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Database Error Costs Social Security Victims $500M
Hugh Pickens writes "The Washington Posts reports that the Social Security Administration has agreed to pay more than $500 million in back benefits to more than 80,000 recipients whose benefits were unfairly denied after they were flagged by a federal computer program designed to catch serious criminals. At issue is a 1996 law, which contained language later nicknamed the 'fleeing felon' provision, that said fugitives were ineligible to receive federal benefits. As part of its enforcement, the administration began searching computer databases to weed out people who were collecting benefits and had outstanding warrants. The searches captured dozens of criminals, including some wanted for homicide, but they also ensnared countless elderly and disabled people accused of relatively minor offenses such as shoplifting or writing bad checks and in some cases, the victims simply shared a name and a birth date with an offender." (Read more, below.)
"The lead plaintiff in the class-action suit, Rosa Martinez, 52, of Redwood City, Calif., was cut off from her $870 monthly disability benefit check in January 2008 because the system had flagged an outstanding drug warrant in 1980 for a different Rosa Martinez from Miami. Officials said it is difficult to estimate how many social security recipients might be affected by the agreement but said the number is fewer than 1 percent nationally. 'What's remarkable about this case is thesheer number of individuals who were unfairly denied benefits and the size of the financial settlement they will receive,' said David H. Fry of Munger, Tolles & Olson, one of the pro bono attorneys who represented victims."
How about the summary leading me to believe that is one of the dumbest laws in existence. How exactly do you pay benefits to a FUGITIVE, someone the fucking police/fbi/law enforcement and even bounty hunters can't find?
There's always some sodding twat that thinks it would be brilliant to make the primary key an email address.
/.'ers used the piece of total twattage that is "Sostenuto"?
If they're not already burning in hell, I'd quite like to shove a bottle of Dave's Insanity Sauce up their ring.
Any
I don't have the words to describe how shite it is.
Smiff: "But it does send emails!"
If I had an Ass, I'd call it Fanny Bottom, then I could slap my Ass; Fanny Bottom, on the Arse.
I look up and shake my fist -- COBOL!!!!!!
That would explain why there are potholes big enough to stop any gataway car in its tracks.
Slow down, cowboy! It has been 4 hours since you last posted. You must wait another few hours.
Well, it could if it suggested that the government be put in charge of life-and-death healthcare decisions. But given TFA that might look silly.
-=Maggie Leber=-
What they needed was some sort of primary key for their social security tables, with which to match against. Perhaps a number, unique to each individual?
On the one hand, are you under some delusion that your health insurance company is somehow doing a better job? With greater reliability, efficiency, and accountability? Fewer errors, fewer denied valid claims?? Do you just take it on faith, or do you have any evidence at all that your insurance company is doing a better job?
Well they're making tons of money, so they must be doing something right! =D
The enemies of Democracy are
You shouldn't cut people's benefits because they share a name with someone with a bench warrant
Ah, yes, and now you understand the real problem.
next they'll make up a scret list of names that keep people off planes.
Hehe.
Lady behind the counter, just after telling me that I was on a TSA Watch List: "There must be an evil Chris Burke out there."
Me: *shifty eyes* Yeah, some other Chris Burke must be evil...
The enemies of Democracy are
Less tar?
More zip!?
Every mans' island needs an ocean; choose your ocean carefully.
You can be number 1.
Does the oldest person alive get number 2? What about the youngest? Finally, which numeral system would we use? (I seem to have a strange affection for unary.) :)
(Oh, tally marks, how do I love thee? Let me count the ways.)
Liar, I called that number and he didin't answer. It was some damn La Rasa member! Probably in training to be a supreme court justice.
Do not meddle in the affairs of sysadmins, for they are subtle, and quick to anger.