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pinkstarburst

(1,874 posts)
Sat Apr 12, 2025, 02:11 PM Apr 2025

Man with HIV on disability has benefits cut (believes by DOGE) is ordered to pay back $200K

https://abc7news.com/post/bay-area-hiv-survivor-owes-back-201000-social-security-getting-disability-benefits-cut/16147446/

This Bay Area man has been on disability since 2005. He just got a letter from disability stating that they believe he should not have received payments from 2014-2025, and are demanding he pay back over $200K. He believes this is the work of DOGE. He's also been removed from Medicare, which he needs for HIV meds.

Very scary stuff for anyone on disability.

20 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Man with HIV on disability has benefits cut (believes by DOGE) is ordered to pay back $200K (Original Post) pinkstarburst Apr 2025 OP
Keep trying to squeeze that turnip MagickMuffin Apr 2025 #1
The cruelty is the point. . . . nt Bernardo de La Paz Apr 2025 #9
Tip of the iceberg (or spear?) intrepidity Apr 2025 #2
Legalized Serial killers AnnaLee Apr 2025 #3
Bastards. nt KarenS Apr 2025 #4
Jesus. How in the world do they justify this, and to all of a sudden, deny these long-given benefits? SWBTATTReg Apr 2025 #5
And just take away his life saving meds. sheshe2 Apr 2025 #6
Can he take legal action to fight this? BlueKota Apr 2025 #7
Reagan tried this PATRICK Apr 2025 #8
Most people on SSI and SSDI pinkstarburst Apr 2025 #14
Lawyers fees for applying for disability is limited wanderer54 Apr 2025 #17
Get a lawyer................I would tell them I want 15 billion paid back that was given to Space X................ turbinetree Apr 2025 #10
Bastards LoisB Apr 2025 #11
They're being so cruel. Baitball Blogger Apr 2025 #12
OMG! This is horrific and evil! Whatever it takes, let's DO something. Counting on massive turnout on April 19th!!! wordstroken Apr 2025 #13
I'm organizing a protest at my Social Secuirty office on Tuesday. yellow dahlia Apr 2025 #16
Shout out for everything you're doing in that leadership roll, yellow dahlia. wordstroken Apr 2025 #18
I don't think there will be significant turnouts like on April 5th, or yellow dahlia Apr 2025 #19
It's beyond shameful! But they don't have a shame-meter! electric_blue68 Apr 2025 #15
More information MichMan Apr 2025 #20

MagickMuffin

(18,069 posts)
1. Keep trying to squeeze that turnip
Sat Apr 12, 2025, 02:21 PM
Apr 2025


This insanity has to stop. But who has the courage to stop it?

I hope Mr. Bay Area Man can find a solution to this madness. I’d go to my local tv stations to address my concerns with them, as well as my representative. However, my representative wouldn’t care because they are magaloongoons!


intrepidity

(8,552 posts)
2. Tip of the iceberg (or spear?)
Sat Apr 12, 2025, 02:24 PM
Apr 2025

My guess is they intend to try this on *everyone* and see who will (and can) fight.

Evil bastards.

AnnaLee

(1,348 posts)
3. Legalized Serial killers
Sat Apr 12, 2025, 02:29 PM
Apr 2025

Remember when Trump said he could kill without consequence and then did so on when people died on Jan.6th. I guess after millions died of COVID (who knows how many his administration was directly responsible for), it became easy to kill. How many sent to Venezuela are still alive?

SWBTATTReg

(26,026 posts)
5. Jesus. How in the world do they justify this, and to all of a sudden, deny these long-given benefits?
Sat Apr 12, 2025, 02:31 PM
Apr 2025

And he's not the only one I know that receive benefits due to their having AIDS. I know several of my friends, acquaintances that get SS benefits too, and they have all gotten them for a long, long time.

sheshe2

(95,835 posts)
6. And just take away his life saving meds.
Sat Apr 12, 2025, 02:44 PM
Apr 2025

Because of course the pre-pubescent boys of DOGE are doctors as well.

No words.

PATRICK

(12,347 posts)
8. Reagan tried this
Sat Apr 12, 2025, 03:04 PM
Apr 2025

and as I recall more than few were ordered to pay back. And this also took place when "mistakes were made" not always by the applicant. This might be a more gross application of the Reagan era abuses, without a Congress to care, of course.

pinkstarburst

(1,874 posts)
14. Most people on SSI and SSDI
Sat Apr 12, 2025, 06:01 PM
Apr 2025

don't have a lot of spare change lying around to hire a legal team. Many people, if not most people on disability, live in poverty, so unless there is a way to hire a lawyer to take on the federal government and that lawyer is willing to work for nothing...

wanderer54

(98 posts)
17. Lawyers fees for applying for disability is limited
Sat Apr 12, 2025, 10:35 PM
Apr 2025

to 25% of back benefits (from time of application) with a maximum of $9,200. This is a Social Security regulation
There is no up-front-fee to pay

turbinetree

(26,975 posts)
10. Get a lawyer................I would tell them I want 15 billion paid back that was given to Space X................
Sat Apr 12, 2025, 05:05 PM
Apr 2025

wordstroken

(1,405 posts)
13. OMG! This is horrific and evil! Whatever it takes, let's DO something. Counting on massive turnout on April 19th!!!
Sat Apr 12, 2025, 05:13 PM
Apr 2025

yellow dahlia

(4,514 posts)
16. I'm organizing a protest at my Social Secuirty office on Tuesday.
Sat Apr 12, 2025, 09:06 PM
Apr 2025

Anyone can host an event. Here is a link to the call to action. https://actionnetwork.org/event_campaigns/hands-off-social-security

One of the organizations behind this is Social Security Works.

wordstroken

(1,405 posts)
18. Shout out for everything you're doing in that leadership roll, yellow dahlia.
Sat Apr 12, 2025, 10:55 PM
Apr 2025

Looking forward to your report with pics or video and details on how things go for you. And appreciate you posting the link to the Hands Off Social Security site for more info.

Excitingly anticipating the upcoming record-breaking turnout numbers across the globe. 🙏



yellow dahlia

(4,514 posts)
19. I don't think there will be significant turnouts like on April 5th, or
Sat Apr 12, 2025, 10:59 PM
Apr 2025

what is expected on the 19th.

But we need to keep the grass growing. And Social Security warrants attention right now.

There are many other protests this week, as well.

MichMan

(16,623 posts)
20. More information
Sun Apr 13, 2025, 07:42 AM
Apr 2025

Under the California Working Disabled Program, people who meet the federal definition of disability —an AIDS diagnosis qualifies as a disability — and whose net income is 250 percent of the federal poverty level can receive health coverage through Medi-Cal, California’s version of Medicaid.

Aguilar averaged $2,200 a month in income last year, he said. The Social Security Administration says disability benefits may cease for a person making $1,550 a month or more. But at times during the period covered by the letter, Aguilar wasn’t working, he said. He didn’t know why the administration chose the dates it did.


https://www.advocate.com/news/social-security-demands-activist-repay
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