Social Security underpayment of $15K still unresolved after 2 years - exhausted all contact options

Have you tried using Claimyr to get through to SSA faster? I was in a similar situation with an $8K underpayment that took forever to resolve. I used claimyr.com and they got me connected to an actual SSA agent in about 10 minutes instead of the usual 2+ hour wait. The agent I spoke with was able to escalate my case to a supervisor who finally got it processed. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU showing how it works. Seriously, after 6 months of getting nowhere, I had my payment within 3 weeks after that call.

Based on my experience working with SS cases, you need to specifically request a "critical payment" processing. This is different from regular processing and gets prioritized. Tell them explicitly: "I need to speak with someone who can process a critical payment for my underpayment." Also, get everything in writing - ask for a formal letter confirming the underpayment amount and the expected timeframe for resolution. Another approach is filing for an administrative appeal using Form SSA-561-U2. This forces them to review your case within a specific timeframe. You should also request an "immediate payment" based on financial hardship if that applies to your situation. Don't give up - the system is frustrating but there are procedures to escalate cases like yours.

thats not even that bad lol... ssa has owed me money for like 5 YEARS now. every time i go in they say theyll fix it but nothing ever happens. the whole system is rigged. they hope we just give up or die before they have to pay us what their OWN CALCULATONS say we deserve

Have you gotten anything in writing from them confirming the amount they owe you? Always get EVERYTHING in writing with SSA. I learned this the hard way.

I had a similar situation with an underpayment of about $6,800 after my FRA recalculation was done incorrectly. What finally worked for me was filing a formal complaint through the SSA Office of the Inspector General. Here's what you need to do: 1. Go to https://oig.ssa.gov/ 2. Click on "Submit a Report" 3. Choose "Allegations of Mismanagement/Social Security Administration Employee Misconduct" 4. Fill out the form with all details, dates of contact, names of representatives 5. Keep the confirmation number Within 3 weeks of filing my complaint, I received a call from a regional office manager who personally handled my case. The money was deposited two weeks later. This route bypasses the regular channels that are clearly not working for you. Also, request your ENTIRE file through a Freedom of Information Act request. This will show you exactly where the holdup is occurring.

Im so sorry your going through this!! The SSA is so frustrating to deal with. I had a similiar issue last year but it was only for $3,400 and it took 7 months to resolve. One thing that helped me was physically going to the office with all my paperwork and refusing to leave until I spoke to a supervisor (not just a regular rep). The supervisor had access to different systems and contacts then the regular employees. Maybe try that approach?

Just wondering - what kind of benefits are these? Retirement, survivors, disability? Sometimes different parts of SSA handle different types of payments and knowing exactly who to ask for can help.

i had an issue with ssa taking forever on something (not an underpayment tho). what worked for me was contacting my senator not my rep in congress. senators offices seem to have more pull with federal agencies for some reason. worth a try if youve only talked to your house rep so far.

Just an update on my earlier comment about Claimyr - another option if you're not comfortable with that is to call SSA right when they open (7am in most time zones). The wait times are usually shorter then. But honestly, after dealing with this for 2 years, you might need to try something different than just calling or visiting again.

u should check if ur backpay is showing in ur my social security account online. sometimes it will show there before they actually send it. mine showed as "pending payment" for like 3 weeks before i got it

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this - $15K is a substantial amount and 2 years is absolutely unreasonable! Based on what others have shared here, I'd recommend trying multiple approaches simultaneously: 1. File a complaint with the SSA Office of Inspector General (as Javier suggested) - this seems to get results faster than regular channels 2. Contact both your senators in addition to your House rep - sometimes they have different contacts within SSA 3. When you visit the field office again, specifically ask for a "critical payment" processing and request to speak with a Technical Expert or Claims Specialist (not just a regular service rep) 4. Get everything documented in writing - ask for a formal letter stating the exact amount owed and expected timeline The fact that every SSA employee acknowledges they owe you the money should work in your favor. Document every interaction with names, dates, and what was promised. Don't let them keep giving you the runaround - you've been more than patient enough! Keep us updated on what works for you. Your situation might help others facing similar delays.

I went through something similar with a $9,200 underpayment that took 18 months to resolve. What finally worked for me was a combination of approaches - I filed the Inspector General complaint that others mentioned AND simultaneously had my senator's office submit a formal congressional inquiry with a specific deadline for response. The key was being very specific about the timeline and consequences in both submissions. I stated that I had been waiting X months, had contacted SSA Y times, and requested resolution within 30 days or I would escalate further. Within 2 weeks of filing both complaints, I received a call from an SSA regional payment center (not my local office) and they processed the payment immediately. Also, if you haven't already, request a copy of your complete claims file through FOIA. This will show you exactly where the payment is stuck in their system and give you specific information to reference when you escalate. The more specific details you can provide about your case, the harder it is for them to brush you off. Don't give up - $15K is life-changing money that you're legally entitled to. The squeaky wheel gets the grease with SSA unfortunately.

Have you considered reaching out to a disability attorney who specializes in SSA cases? Many work on contingency and can often get results faster than individuals dealing with the bureaucracy alone. They know exactly which departments to contact and have established relationships with SSA personnel. Even for post-approval payment issues like yours, they can sometimes expedite resolution. Also, document EVERYTHING going forward - every phone call, visit, promise made, and person you speak with. Create a timeline showing the 23-month delay despite everyone acknowledging the debt. This documentation will be crucial if you need to escalate to federal court (which is possible for payment disputes over $1,000). One more thing - have you tried contacting the SSA's National 800 Number Customer Service and specifically asking to be transferred to the "Office of Earnings and International Operations" (OEIO)? They handle complex payment issues that regular customer service can't resolve. Ask for a "Tier 2" representative who has more authority to process payments. Your situation is absolutely unacceptable after 2 years. Stay persistent and don't let them wear you down!

I'm really sorry to hear about your situation - dealing with a $15K underpayment for 2 years is absolutely unacceptable! Reading through all these responses, it sounds like you have several promising options to try. The Inspector General complaint seems to be the most consistently successful approach based on what others have shared here. I'd also suggest trying the "critical payment" processing request that GalaxyGazer mentioned - it's shocking that no SSA employee has ever told you about this option after all your contacts with them. The fact that you have written acknowledgment of the debt from a year ago should definitely work in your favor. One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is contacting your state's Social Security Administration liaison office if your state has one. Some states have dedicated staff who help residents navigate federal benefit issues. It might be worth looking into whether your state offers this service. Also, consider keeping a detailed log going forward of every interaction - date, time, person's name, what was promised, and follow-up actions. This will be incredibly valuable if you need to escalate further or involve an attorney. You've been far more patient than anyone should have to be. Time to get more aggressive with your approach - you clearly have the law and the facts on your side!

I'm really sorry you're going through this - $15,000 is a huge amount to have tied up for 2 years! Reading through all the suggestions here, it sounds like you have some really solid options to try now that you haven't explored yet. The Inspector General complaint route seems to get the best results based on what others have shared. I'd also definitely try the "critical payment" processing request - it's crazy that none of the SSA reps you've talked to have mentioned this option. One additional thing I'd suggest is when you do visit the field office again, try to go first thing in the morning when they open. The staff is usually less overwhelmed and you're more likely to get someone's full attention. Also, if possible, bring a friend or family member with you as a witness to what's discussed - sometimes having another person there helps ensure promises get followed through on. Document everything going forward with specific names, dates, and what was promised. After 23 months of this runaround, you've been more than patient enough. Time to get aggressive about getting what you're legally owed! Keep us posted on what works - your experience could really help others in similar situations.

Reading through all these responses, it's clear you have several promising options that could finally get this resolved! The Inspector General complaint route seems to be the most consistently successful based on what others have shared here. I'd also suggest trying to escalate within SSA by specifically requesting a "Management Information Systems" (MIS) review of your case. This is different from the regular payment processing and involves having their technical team examine why your case has been stuck for so long. Ask specifically for this when you call or visit. Another approach that sometimes works is requesting an "expedited payment" due to financial hardship. Even if you're not in immediate financial distress, you can argue that having $15K of your rightful benefits withheld for 2+ years constitutes hardship. This classification can sometimes bypass the normal processing delays. The combination of approaches others have mentioned (Inspector General complaint + congressional inquiry + in-person visits requesting critical payment processing) sounds like your best bet. You've been incredibly patient, but at this point you need to be firm and demand specific timelines for resolution. $15K is a substantial amount - don't let them continue to brush you off with vague promises. You deserve to have this resolved immediately!

I'm really sorry you're dealing with this frustrating situation! $15,000 is a significant amount to have tied up for over 2 years. Based on all the excellent advice shared in this thread, it sounds like you now have a comprehensive action plan that should finally get results. I'd especially recommend starting with the Inspector General complaint since multiple people have had success with that approach. The fact that every SSA employee acknowledges they owe you the money should definitely work in your favor - you have a clear paper trail showing their acknowledgment of the debt. One additional suggestion: when you implement all these strategies simultaneously, consider creating a simple spreadsheet to track each approach with dates, contact information, and follow-up deadlines. This will help you stay organized and provide concrete documentation if you need to escalate further. You've been incredibly patient, but it's clear that being polite and waiting isn't working. Time to be firm and demand the resolution you deserve. The combination of Inspector General complaint + congressional inquiries + critical payment processing requests should create enough pressure to finally break through their bureaucratic delays. Please keep us updated on which approaches work best - your experience will definitely help others facing similar situations. You've got this!

I've been following this entire thread and I'm amazed at how many helpful strategies everyone has shared! As someone who works in government advocacy, I want to add one more approach that hasn't been mentioned yet: filing a complaint with your state's Attorney General office under their consumer protection division. Many state AGs have dedicated units for federal benefit disputes and can sometimes apply pressure that gets results when other methods fail. Also, when you file that Inspector General complaint (which definitely seems like your best bet), make sure to emphasize the 23-month delay despite written acknowledgment of the debt. The OIG takes cases seriously when there's clear evidence of administrative inefficiency affecting citizens' rightful benefits. One final tip: if you decide to involve a disability attorney as others suggested, look for one who specifically advertises experience with "post-entitlement" issues, not just initial applications. These attorneys understand the payment processing side of SSA better than general disability lawyers. You've received such a wealth of actionable advice here - the combination of Inspector General complaint, congressional inquiries, critical payment processing, and state liaison office should absolutely get this moving. Twenty-three months is beyond reasonable for ANY government payment processing. Time to make some noise and get your $15K!