounded.
Since when have children been responsible for their parents' debts? Especially debts the parents incurred back when the child was maybe 5 years old?
How could I possibly be liable for a debt I never asked for, never signed any note for, never knew it existed, and I never had anything to do with incurring?
The article says that the law used to say the SSA could go after people for their parents' debts if the debt was less than 10 years old, but a change in 2008 made them able to go after debts that were older than that.
Huh? How on Earth could it be legal for them to take money from me, for a debt my parents incurred even ONE year ago?
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http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2014/04/14/social-security-administration-suspends-program-to-recover-money-from-adult/
Government suspends controversial program to recover money from adult children of dead taxpayers
Published April 14, 2014
FoxNews.com
The Social Security Administration announced Monday it is suspending a controversial program that goes after adult children of deceased taxpayers who the government claims were recipients of overpayments more than a decade ago.
Acting Social Security Commissioner Carolyn W. Colvin said she has directed an immediate halt to the three-year-old program while the agency does a review. The controversial program seized tax refunds in an effort to recoup the funds.
The move to stop the program came after many of the recipients and members of Congress complained to the federal agency.
"While this policy of seizing tax refunds to repay decades-old Social Security overpayments might be allowed under the law, it is entirely unjust," Democratic Sens. Barbara Boxer of California and Barbara Mikulski of Maryland said in a letter to Colvin.
The program was authorized by a 2008 change in the law that allows Social Security and other federal agencies to use a Treasury program to seize federal payments to recoup debts that are more than 10 years old. Previously, there was a 10-year limit on using the program.
In most cases, the seizures are done through tax refunds.
The change was tucked into the 2008 farm bill -- but trying to track down which lawmaker added in the one line that lifted the 10-year statute hasn’t been easy. And, not surprisingly, Washington lawmakers haven’t been eager to step up to the plate and take the blame.
But I'm astounded.
Since when have children been responsible for their parents' debts? Especially debts the parents incurred back when the child was maybe 5 years old?
How could I possibly be liable for a debt I never asked for, never signed any note for, never knew it existed, and I never had anything to do with incurring?
The article says that the law used to say the SSA could go after people for their parents' debts if the debt was less than 10 years old, but a change in 2008 made them able to go after debts that were older than that.
Huh? How on Earth could it be legal for them to take money from me, for a debt my parents incurred even ONE year ago?
-------------------------------------------------
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2014/04/14/social-security-administration-suspends-program-to-recover-money-from-adult/
Government suspends controversial program to recover money from adult children of dead taxpayers
Published April 14, 2014
FoxNews.com
The Social Security Administration announced Monday it is suspending a controversial program that goes after adult children of deceased taxpayers who the government claims were recipients of overpayments more than a decade ago.
Acting Social Security Commissioner Carolyn W. Colvin said she has directed an immediate halt to the three-year-old program while the agency does a review. The controversial program seized tax refunds in an effort to recoup the funds.
The move to stop the program came after many of the recipients and members of Congress complained to the federal agency.
"While this policy of seizing tax refunds to repay decades-old Social Security overpayments might be allowed under the law, it is entirely unjust," Democratic Sens. Barbara Boxer of California and Barbara Mikulski of Maryland said in a letter to Colvin.
The program was authorized by a 2008 change in the law that allows Social Security and other federal agencies to use a Treasury program to seize federal payments to recoup debts that are more than 10 years old. Previously, there was a 10-year limit on using the program.
In most cases, the seizures are done through tax refunds.
The change was tucked into the 2008 farm bill -- but trying to track down which lawmaker added in the one line that lifted the 10-year statute hasn’t been easy. And, not surprisingly, Washington lawmakers haven’t been eager to step up to the plate and take the blame.