Social Security Administration withholds woman's tax return, cites their own 1975 mistake

TYLER, TX (KLTV) - People across the country are still fighting for their income tax returns months after the checks were expected to hit their bank accounts. Some tax returns were seized when the Social Security Administration decided to take back the survivors benefits they overpaid to widows and widowers in the '60's and '70's. In 2008, a single line was eliminated from the Farm Bill which consequently lifted the 10 year statue of limitations on the government collecting old debt. As a result, peoples' children are being held responsible for the government's social security over payments.

When Janis Balusek got her income tax return in the mail, it was significantly lower than what she'd expected.

"Actually $1,035.20 lower that what I expected," says Balusek.

She had no idea why the government would be withholding her own money. After calls to her accountant, the treasury department and the social security administration, she learned it all traced back to checks the government says they gave her family in 1975.

"My father passed away when I was 11, so my mother received social security payments. What she did with the money to help us do whatever.. that's her business," she says.

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