Grandma Collected Social Security Improperly For Years — Granddaughter-In-law Gets Heat For Reporting Her

Benzinga and Yahoo Finance LLC may earn commission or revenue on some items through the links below.

When a Reddit user recently revealed that her partner’s grandmother had collected Social Security benefits for four years after her husband’s death — without notifying the Social Security Administration — the post sparked heated responses.

Some berated the person for “ratting out Grandma,” while others focused on how the system could allow such overpayments to persist. Here’s what we know, what might happen next, and what the public debate around it reveals.

The Reddit post that started it all

In a post shared to r/SocialSecurity, a user explained that her common-law partner’s grandmother had continued to collect her late husband’s Social Security benefits for several years after his death.

“Grandpa died of COVID in 2022 in another country,” the user wrote. “Nobody told Social Security. The money kept going into a joint bank account.”

Don’t Miss:

The woman said she eventually reported the situation, noting that she was concerned her common-law partner — who helped manage the account — could be held responsible for repaying the funds. She mentioned that she’s going through a “nasty separation” and didn’t want to be held accountable for any overpayments should her partner bear any financial obligation.

Why payments might have continued

Under SSA rules, relatives or funeral homes in the U.S. are required to report a beneficiary’s death. But when someone dies abroad, the responsibility usually falls on family members.

If a death isn’t reported, payments can continue automatically — sometimes for months or even years — until the SSA learns of the situation. Once it does, the agency can demand repayment of any overpaid benefits and may pursue recovery from the estate or whoever handled the funds.

Trending: Warren Buffett once said, “If you don’t find a way to make money while you sleep, you will work until you die.” Here’s how you can earn passive income with just $100.

“You snitched on Grandma?”

The Reddit post quickly drew hundreds of comments — and strong opinions.

Some accused the woman of disloyalty: “Wtf is wrong with you snitching on your own grandma?!” one commenter wrote. Another added, “Maybe mind your own business.”

Others defended her decision, pointing out that continuing to collect benefits for a deceased person can amount to fraud. One user shared, “When my husband passed, the funeral home notified Social Security and they took back the payment almost immediately.”

A few commenters also speculated that the grandmother might have been receiving survivor benefits, which could have made the payments legitimate — though details of the case remain unclear.

See Also: The ‘ChatGPT of Marketing’ Just Opened a $0.81/Share Round — 10,000+ Investors Are Already In

What happens when Social Security overpays

Anyone who receives more money than they’re entitled to must repay it. The agency can withhold future benefits or seek repayment through other means, according to SSA rules.

That said, the SSA can waive repayment if the person wasn’t at fault and paying it back would cause financial hardship.

A cautionary tale for families

The viral post highlights how easily confusion — and tension — can arise when it comes to Social Security benefits, especially after a loved one’s death abroad.

While many sympathized with the grandmother, others noted that failing to report a death can have serious legal and financial consequences.

In the end, the Reddit user’s decision to report her grandmother-in-law shows how complicated family and financial responsibilities can become — especially when Social Security is involved.

Read Next: Backed by $300M+ in Assets and Microsoft’s Climate Fund, Farmland LP Opens Vital Farmland III to Accredited Investors

Image: Shutterstock

This article Grandma Collected Social Security Improperly For Years — Granddaughter-In-law Gets Heat For Reporting Her originally appeared on Benzinga.com