In case you've forgotten who you're dealing with, let me give you a bit of a run-down.
I'm that really funny redhead from South Dakota, the one who waited a really long time to find her true love. Yeah, that one true love that left me, for you, almost 9 years ago.
Soon after his move to the hereafter, I received notice that he died owing the IRS 1200$. I ignored the letters. All of them. For years.
The letter I did pay attention to, however, is the one that came from the Social Security Administration. You may recall, that letter informed me of the legality of garnishment by the IRS, for 70$/month until the debt was satisfied. The second letter I read closely, was the one I received in January, directly from IRS, stating I owed only 400$ more.
I had a feeling that debt might take a few months to be collected via my monthly stipend.
Then I got a check from the IRS in May. And another in July.
Quick assumption: I'm getting paid back for what I've overpaid.
Then today I went to the bank to make a withdrawal; instead of almost 900$, I found a mere 700$.
Social security says sorry, you'll have to talk to the IRS. (to put it nicely, we'll talk about the condescending computer voice much, much, much later)
So I call the IRS. I talk to a very nice man, who explains that I'm not only being garnished, the garnish amount increased to 170$/month, as of January '09. (he's sending me a detailed, daily analysis of my dealings with this amazing organization). Turns out they've been garnishing on the 24th of the month, SSA issued a garnished check on the 3rd, and the IRS reissued their oopsie check on the 18th. My customer service angel was unsure why the garnishment was continuing; aside from the incredibly obvious interest earning scam. He transferred me to the Lien Department.
What a lovely customer service agent I found there! She must be a gilded angel! She told me she was able to put an immediate stop to the lien, as the bill had been paid.
I asked about the legality of such garnishment. She assured me the garnishment is legal.
I looked it up. The law says they cannot touch the child(ren)'s benefits, only the widow(er)'s; the first 750$ is protected, after that, 15% can be garnished. Unless there's an update (which I could not find) after 1991, the maximum garnish amount is around 16.50$/month. Not 70$ and certainly NOT NOT NOT 170$!!!!!
When I ask about the legality of garnishing after the debt is satisfied, I am told it's a glitch.
When I ask to speak to the person in charge of glitches, I'm *disconnected* from the system.
Too bad the next operator, for whom I sat through 20 minutes of recordings and really, really bad musak to speak to, could not give me the original angel's name nor number. She did, however, assure me that while there was not much she could do, she certainly did not want to be in my shoes. I was told about form 911 and advised to wait for a few more deep breaths before I fill it out ;)
I don't wanna get an attorney. I shouldn't have to.
Nor should the government think it's okay to ass-fuck the poorest of our citizens without consequence.
As your smiting business seems to be languishing, I'd sure like permission to take up your slack.
Or maybe just some enlightenment. All the way around, please.
Sincerely,
diana lea jenner
I'm that really funny redhead from South Dakota, the one who waited a really long time to find her true love. Yeah, that one true love that left me, for you, almost 9 years ago.
Soon after his move to the hereafter, I received notice that he died owing the IRS 1200$. I ignored the letters. All of them. For years.
The letter I did pay attention to, however, is the one that came from the Social Security Administration. You may recall, that letter informed me of the legality of garnishment by the IRS, for 70$/month until the debt was satisfied. The second letter I read closely, was the one I received in January, directly from IRS, stating I owed only 400$ more.
I had a feeling that debt might take a few months to be collected via my monthly stipend.
Then I got a check from the IRS in May. And another in July.
Quick assumption: I'm getting paid back for what I've overpaid.
Then today I went to the bank to make a withdrawal; instead of almost 900$, I found a mere 700$.
Social security says sorry, you'll have to talk to the IRS. (to put it nicely, we'll talk about the condescending computer voice much, much, much later)
So I call the IRS. I talk to a very nice man, who explains that I'm not only being garnished, the garnish amount increased to 170$/month, as of January '09. (he's sending me a detailed, daily analysis of my dealings with this amazing organization). Turns out they've been garnishing on the 24th of the month, SSA issued a garnished check on the 3rd, and the IRS reissued their oopsie check on the 18th. My customer service angel was unsure why the garnishment was continuing; aside from the incredibly obvious interest earning scam. He transferred me to the Lien Department.
What a lovely customer service agent I found there! She must be a gilded angel! She told me she was able to put an immediate stop to the lien, as the bill had been paid.
I asked about the legality of such garnishment. She assured me the garnishment is legal.
I looked it up. The law says they cannot touch the child(ren)'s benefits, only the widow(er)'s; the first 750$ is protected, after that, 15% can be garnished. Unless there's an update (which I could not find) after 1991, the maximum garnish amount is around 16.50$/month. Not 70$ and certainly NOT NOT NOT 170$!!!!!
When I ask about the legality of garnishing after the debt is satisfied, I am told it's a glitch.
When I ask to speak to the person in charge of glitches, I'm *disconnected* from the system.
Too bad the next operator, for whom I sat through 20 minutes of recordings and really, really bad musak to speak to, could not give me the original angel's name nor number. She did, however, assure me that while there was not much she could do, she certainly did not want to be in my shoes. I was told about form 911 and advised to wait for a few more deep breaths before I fill it out ;)
I don't wanna get an attorney. I shouldn't have to.
Nor should the government think it's okay to ass-fuck the poorest of our citizens without consequence.
As your smiting business seems to be languishing, I'd sure like permission to take up your slack.
Or maybe just some enlightenment. All the way around, please.
Sincerely,
diana lea jenner
5 comments:
If you get any of that enlightenment, specifically about this: "Nor should the government think it's okay to ass-fuck the poorest of our citizens without consequence", let me know, ok? DHS cut off our food stamps because they said we didn't turn in the interim paperwork, which we turned in a month ago (and they just tell us NOW?). I have to call them still (got the letter too late to call today) but geez - we need to EAT.
Funny, I mentioned foodstamps specifically to the IRS today. SSA is nice enough to keep me *just* above the poverty line (generally 30-40$/month over) so we cannot qualify for programs like food stamps -- the garnishment doesn't effect my "income" amount (it's a forcible bill payment) so I STILL don't qualify!!!
those gov't offices are so maddening to deal with.
Years ago, when Will was a wee baby, and I was a poor, working Mama, I worked thru my vacation to earn double pay, which I used to pay some very outdated bills. Next month comes around, and the Food Stamps office tells me I made $90 too much. I explain that I did it to pay off some bills, so it's gone now, and my baby is hungry. Not her problem.
I ended up borrowing $100 from Mom to replace the lost food stamps.
Lesson learned? There's no reward for trying to be responsible when you're poor.
"Nor should the government think it's okay to ass-fuck the poorest of our citizens without consequence"
Damn right! We live on my mom's SSI and get screwed over so so much. I really feel your pain here. I think the government really doesn't understand how much money $70 or $170 is to some of us!
Best of luck to you!
And if they'd found out someone else gave you money, you'd be skipped the next month, too... it's a sad, sad, sad cycle.
I can pay all my bills, when I get all my money. Budgets are funny that way, I've come to discover ;)
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