Monday, August 12, 2013
Sunday, July 20, 2008
Social Security Administration maintains income records
My dilemma is as follows: DirecTV's Plan Administrator told me that I have no right to a pension because General Motors Hughes Electronics, DirecTV's predecessor, paid me $8975 in July 1993. Had I received $9K, I certainly would remember. I asked DirecTV's Plan Administrator for documentation to support their assertion. Their response was that I should have questioned it a long time ago. What a dumb thing to say. How can I question something that I am unaware of the issue?
What makes this more difficult is that none of the people at DirecTV were at GMHE in 1993. GMHE was sold in pieces. I believe someone "cooked" the books in order to reduce liabilities; thereby making sell of divisions more attractive to potential buyers.
In my quest to prove that GMHE did not give me a pension payout in 1993, I am discovering many things. First of all, SSA is just like IRS: if you talk to 4 people, you get 4 different answers to the same question.
Initially I wrote IRS and requested copies of 1099's I received in 1993. I was really surprised to find that IRS does not keep records beyond 5 years - I believe that was the number. Anyway, IRS directed me to SSA.
In February 2008 I wrote SSA and requested 1099 information. I received proof of delivery of my request letter but no response. In June 2008 I called and spoke with a representative who said that I must pay for that information. He said he would send the necessary forms. When I did not received the forms I called and spoke with a female representative. She said that SSA doesn't keep any records other than social security benefit information.
Friday, July 18, 2008, I walked into the local SSA office and waited for about an hour to see a representative. When I told the rep what I wanted, he said, "Oh is that all." He printed the information out and explained that SSA keeps "mini" versions of W2 and 1099 forms. He and I looked at the printout. Sure enough, there was no $8975 payment from GMHE. I faxed the information to Upper Midwest Pension Project a legal aid organization that helps people track their pensions.
I am willing to help others walk through the search for their pensions. I encourage former GMHE employees to contact me. We may have a class action suit!
What makes this more difficult is that none of the people at DirecTV were at GMHE in 1993. GMHE was sold in pieces. I believe someone "cooked" the books in order to reduce liabilities; thereby making sell of divisions more attractive to potential buyers.
In my quest to prove that GMHE did not give me a pension payout in 1993, I am discovering many things. First of all, SSA is just like IRS: if you talk to 4 people, you get 4 different answers to the same question.
Initially I wrote IRS and requested copies of 1099's I received in 1993. I was really surprised to find that IRS does not keep records beyond 5 years - I believe that was the number. Anyway, IRS directed me to SSA.
In February 2008 I wrote SSA and requested 1099 information. I received proof of delivery of my request letter but no response. In June 2008 I called and spoke with a representative who said that I must pay for that information. He said he would send the necessary forms. When I did not received the forms I called and spoke with a female representative. She said that SSA doesn't keep any records other than social security benefit information.
Friday, July 18, 2008, I walked into the local SSA office and waited for about an hour to see a representative. When I told the rep what I wanted, he said, "Oh is that all." He printed the information out and explained that SSA keeps "mini" versions of W2 and 1099 forms. He and I looked at the printout. Sure enough, there was no $8975 payment from GMHE. I faxed the information to Upper Midwest Pension Project a legal aid organization that helps people track their pensions.
I am willing to help others walk through the search for their pensions. I encourage former GMHE employees to contact me. We may have a class action suit!
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