Social Security privacy breach - ex-spouse got my benefit information and contact details after 20+ years

This is a serious privacy violation! When SSA processes garnishments depends on the specific setup, but typically they're processed 1-3 business days after the payment date - not before. The money isn't instantaneously transferred. I'd recommend filing a formal complaint about the privacy breach immediately. Contact the SSA Office of the Inspector General to report this unauthorized disclosure of your personal information. You can do this online at oig.ssa.gov or call 1-800-269-0271. Document everything - dates of calls, names of representatives if possible, and exactly what information was disclosed. You also have the right to request a meeting with the local office manager to discuss this serious breach. They need to document this internally and take corrective action.

OMG this is exactly what im scared of!!!! My ex was abusive and i dont want him knowing ANYTHING about me. I filed for spousal benefits last month and the lady PROMISED me he would never know. Now I'm freaking out reading this!!!! Did they even apologize to you??? This is so wrong!

As a retired SSA claims specialist, I'm appalled by what happened to you. This is a clear violation of the Privacy Act. The representative who disclosed your information to your ex-spouse committed a serious breach of protocol and possibly broke federal law. Regarding garnishments for child support: SSA typically processes these within 1-3 business days after payment. The funds are transferred to the state agency that placed the garnishment order (NYS in your case). The state agency then distributes the funds according to their own processing schedule, which can take another 3-5 business days. For the privacy violation, I strongly recommend: 1. File a formal complaint with the Office of Inspector General 2. Request a meeting with the local office manager 3. File a Privacy Act violation complaint 4. Document all details including dates, times, and exact information disclosed This type of disclosure should never happen, and the agency needs to take corrective action both to address your situation and to prevent similar occurrences in the future.

This is INFURIATING!!! Same thing happened to my sister - her abusive ex found out she moved to Florida because some SSA employee told him when he went in to file his own benefits. These people have NO REGARD for safety or privacy!!! They just hand out private info like candy!!! And then they hide behind "privacy policies" when WE need information. The system is BROKEN.

I just wanted to chime in that trying to reach SSA by phone is a nightmare these days. After my info was compromised (different situation but still privacy related), I spent 3 weeks trying to get through to someone who could actually help. Always disconnected or on hold for hours then cut off. I finally used Claimyr.com to get through - it basically waits on hold for you then calls when an agent is ready. Saved me hours of frustration. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU For something serious like this privacy breach, you really need to talk to a supervisor directly, not just whoever answers the general line. The service helped me finally get through to the right person who could escalate my issue.

wait im confused about something... so your getting child support arrears after 20 years of divorce? how does that work? are your kids still minors?

Just an FYI - in case it helps with your timeline expectations - my ex's benefits were garnished for back child support and it took about 8 business days from his payment date before the money showed up in my account. NYS might be different, but that's how long it took in my case (in Michigan). The first garnishment payment is often the slowest because they're setting up the process. After that, it should be more consistent each month.

My friend had her info given to an ex and she got a lawyer who threatened to sue SSA for the privacy violation!!! They ended up settling with her but I don't know the details. Maybe worth talking to a lawyer????

NOT DEFENDING THEM but just so everyone knows - when you file for a spousal benefit based on an ex's record, that benefit COMES FROM their earnings record. So while they shouldn't be sharing your contact info AT ALL (that's 100% wrong), they do sometimes have to acknowledge that someone is collecting on the record when the primary beneficiary files. BUT GIVING OUT PHONE NUMBERS AND ADDRESSES IS NEVER OK!!!!!!

This is absolutely unacceptable and I'm so sorry you're dealing with this violation of your privacy! As someone new to this community, I'm shocked to learn that SSA employees would disclose such sensitive personal information to an ex-spouse. From what I'm reading in these responses, it sounds like you have strong grounds for filing complaints. The fact that they gave him your phone number and current location is particularly egregious - there's no legitimate reason for that information to be shared, especially given the potential safety concerns for people escaping abusive relationships. I hope the formal complaint process works out for you and that SSA takes this seriously. It's clear from other comments here that this isn't an isolated incident, which makes it even more important that you pursue this. Thank you for sharing your experience - it's helping others understand what could happen and how to protect themselves. Stay strong and don't let them brush this off as a "minor mistake" - what happened to you was a serious breach of federal privacy protections.

As someone new to this community, I'm absolutely horrified by what happened to you. The breach of your privacy is inexcusable, and I can't imagine how violated and unsafe you must feel having your ex-spouse suddenly contact you after 20+ years with your personal information. What strikes me most is the complete double standard - they wouldn't tell YOU basic information about your ex when you filed, citing privacy, but then they freely gave him detailed financial information AND your contact details? That's not just inconsistent policy application, it's potentially dangerous for people who may have fled abusive situations. I'm glad to see so many knowledgeable community members here giving you concrete steps to take. The suggestion to file with the Office of Inspector General seems crucial, and I hope you also consider the legal consultation route that was mentioned. This isn't just about your individual case - SSA needs to be held accountable for these systematic privacy violations that could put people in real danger. Thank you for sharing this experience. It's eye-opening for those of us who might assume our information would be protected. I hope you get the justice and resolution you deserve, and that your situation helps prevent this from happening to others.