Social Security Abuse in Pennsylvania

[Tbag431]

My father retired when I was 8 or 9 in NJ. My mother told me that once they started getting SS (all 3 of us got our own checks) they opened an account with Merryl Lynch to gain interest on the money put in. My mother told me that they filled out a form for ML where ML would take out the exact amount from their joint checking account that SS was sending me. The money put into this account has paid for college, my computer, my car, renting off-campus, etc, everything in the 4 years of college. I recently graduated and my father told me that if there was any money left, that they would give it all to me. They even referred to it as my account, though it didn't have my name on it, I mean, when they opened the account I was a minor. Anyway, my mother decided that since she had a lot of debt that she would take some of the money from the account and give me the rest. I got exactly $3,000 and wondered why the account would be closed with an exact dollar amount. She told me she needed the money. She told me she took exactly $1,000 (I asked her REPEATEDLY if it was EXACTLY $1,000, and every time she said YES), but I found out by investigating that it was $1,300. She told me I should be ashamed of myself for questioning it, she told me I was selfish for wanting the money and told me that it wasn't mine to begin with.

I've contacted SS and was told that the money, if saved, should be in an account with my name on it. I'm now 22. If I contacted Social Security, would they even bother with an investigation into this? What can I do? That money was SS money and was intended to pay for college. I'm not done paying for college, I owe $20,000 in loans and haven't gotten a "real" job yet. I am currently working but do not receive benefits from this job, so I am without health insurance. I also found out that my mother used allll of my savings bonds. They were in her name, my grandmother gave them to me and put my mother on as a co-owner. I had over $4,000 in bonds, at full maturity. But, here's the thing, only one of them have reached full maturity in 2006. I asked my mother what happened to my bonds, and she said she spent them.

After questioning all of this, just QUESTIONING, I got kicked out in one day. I came home and my father was changing the locks and refused to let me in to get my property. Later that night I had to go in and take everything I could fit into my fiance's van... I found that they took the sheets off my bed, took all my soaps and toothbrush and everything in my bathroom and put it in a plastic bag and it leaked all over. They took down all pictures of me in the house and put them face-down on my dresser. My father told me he wishes he never had me, and my mother says she hates me. Now, I must have hit a nerve when questioning about the social security.

What can I do? Will Social Security bother with an investigation into this? Please, someone point me in the right direction. I'm temporarily living at my fiance's house and have lost everything in one day. Now they're refusing to transfer the car I drive into my name. I want to contact Social Security about what my parents did, but only if they're going to conduct an investigation. I did nothing wrong, I merely questioned why my money is just gone. I'm posting for information and help, do not judge me. I've posted in advice forums and people judge me. I simply need legal advice. What do I do?

[Mr. Knowitall]

You describe the funds as having been commingled before the transfer to the new account. That makes it a lot harder for you to establish this as something more than a gift from your parents. This is also money they could have simply spent, not saving a cent for you.

How much did they contribute to your college? I'm just trying to get some perspective on why you would try to get your parents charged with fraud over about $5,000?

If I were you, I would get over myself and apologize to my parents for being such a Grade A jerk. But if the money is more important to you than getting the locks changed back and having a relationship with your parents, by all means, keep trying to get them charged with fraud. Or sue them - there's nothing that brings a family closer together than a lawsuit, and if you get too close there's usually a guy with a gun in the courtroom to separate you.

Sorry if it seems harsh - but it sounds like your parents did an awful lot for you, and you got all up their grill anyway.

[Tbag431]

My parents didn't do anything for me. My mom spent $4,000 of MY savings bonds. My dad is an alcoholic and blames me for him not leaving my mother. My dad told me he wishes he never had me and my mom says she hates me. They kicked me out, changed the locks, and took down all pictures of me in the house and put them face-down on my dresser. They never spent a dime on my education. My parents are horrible people and have been for years. They have alienated me from the rest of my family and I have no one now. I'm living on the street thanks to them. This isn't a relationship advice forum, it's legal advice. I came on here to ask about what to do about the SS money, not about whether or not I should apologize to my parents for making me want to crawl up in a ball and die. And how does it sound like they did an awful lot for me??? Did I write my entire life story for you? I don't want anymore posts from people who are going to judge me. I want and need answers from people who understand the freaking question!

[aaron]

The money put into this account has paid for college, my computer, my car, renting off-campus, etc, everything in the 4 years of college.

My parents didn't do anything for me.

Which one is it?

[Tbag431]

They put SOCIAL SECURITY money that SS was sending directly to ME into that account. Social Security paid for college, my computer, my car, renting off-campus, etc, everything in the 4 years of college!

[Tbag431]

My mother told me that they filled out a form for ML where ML would take out the exact amount from their joint checking account that SS was sending me. The money put into this account has paid for college, my computer, my car, renting off-campus, etc, everything in the 4 years of college.

NEVER MIND THIS POST! YOU PEOPLE DON'T READ! ALL YOU DO IS PULL FACTS OUT OF THIN AIR!

[rmet4nzkx]

You are confused.
Social security is not intended to pay your college expenses and you are obligated to pay your school loans. The SSA dependents check is payable to your representitive payee, your parents since you were a minor, it's purpose is to pay for your care between the time the benefits were first received until your 18th birthday, which they did and apparnetly for another 4 years while you attended college, don't you believe that amounted to more than $9,000? Then you want a car besides? Your parents opted to finance your college education, for which they had no obligation by, covering your cost of care while you were a minor and placing the money in an account with interest so you would have more for college? Did you try to get any scholarships or did you figure that you had a free ride? You are ungrateful and your parents have done nothing wrong. It's time to grow up and be an adult.

[Tbag431]

This isn't an advice board you retard. Just because I'm only 22 doesn't mean I'm not entitled to money that I was told was going to be my savings. You don't know the story of my life or the horrible things I've been through with them. You should be ashamed of yourself for passing judgement on a post, yes, this is only a post, not a window into my life. Perhaps you've forgotten, but I asked a question about Social Security. I never asked them for the money back. I asked them why they took the money behind my back. The money that they gave me is all I have in the world, and my mother threatened to take more away from me because she has expensive tastes. I still have loans for school, which the rest of this money was supposed to pay for. My mother needs an enormous house with excessive furnishings so her friends think she's rich. She's gotten herself into extreme debt because of it. I asked questions about WHY the money was taken behind my back. I'm a legal adult and was told the rest of the money in the account was my savings for when I was done with college. I was kicked out of my house and physically threatened because I acted like an adult and asked questions. I never demanded the money back. I was also given $4,000 of savings bonds that my mother spent on herself. You have a lot of nerve passing judgement on someone you don't even know. I am an only child. My parents alienated us from the rest of their family. I have no one. I am completely alone. I had to get a savings account in my own name to save the rest of the money because she wanted to take more. When she found out, she was livid. I lost everything in one day. My father told me he wished he never had me and my mom says she hates me. All I did was ask questions. I NEVER, I repeat NEVER asked for that money back. Do you understand me? You may have to read my post again for full comprehension of what I'm saying. I NEVER asked for the money back. I asked QUESTIONS. It's not a crime to ask questions. I could have said nothing and watched while my mother took the rest of the money to pay off her own debt. But I did something and questioned her motives for taking it behind my back. I did nothing wrong. I am not ungrateful. I am thankful that I saved some of the money before losing it all. Your post is hurtful and uncalled for. I am disappointed in myself for even coming to this website to seek legal "help" and this is what I get. I get badgered by people who don't even know the whole story. They assume that parents are wonderful and "these kids today" are terrible and ungrateful. I have never done drugs, gotten in trouble with the law, or done anything wrong my whole life. I went to college and got good grades. I have never been a disappointment in my life. I've never done anything to deserve such treatment from my parents or people like you who assume the truth. I am a good and considerate person and don't deserve this from anyone. I don't deserve to be judged by the likes of you. I lost everything familiar in one day. All pictures of me in the house were taken down and placed upside-down. I asked questions and got cut off by my family. If you still believe that my parents have done nothing wrong, then you are a hateful person who has no place giving others so-called advice.

[Mr. Knowitall]

If it makes you feel better, I think you're all acting like children.

You got the answer to your legal question in the first paragraph I posted.

[Tbag431]

I got an answer and a lot of added crap. Post #8 applies to you too. This is a legal advice forum, not a relationship advice forum.