SSA Underpaid 8,618 Widows and Widowers by Over $50 Million, Watchdog Finds
Updated
Updated · Newsweek · May 11
SSA Underpaid 8,618 Widows and Widowers by Over $50 Million, Watchdog Finds
1 articles · Updated · Newsweek · May 11
$50 million in Social Security survivor benefits was underpaid to an estimated 8,618 widows and widowers after SSA staff failed to apply the required WINDEX calculation in some manually processed claims.
About $5,800 per person was lost on average, with the errors concentrated in cases where a spouse died before age 62 and manual processing was needed; the inspector general said nearly 40% of surviving spouses may have faced similar mistakes in the period reviewed.
Another 5,367 surviving spouses could have received roughly $114 million more if SSA had clearly explained claiming options, including delaying retirement benefits while first taking survivor benefits; the average missed amount topped $21,000.
The watchdog urged SSA to identify affected beneficiaries, issue retroactive payments, and improve training and documentation, while the agency has said it plans corrective action.
Widows and widowers who suspect an underpayment are being advised to ask SSA to review whether WINDEX was applied correctly and whether they were fully informed about filing choices.
Social Security owes millions to widows, but will administrative rules block them from ever collecting their full, rightful benefits?
After a decade of warnings, why is Social Security still making the same costly errors and underpaying vulnerable widows?
Audit Reveals $114 Million in Social Security Underpayments to Widows and Widowers: Causes, Impact, and SSA Response
Overview
A recent audit revealed that the Social Security Administration (SSA) made underpayment errors and gave bad advice, especially affecting widows and widowers who received less than their entitled benefits. These mistakes resulted from both administrative errors and the SSA’s failure to provide proper guidance on benefit claims. In response, the SSA has publicly committed to addressing the problem, stating it is working internally to fix the errors and take corrective action for those affected. This situation highlights the need for better processes to ensure beneficiaries receive the full payments they deserve.