Oklahoma man says Social Security benefits terminated without warning or explanation

[Guno צְבִי]

OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) — An Oklahoma City retiree says his Social Security benefits were suspended without warning — and with no explanation given when he reached out. He worries it may have to do with the place he was born, and ongoing Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) cutbacks.

The man, James McCaffrey, who was born to an active-duty U.S. soldier at an overseas Army base, says because of recent comments from DOGE leader Elon Musk, he’s worried his benefits were cut because of his foreign birthplace.

Earlier this month, Musk, the billionaire head of DOGE, pushed for major cuts to Social Security, calling it a “Ponzi scheme,” claiming the system is rife with people fraudulently receiving benefits.

Particularly, Musk claimed during an interview with Fox Business, with no evidence, that many illegal immigrants are receiving benefits, calling for them to be removed from Social Security’s rolls.

Oklahoma man says Social Security benefits terminated without warning or explanation

A local retiree says his Social Security benefits were suddenly suspended without warning — and with no explanation given when he reached out. He worries it may have to do with the place he was born, and ongoing DOGE cutbacks.

news.yahoo.com

 

[T. A. Gardner]

From the link in the OP

He has an American birth certificate — officially stamped and sealed by the federal government.

“I was on American soil,” he said. “I’m American. She told me I was going to need to hire a lawyer, get a naturalization before I could even apply for Social Security.”

But when he returned another day with his birth certificate and passport, a different employee told him there was no issue.

“Got a different person, presented my things to him, and he says, ‘I don’t need these. You’re fine. I don’t know what. She’s just misinformed.’ And I’ve never had a problem with anything until [Tuesday],” McCaffrey said.

This was his problem. When he signed up to get benefits, and since that point he was dealing with a hodge podge of government workers (aka bureaucrats) of varying levels of competence. It appears the first worker was an incompetent idiot and the second reasonably competent. From that point on, he was in a bureaucratic danger zone being an odd exception, not the usual case and rule.

This isn't uncommon with large bureaucracies. Each person you talk to gives you a different answer. It's a rare exception to find someone who actually knows what they're doing.

This is why you have to keep a hard copy of every communication, every scrap of paper, every call you make with a government entity. And for average persons, yes you often need to hire a lawyer, an accountant, or other expert to successfully navigate the bureaucracy.

I've had this exact conversation more than once trying to get a building permit for something:

(BP = Building Permit bureaucrat, engineer, etc.)
(ME = Me)

BP, "We can't approve your permit as submitted.
ME, "What's the issue?"
BP, "It doesn't meet our standards."
ME, "What exactly is the problem? Can you show me or point it out."
BP, "Sorry, we can't do that. You have to hire an engineer to review your submission and drawings."
ME, "So, you don't know why you're rejecting my submission, but you are?"

 

[anonymoose]

From the link in the OP

He has an American birth certificate — officially stamped and sealed by the federal government.

“I was on American soil,” he said. “I’m American. She told me I was going to need to hire a lawyer, get a naturalization before I could even apply for Social Security.”

But when he returned another day with his birth certificate and passport, a different employee told him there was no issue.

“Got a different person, presented my things to him, and he says, ‘I don’t need these. You’re fine. I don’t know what. She’s just misinformed.’ And I’ve never had a problem with anything until [Tuesday],” McCaffrey said.

This was his problem. When he signed up to get benefits, and since that point he was dealing with a hodge podge of government workers (aka bureaucrats) of varying levels of competence. It appears the first worker was an incompetent idiot and the second reasonably competent. From that point on, he was in a bureaucratic danger zone being an odd exception, not the usual case and rule.

This isn't uncommon with large bureaucracies. Each person you talk to gives you a different answer. It's a rare exception to find someone who actually knows what they're doing.

This is why you have to keep a hard copy of every communication, every scrap of paper, every call you make with a government entity. And for average persons, yes you often need to hire a lawyer, an accountant, or other expert to successfully navigate the bureaucracy.

I've had this exact conversation more than once trying to get a building permit for something:

(BP = Building Permit bureaucrat, engineer, etc.)
(ME = Me)

BP, "We can't approve your permit as submitted.
ME, "What's the issue?"
BP, "It doesn't meet our standards."
ME, "What exactly is the problem? Can you show me or point it out."
BP, "Sorry, we can't do that. You have to hire an engineer to review your submission and drawings."
ME, "So, you don't know why you're rejecting my submission, but you are?"

lol, I’ve experienced the same type of situation.
After selling my practice I applied for a temporary position, was credentialed and ready to go.
HR lost my all credentials information because , get this, they moved the HR office across the street. That was their excuse! They wanted me to go through the credentialing process again.

ME: No problem, I saved copies of everything. I’ll fax it to you.
CEO: That’s fantastic!
CEO: We received your credentialing materials, you’re good to go. You can book your flight and we’ll reimburse you.
Later that same day I get an email from the HR goon: Before you start I’ll need all your patient records from the last three years.
ME: If I even had that information I wouldn’t give it to you. That would be a violation of HIPAA. Forget it, not coming.

This was an Indian Health Service facility, typical of the incompetence and dysfunction in virtually ALL those places.

 

[T. A. Gardner]

lol, I’ve experienced the same type of situation.
After selling my practice I applied for a temporary position, was credentialed and ready to go.
HR lost my all credentials information because , get this, they moved the HR office across the street. That was their excuse! They wanted me to go through the credentialing process again.

ME: No problem, I saved copies of everything. I’ll fax it to you.
CEO: That’s fantastic!
CEO: We received your credentialing materials, you’re good to go. You can book your flight and we’ll reimburse you.
Later that same day I get an email from the HR goon: Before you start I’ll need all your patient records from the last three years.
ME: If I even had that information I wouldn’t give it to you. That would be a violation of HIPAA. Forget it, not coming.

This was an Indian Health Service facility, typical of the incompetence and dysfunction in virtually ALL those places.

Anything to do with the reservation system and Native Americans is particularly incompetent, not to mention corrupt. The Navajo Housing Authority is probably the single most corrupt agency in the entire federal government.

The Most Wasteful Government Agency You've Never Heard Of

The Navajo Housing Authority has a long and storied history of waste, fraud, and abuse of federal funds.

reason.com

 

[anonymoose]

Anything to do with the reservation system and Native Americans is particularly incompetent, not to mention corrupt. The Navajo Housing Authority is probably the single most corrupt agency in the entire federal government.

The Most Wasteful Government Agency You've Never Heard Of

The Navajo Housing Authority has a long and storied history of waste, fraud, and abuse of federal funds.

reason.com

Every native corporation I’ve been involved with or know about is totally corrupt. Every.Fucking. One. And that’s just Alaska.
Oh, by the way, they HATE white people.

 

[T. A. Gardner]

Every native corporation I’ve been involved with or know about is totally corrupt. Every.Fucking. One. And that’s just Alaska.
Oh, by the way, they HATE white people.

Same-O, same-O, in Arizona.