My elderly mother who is 79 and legally blind lives with me and receives SSI benefits. She recently received a letter stating that Social Security had been incorrectly calculating her benefits and has overpaid her for two years and is demanding the money back. She receives about $700 a month. All of the money for SSI goes towards her care and she contributes some of the funds received towards home expenses, yet Social Security considers her food and shelter given to her by me as income.

She does not have the funds to pay back social security. In fact she recently underwent a dental procedure (root canal) for which she has to pay over $2000 in monthly installments. I barely make ends meet myself and to have to pay this money back would be a hardship for both of us.

What is the law on how Social Security calculates income for someone who has no income and no assets and what is my recourse?