Social security forcing me into early retirement please help

[SteveM434443]

3 years ago I did sign up for SS but immanently after doing so I called and cancelled.

I spoke with an Asian person on the phone who didn’t speak very good English.

I was very clear in English as to my intent. She confirmed that it was cancelled.

For the last year I have been receiving checks that I returned.

I just received a letter asking if I wish to appeal there decision. 

I don’t feel this is a matter that needs to be appealed, this is a clerical mistake they made.

I assume they record these conversations, how do i get a copy?  

I even get W2’s from them for 0.00 like they are trying to make a point.

There must be some person or agency that can help me.  

[papawofboo]

You get checks? Paper checks?

[Winter2025VA]

Papaw @papawofboo 

STEVE @SteveM434443 WROTE:

For the last year I have been receiving ➡️  checks  ⬅️  that I returned.

Take care,

Nicole  👵

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[*** @papawofboo wrote 3/26/25:

You get  ➡️  checks?  ⬅️  Paper checks? ***]

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[papawofboo]

I did not know they mailed checks anymore. When I signed up for SS way long time ago I had to give them my banking info to receive my money.

Steve said he had been getting them for 3 years?? Every person I know that gets SS has it sent to bank account. Do you know anyone who gets a check?

[Winter2025VA]

Papaw @papawofboo , lol I am a hermit in my old age (don't discuss Social Security with anyone in my real life) so have NO idea. Sorry!

I do direct deposit myself.

Take care,

Nicole  👵

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[*** @papawofboo wrote 3/27/25:

I did not know they mailed checks anymore. When I signed up for SS way long time ago I had to give them my banking info to receive my money.

Steve said he had been getting them for 3 years?? Every person I know that gets SS has it sent to bank account. Do you know anyone who gets a check? ***]

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[GailL1]

A perfect example of why “calling” the Social Security Administration to make changes is NOT a good way to handle such an important matter.

@SteveM434443,  Social Security is a complicated program because it isn’t just (1) program - it is made up of Old Age Retirement, including Spousal, benefits, Survivors benefits and Social Security Disability benefits OR Supplemental Security Income.  Each of these have their own methods of signing up, being eligible for and when.

With 70 MILLION people now on the rolls, it is difficult to handle the specifics of one beneficiary especially when it is a complicated matter and determine what they want to do or in your case, undo.

There is no way around it, you need to make an appointment with your most local office and take all the documents you have with you in order to fix your matter.  Take everything - your SS #, your proof of identity, your birth certificate, anything else if your benefits are under the number of another.  Then the date that you applied for benefits and type of benefit, the list of when you got the “checks” and when you sent them back and hopefully they can find them.  Acopy or check number would help but I doubt that you have such info but if you do, it would be helpful.

This isn’t a clerical mistake, it is a matter that you created - there is a set manner to apply for benefits and a set manner to cancel them.  Each of these is a separate transaction and now that it evidently has been going on for some time, it may need to be recreated to make sure all the various parts of benefits and your withdrawal are done correctly so as to assure you that your full benefits are intact for the time when you want to file for real.

If you are also on Medicare or applicable for it, your file there also needs to be reviewed to make sure you are in compliance or hopefully, save you some late enrollment penalties if that is the case.

If you cannot do this by yourself - see if you can find a trusted friend or family member that can help you with the paperwork and visit to the local office [with an appointment].  

[Winter2025VA]

Steve @SteveM434443 , I would "suggest" following THEIR RULES which is to APPEAL before the DEADLINE for doing so runs out. Trying to "fight" them on this will only waste your time. Just my 1 cent! Good Luck, Nicole  👵

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[*** @SteveM434443 wrote 3/26/25:

3 years ago I did sign up for SS but immanently after doing so I called and cancelled.

I spoke with an Asian person on the phone who didn’t speak very good English.

I was very clear in English as to my intent. She confirmed that it was cancelled.

For the last year I have been receiving checks that I returned.

I just received a letter asking if I wish to appeal there decision. 

I don’t feel this is a matter that needs to be appealed, this is a clerical mistake they made.

I assume they record these conversations, how do i get a copy?  

I even get W2’s from them for 0.00 like they are trying to make a point.

There must be some person or agency that can help me.  ***]

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[SteveM434443]

Nicole, thanks for your 1 cent. I should have mentioned that the reason i am reluctant is i assume if i loose the appeal then I'm done. Maybe I'm wrong I don't know.  

[GailL1]

SSA.gov- Cancel Your Benefits Application 

SSA.gov- SSA - 521 

Mail us a request to cancel your application

 

Download Form 521: Request for Withdrawal of Application (PDF). Then, find the Social Security office closest to your home and mail us the completed form.

• Find office address

  You are still gonna have to prove that you have returned all the payments before this Form is even processed.  

[Winter2025VA]

You are welcome Steve @SteveM434443 !!! Well, you may also win. So I would "suggest" doing the appeal before that OPTION expires. And READ all the "fine print" BEFORE proceeding.

I "think" they give you another OPTION if you lose. NOT sure.

WE all are NOT "perfect" and at our OLD age we DO NOT need to be spoken to as IF we are either stupid or a child.

So sorry this happened to you and keep FIGHTING to be heard!!!  👍

Also, I "heard" the following BELOW (copy & paste) from another poster on THIS SITE. Not sure IF it is true, but MAYBE worth a try AFTER you do your appeal.

NO ONE is going to HELP you right now = they ALSO have to "follow" this direction.

IF you lose.

‎FROM ANOTHER POSTER: Calling or emailing your local congressional representative's office and asking for help is effective.

*** I would luv UPDATES if you feel like stopping by again. NO pressure to do this. ***

Take care,

Nicole  👵

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[*** @SteveM434443 wrote 3/26/25:

Nicole, thanks for your 1 cent. I should have mentioned that the reason i am reluctant is i assume if i loose the appeal then I'm done. Maybe I'm wrong I don't know.  ***]

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