Senator Rick Scott (FL), a member of the Senate Committee on Aging, stressed the need for accountability within the SSA. “If somebody lied, if there was fraud, then that person ought to be responsible for that. But when the Social Security Administration tells you a number, they should be held accountable,” he said. Scott also urged the appointment of stronger leadership to prevent similar issues in the future.
Collaborative Reporting Team
This groundbreaking investigation was a collaborative effort by CMG reporters Jodie Fleischer, Josh Wade, Justin Gray (WSB-TV, Atlanta), Ted Daniel (WFXT-TV, Boston), Madison Carter (WSOC-TV, Charlotte), John Bedell (WHIO-TV, Dayton), Ben Becker (WJAX-TV, Jacksonville), Shannon Butler (WFTV-TV, Orlando), Jesse Jones (KIRO-TV, Seattle), Samantha Manning, and David Hilzenrath of KFF Health News. Their collective work continues to shed light on critical issues affecting Americans and drive meaningful change.
Representative Mike Carey (OH) advocated for congressional hearings to examine the SSA’s practices. “They weren’t trying to game the system; they were just playing by the rules,” Carey said. “We need to come to grips with where we are right now, find out what the problems are, and fix them.” Representative Marc Molinaro (NY-19) echoed these sentiments, calling for the SSA to immediately halt its repayment demands and describing the practice as “absolutely unfair.”
Calls for Accountability
Senator Rick Scott (FL), a member of the Senate Committee on Aging, stressed the need for accountability within the SSA. “If somebody lied, if there was fraud, then that person ought to be responsible for that. But when the Social Security Administration tells you a number, they should be held accountable,” he said. Scott also urged the appointment of stronger leadership to prevent similar issues in the future.
Collaborative Reporting Team
This groundbreaking investigation was a collaborative effort by CMG reporters Jodie Fleischer, Josh Wade, Justin Gray (WSB-TV, Atlanta), Ted Daniel (WFXT-TV, Boston), Madison Carter (WSOC-TV, Charlotte), John Bedell (WHIO-TV, Dayton), Ben Becker (WJAX-TV, Jacksonville), Shannon Butler (WFTV-TV, Orlando), Jesse Jones (KIRO-TV, Seattle), Samantha Manning, and David Hilzenrath of KFF Health News. Their collective work continues to shed light on critical issues affecting Americans and drive meaningful change.
The revelations prompted bipartisan calls for reform. Senator Sherrod Brown (OH), chair of the Senate Subcommittee on Social Security, emphasized the unfairness of penalizing individuals who unknowingly received overpayments. “They may have been overpaid over the years, but it’s not like they have a savings account now of those overpaid dollars that they can simply pay back,” he stated. Similarly, Senator Maggie Hassan (NH) urged the administration to focus on preventing overpayments while safeguarding vulnerable recipients from undue harm.
Calls for Congressional Hearings
Representative Mike Carey (OH) advocated for congressional hearings to examine the SSA’s practices. “They weren’t trying to game the system; they were just playing by the rules,” Carey said. “We need to come to grips with where we are right now, find out what the problems are, and fix them.” Representative Marc Molinaro (NY-19) echoed these sentiments, calling for the SSA to immediately halt its repayment demands and describing the practice as “absolutely unfair.”
Calls for Accountability
Senator Rick Scott (FL), a member of the Senate Committee on Aging, stressed the need for accountability within the SSA. “If somebody lied, if there was fraud, then that person ought to be responsible for that. But when the Social Security Administration tells you a number, they should be held accountable,” he said. Scott also urged the appointment of stronger leadership to prevent similar issues in the future.
Collaborative Reporting Team
This groundbreaking investigation was a collaborative effort by CMG reporters Jodie Fleischer, Josh Wade, Justin Gray (WSB-TV, Atlanta), Ted Daniel (WFXT-TV, Boston), Madison Carter (WSOC-TV, Charlotte), John Bedell (WHIO-TV, Dayton), Ben Becker (WJAX-TV, Jacksonville), Shannon Butler (WFTV-TV, Orlando), Jesse Jones (KIRO-TV, Seattle), Samantha Manning, and David Hilzenrath of KFF Health News. Their collective work continues to shed light on critical issues affecting Americans and drive meaningful change.
The comprehensive video exposé, produced across CMG’s eight stations, has highlighted the plight of those affected by these overpayment demands. Marian Pittman, CMG’s Executive Vice President of Content, Product, Innovation, and Research, underscored the importance of investigative journalism, stating, “Our investments in both local news and investigative journalism are essential to protecting consumers and informing and elevating our viewers.” The story’s reach expanded significantly, being featured by major media outlets such as Good Morning America, U.S. News and World Report, Newsweek, The Miami Herald, and The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
Bipartisan Legislative Response
The revelations prompted bipartisan calls for reform. Senator Sherrod Brown (OH), chair of the Senate Subcommittee on Social Security, emphasized the unfairness of penalizing individuals who unknowingly received overpayments. “They may have been overpaid over the years, but it’s not like they have a savings account now of those overpaid dollars that they can simply pay back,” he stated. Similarly, Senator Maggie Hassan (NH) urged the administration to focus on preventing overpayments while safeguarding vulnerable recipients from undue harm.
Calls for Congressional Hearings
Representative Mike Carey (OH) advocated for congressional hearings to examine the SSA’s practices. “They weren’t trying to game the system; they were just playing by the rules,” Carey said. “We need to come to grips with where we are right now, find out what the problems are, and fix them.” Representative Marc Molinaro (NY-19) echoed these sentiments, calling for the SSA to immediately halt its repayment demands and describing the practice as “absolutely unfair.”
Calls for Accountability
Senator Rick Scott (FL), a member of the Senate Committee on Aging, stressed the need for accountability within the SSA. “If somebody lied, if there was fraud, then that person ought to be responsible for that. But when the Social Security Administration tells you a number, they should be held accountable,” he said. Scott also urged the appointment of stronger leadership to prevent similar issues in the future.
Collaborative Reporting Team
This groundbreaking investigation was a collaborative effort by CMG reporters Jodie Fleischer, Josh Wade, Justin Gray (WSB-TV, Atlanta), Ted Daniel (WFXT-TV, Boston), Madison Carter (WSOC-TV, Charlotte), John Bedell (WHIO-TV, Dayton), Ben Becker (WJAX-TV, Jacksonville), Shannon Butler (WFTV-TV, Orlando), Jesse Jones (KIRO-TV, Seattle), Samantha Manning, and David Hilzenrath of KFF Health News. Their collective work continues to shed light on critical issues affecting Americans and drive meaningful change.
The directive from the SSA comes in response to growing pressure from Capitol Hill. Lawmakers have expressed outrage over the systematic overpayment of more than $20 billion to vulnerable Americans, a practice uncovered through a collaborative investigation by CMG’s investigative teams and KFF Health News. The exposé revealed that, in many cases, the SSA demanded reimbursement of these overpayments, with some individuals facing repayment demands of tens of thousands of dollars.
Impact of Investigative Journalism
The comprehensive video exposé, produced across CMG’s eight stations, has highlighted the plight of those affected by these overpayment demands. Marian Pittman, CMG’s Executive Vice President of Content, Product, Innovation, and Research, underscored the importance of investigative journalism, stating, “Our investments in both local news and investigative journalism are essential to protecting consumers and informing and elevating our viewers.” The story’s reach expanded significantly, being featured by major media outlets such as Good Morning America, U.S. News and World Report, Newsweek, The Miami Herald, and The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
Bipartisan Legislative Response
The revelations prompted bipartisan calls for reform. Senator Sherrod Brown (OH), chair of the Senate Subcommittee on Social Security, emphasized the unfairness of penalizing individuals who unknowingly received overpayments. “They may have been overpaid over the years, but it’s not like they have a savings account now of those overpaid dollars that they can simply pay back,” he stated. Similarly, Senator Maggie Hassan (NH) urged the administration to focus on preventing overpayments while safeguarding vulnerable recipients from undue harm.
Calls for Congressional Hearings
Representative Mike Carey (OH) advocated for congressional hearings to examine the SSA’s practices. “They weren’t trying to game the system; they were just playing by the rules,” Carey said. “We need to come to grips with where we are right now, find out what the problems are, and fix them.” Representative Marc Molinaro (NY-19) echoed these sentiments, calling for the SSA to immediately halt its repayment demands and describing the practice as “absolutely unfair.”
Calls for Accountability
Senator Rick Scott (FL), a member of the Senate Committee on Aging, stressed the need for accountability within the SSA. “If somebody lied, if there was fraud, then that person ought to be responsible for that. But when the Social Security Administration tells you a number, they should be held accountable,” he said. Scott also urged the appointment of stronger leadership to prevent similar issues in the future.
Collaborative Reporting Team
This groundbreaking investigation was a collaborative effort by CMG reporters Jodie Fleischer, Josh Wade, Justin Gray (WSB-TV, Atlanta), Ted Daniel (WFXT-TV, Boston), Madison Carter (WSOC-TV, Charlotte), John Bedell (WHIO-TV, Dayton), Ben Becker (WJAX-TV, Jacksonville), Shannon Butler (WFTV-TV, Orlando), Jesse Jones (KIRO-TV, Seattle), Samantha Manning, and David Hilzenrath of KFF Health News. Their collective work continues to shed light on critical issues affecting Americans and drive meaningful change.
An investigation conducted earlier this month by Cox Media Group’s (CMG) investigative teams has garnered significant attention in Washington, D.C., leading the Social Security Administration (SSA) to review its overpayment policies and procedures. This development follows demands from lawmakers for transparency and accountability, with some members of Congress calling for formal hearings to address the issue.
Lawmakers Demand Answers
The directive from the SSA comes in response to growing pressure from Capitol Hill. Lawmakers have expressed outrage over the systematic overpayment of more than $20 billion to vulnerable Americans, a practice uncovered through a collaborative investigation by CMG’s investigative teams and KFF Health News. The exposé revealed that, in many cases, the SSA demanded reimbursement of these overpayments, with some individuals facing repayment demands of tens of thousands of dollars.
Impact of Investigative Journalism
The comprehensive video exposé, produced across CMG’s eight stations, has highlighted the plight of those affected by these overpayment demands. Marian Pittman, CMG’s Executive Vice President of Content, Product, Innovation, and Research, underscored the importance of investigative journalism, stating, “Our investments in both local news and investigative journalism are essential to protecting consumers and informing and elevating our viewers.” The story’s reach expanded significantly, being featured by major media outlets such as Good Morning America, U.S. News and World Report, Newsweek, The Miami Herald, and The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
Bipartisan Legislative Response
The revelations prompted bipartisan calls for reform. Senator Sherrod Brown (OH), chair of the Senate Subcommittee on Social Security, emphasized the unfairness of penalizing individuals who unknowingly received overpayments. “They may have been overpaid over the years, but it’s not like they have a savings account now of those overpaid dollars that they can simply pay back,” he stated. Similarly, Senator Maggie Hassan (NH) urged the administration to focus on preventing overpayments while safeguarding vulnerable recipients from undue harm.
Calls for Congressional Hearings
Representative Mike Carey (OH) advocated for congressional hearings to examine the SSA’s practices. “They weren’t trying to game the system; they were just playing by the rules,” Carey said. “We need to come to grips with where we are right now, find out what the problems are, and fix them.” Representative Marc Molinaro (NY-19) echoed these sentiments, calling for the SSA to immediately halt its repayment demands and describing the practice as “absolutely unfair.”
Calls for Accountability
Senator Rick Scott (FL), a member of the Senate Committee on Aging, stressed the need for accountability within the SSA. “If somebody lied, if there was fraud, then that person ought to be responsible for that. But when the Social Security Administration tells you a number, they should be held accountable,” he said. Scott also urged the appointment of stronger leadership to prevent similar issues in the future.
Collaborative Reporting Team
This groundbreaking investigation was a collaborative effort by CMG reporters Jodie Fleischer, Josh Wade, Justin Gray (WSB-TV, Atlanta), Ted Daniel (WFXT-TV, Boston), Madison Carter (WSOC-TV, Charlotte), John Bedell (WHIO-TV, Dayton), Ben Becker (WJAX-TV, Jacksonville), Shannon Butler (WFTV-TV, Orlando), Jesse Jones (KIRO-TV, Seattle), Samantha Manning, and David Hilzenrath of KFF Health News. Their collective work continues to shed light on critical issues affecting Americans and drive meaningful change.
SSA Overpayment Investigation Gains Momentum
An investigation conducted earlier this month by Cox Media Group’s (CMG) investigative teams has garnered significant attention in Washington, D.C., leading the Social Security Administration (SSA) to review its overpayment policies and procedures. This development follows demands from lawmakers for transparency and accountability, with some members of Congress calling for formal hearings to address the issue.
Lawmakers Demand Answers
The directive from the SSA comes in response to growing pressure from Capitol Hill. Lawmakers have expressed outrage over the systematic overpayment of more than $20 billion to vulnerable Americans, a practice uncovered through a collaborative investigation by CMG’s investigative teams and KFF Health News. The exposé revealed that, in many cases, the SSA demanded reimbursement of these overpayments, with some individuals facing repayment demands of tens of thousands of dollars.
Impact of Investigative Journalism
The comprehensive video exposé, produced across CMG’s eight stations, has highlighted the plight of those affected by these overpayment demands. Marian Pittman, CMG’s Executive Vice President of Content, Product, Innovation, and Research, underscored the importance of investigative journalism, stating, “Our investments in both local news and investigative journalism are essential to protecting consumers and informing and elevating our viewers.” The story’s reach expanded significantly, being featured by major media outlets such as Good Morning America, U.S. News and World Report, Newsweek, The Miami Herald, and The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
Bipartisan Legislative Response
The revelations prompted bipartisan calls for reform. Senator Sherrod Brown (OH), chair of the Senate Subcommittee on Social Security, emphasized the unfairness of penalizing individuals who unknowingly received overpayments. “They may have been overpaid over the years, but it’s not like they have a savings account now of those overpaid dollars that they can simply pay back,” he stated. Similarly, Senator Maggie Hassan (NH) urged the administration to focus on preventing overpayments while safeguarding vulnerable recipients from undue harm.
Calls for Congressional Hearings
Representative Mike Carey (OH) advocated for congressional hearings to examine the SSA’s practices. “They weren’t trying to game the system; they were just playing by the rules,” Carey said. “We need to come to grips with where we are right now, find out what the problems are, and fix them.” Representative Marc Molinaro (NY-19) echoed these sentiments, calling for the SSA to immediately halt its repayment demands and describing the practice as “absolutely unfair.”
Calls for Accountability
Senator Rick Scott (FL), a member of the Senate Committee on Aging, stressed the need for accountability within the SSA. “If somebody lied, if there was fraud, then that person ought to be responsible for that. But when the Social Security Administration tells you a number, they should be held accountable,” he said. Scott also urged the appointment of stronger leadership to prevent similar issues in the future.
Collaborative Reporting Team
This groundbreaking investigation was a collaborative effort by CMG reporters Jodie Fleischer, Josh Wade, Justin Gray (WSB-TV, Atlanta), Ted Daniel (WFXT-TV, Boston), Madison Carter (WSOC-TV, Charlotte), John Bedell (WHIO-TV, Dayton), Ben Becker (WJAX-TV, Jacksonville), Shannon Butler (WFTV-TV, Orlando), Jesse Jones (KIRO-TV, Seattle), Samantha Manning, and David Hilzenrath of KFF Health News. Their collective work continues to shed light on critical issues affecting Americans and drive meaningful change.
