Social Security privacy breach - ex-spouse got my benefit information and contact details after 20+ years
I'm absolutely furious and need advice. After filing for my SS retirement with a spousal top-up benefit from my ex-husband, someone at the Social Security office has completely violated my privacy. When my ex went to file his benefits last month (he's past his FRA), the SSA rep told him: 1. That I'm collecting MY retirement plus a spousal top-up 2. The EXACT DOLLAR AMOUNTS of both my retirement and the spousal portion 3. My CURRENT PHONE NUMBER when he asked for it 4. That I currently live in Virginia We've been divorced over 20 years with ZERO contact until he suddenly called me out of the blue! When I initially filed, SSA wouldn't tell me anything about him - not even if he was alive or collecting benefits. But they gave him all my information??? To make matters worse, he was supposed to have his benefits garnished for child support arrears (NYS support collection enforcement), but he says the garnishment didn't happen on his first check (4th Wednesday of December). Now he wants ME to call SSA to find out what's happening with HIS garnishment. When I tried calling, they refused to tell me anything due to "privacy" (ironic!) and the rep said questions about garnishment timing were "above my pay grade." NYS verified the garnishment order is active and that SSA should send the funds to them before forwarding to me. Does anyone know when SSA actually processes these garnishments? Is it the same day as his payment, a day before, two days? I need this basic info so he can potentially deal with a warrant situation. I'm beyond livid that SSA violated my privacy like this after explicitly telling me my information would be secure!
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Tasia Synder
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.
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Natalia Stone
•Thank you so much for this information. I'll definitely file a complaint with the OIG. I just can't believe they would do this when they specifically told me my information would be protected! Do you know if there's any recourse for the damage already done? He now has my phone number and knows where I live after 20 years of no contact.
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Selena Bautista
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!
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Mohamed Anderson
•Not OP but I had something similar happen. My ex found out I was collecting on his record. SSA claims they don't notify the ex-spouse but clearly someone's giving out info when they shouldn't! Be careful and maybe use a PO box for mail.
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Ellie Perry
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.
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Natalia Stone
•Thank you for this detailed information. It helps to hear from someone who worked at SSA that this shouldn't have happened. It makes me feel validated that I have a legitimate complaint. I'll follow your advice and file the formal complaints. Do you know if there's any way to flag my account to prevent future disclosures? I'm worried about what else they might tell him if he calls again.
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Landon Morgan
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.
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Teresa Boyd
•Yep - the double standard is crazy. They won't tell you a single thing about your ex but somehow they'll tell your ex everything about you? Make it make sense!
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Lourdes Fox
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.
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Natalia Stone
•Thanks for this suggestion. I've been trying to get through for days and keep getting disconnected. It's like they're trying to make it impossible to complain about their mistakes! I'll check out that service because I really need to speak to someone with authority who can help fix this situation.
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Mohamed Anderson
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?
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Natalia Stone
•No, the children are grown now, but he never paid what he was ordered to during their childhood. The state maintained the record of what he owes, and there's no statute of limitations on child support debt in our state. It accumulated interest all these years too. I had given up on ever seeing that money, but apparently when someone files for Social Security, old child support debts can be collected through garnishment.
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Teresa Boyd
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.
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Natalia Stone
•That's really helpful, thank you! I didn't realize it could take that long. I'll let him know it might be another week before anything happens. I appreciate the real-world timeline example.
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Selena Bautista
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????
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Tasia Synder
•This is actually good advice. The Privacy Act allows individuals to sue the federal government for damages when their information is improperly disclosed. You'd need to document everything carefully and consult with an attorney who specializes in Privacy Act cases. The standard of proof is high, but given how blatant this violation was, it might be worth exploring.
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Landon Morgan
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!!!!!!
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Ellie Perry
•This is a very important distinction. You're correct that when processing benefits, SSA may need to acknowledge that benefits are being paid on a record. However, this should be limited to what's necessary for processing the claim properly. Specific benefit amounts, contact information, and current location should never be disclosed to an ex-spouse. Those details go far beyond what's needed for proper benefit administration and represent a serious breach of privacy protocols.
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