Thousands of SSI recipients find their bank accounts missing monthly payment

TACOMA, Wash. — Empty bank accounts fill thousands of Supplemental Security Income recipients with anxiety after Social Security misses a monthly payment.

Calling the bank for the umpteenth time in the last 24 hours, an anxious Patricia Gochnour waits to hear if her Social Security Disability Check has been deposited.

“Your checking account has an available balance of $0.88,” Gochnour said.

Her anxiety is not relieved as she realizes the payment that is supposed to be deposited on the first of each month, hasn't come.

“The night before at 1 o'clock I called about my disability, my SSI and it wasn't there. I waited another two hours and I called it wasn't there, and then I waited another two hours and it wasn't there,” Gochnour said.

Gochnour lives with epilepsy, the medication causes her hands to shake.  And she's especially nervous, because $445 in rent is due tomorrow.

Social Security blames the delay on a problem with the disability payment file.

In a statement the agency said 8.3 million people get disability payments each month, but only 18,770 are late.

Now those with direct deposit should get their money on Thursday. The very few who get paper checks should receive them next week. And if necessary, emergency checks are available at your local Social Security office.

“Please hurry, I've got to pay rent and I've got to feed my cat,” Gochnour said.

According to Social Security, SSI is a Federal income supplement program funded by general tax revenues. It is designed to help aged, blind, and disabled people, who have little or no income and it provides cash to meet basic needs for food, clothing and shelter.

KIRO