A widow racked up thousands of dollars in debt after the state reportedly overpaid her husband in Social Security.
For decades, those who received retirement benefits from the North Carolina State Department of State Treasurer received millions of dollars in overpayments. The state is now demanding that money be returned.
The mistake, which left dozens of families in debt, was made public after the incident. family I contacted Keely arthur Raleigh’s WRAL-TV Ask for help.
The State Department’s Treasury secretary told WRAL that the state manages $114 billion through its retirement plans division.
The bureau’s investigation found that overpayments totaling about $6 million went undiscovered for years.
According to the Treasury Department, Joseph Glenn was one of 41 retirees ordered to repay their debts.
His widow Penny Glenn said: Warar Joseph had no education, but worked hard as a heavy equipment operator for the city.
“I’ve seen him repairing water pipes in cold, icy water, knee-deep or deeper,” Penny said. “He worked day and night.”
In 2018, the Glenns received a letter from the state informing them that the family owed $241,181.19.
“I read the letter to him and we looked at each other and wept,” Penny reportedly said. Warar.
“He said, ‘Baby, what can I do? I can’t get my $241,000 back. I didn’t even know they were overpaying me.'”
The Glenn family was ordered to repay the funds in full.
Their monthly benefits were reduced to about $250 to make up for the mistake.
They were also informed that the state would confiscate everything. tax Returns that were not repaid.
After receiving a letter informing them of the debt, the Glenns filed for bankruptcy and Joseph returned to work as a delivery driver for O’Reilly Auto Parts.
“Can you imagine an 80-year-old man going back to work?” Penny asked.
In an interview with Finance Minister Dale Falwell, he explained that retirees typically die before paying off their debt to the country.
By the time of her death in June 2022, Joseph managed to repay $4,976.17.
Even after his death, the state found ways to raise even more money.
His pension covered the funeral expenses, but the state reportedly also collected $10,000 of it, leaving Penny to pay for the funeral expenses himself.
“It breaks my heart to know that I won’t be able to pay the bill because of someone else’s mistake,” Penny said, according to the report. Warar.
Lumir Ferguson owns RM Ferguson Funeral Home, where Joseph’s funeral was held. After hearing her story, he didn’t ask her to pay for the funeral.
“She said she would come here and sweep and mop,” Ferguson reportedly said. Warar.
“She said, ‘I’m going to come clean it up, but what do you need?’ I’m sure you’re enjoying it.”
After extensive research by WRAL, the state Legislature passed the following bill: law To better protect victims of fraudulent payments.
Viewers rallied to Penny’s side, donating more than $10,000 to cover the cost of Penny’s lost death benefit.
