How to Get a SSI Overpayment Removed from Your Credit History
My question involves collection proceedings in the State of: Washington
I was on SSI for several years (PTSD), and when I got a well-paying job notified them immediately. Next thing I knew, I was being audited for the last 12 months of SSI. She said I couldn't have been paying my bills with the income and assets I had. I proved with statements that I'd been living on credit cards, but she found against me, that I'd been "overpaid" SSI. What an angry woman.
I appealed, but unfortunately gave them the only copy of the documents. A couple weeks later my original credit card statements were returned to me by mail with no letter, and the address handwriting was that of my auditing officer. (hmm) I waited and waited for word, and finally after 6 months went back to their office, whereupon I was told there is no appeal and I was now past the appeal period! Naturally my appeal was 'lost' and was never annotated, although my visits to their office were.
I filed another appeal, and the same auditor who decided my case (How can they do that?) turned it down as untimely.
I lost my job after a year and found that Social Security had dinged my credit reports with a $6,700 unpaid debt, taking me down from a score of 804 to 670. Then they garnished my former employer. (good luck with that) Miraculously I'd managed to buy a house with this sh*t on my record, but I was charged higher interest. Now I want a HELOC. but higher interest because of this SocSec issue alone.
I read that Washington now has a new law with stricter reporting requirements; three of four identifying items must be correct, or the item must be removed. I suspect though that they give SocSec an opportunity to correct, and even if its removed it could take months for my score to improve. How can I navigate this process to get this unjust black eye off my record? I work in a field of trust, and this sort of problem also impairs my ability to get a job. (THANK you, SocSec, is this what you really want?!) Is there any other way to get this removed?
I have reapplied for SSI for the time being, retroactive to January, but haven't heard anything for months. I'm going in to the office today. I've asked the NW Justice Project to help but things are going slowly.