Wilfredo Pagan is useless. Or at the very least, so says the Social Safety Administration.
In actuality, the 77-year-old Lengthy Island resident could be very a lot alive, and has been searching for a number of years to gather Social Safety advantages. However as a result of the administration has him listed as deceased, they are saying there are not any advantages he’s entitled to obtain.
“I am suffering because everyday I say, ‘Why do I deserve what happens to me?'” Pagan stated. “It’s a nightmare…I think they want to kill me.”
Pagan’s well being has been quickly declining lately, together with his medical payments and others piling up at house — proper alongside the repeated notices denying him advantages.
At his small retailer in Far Rockaway, Queens, Pagan makes a modest dwelling promoting non secular candles and non secular statues. He and his household advised NBC New York they’ve been battling for the previous few years to show that he’s the truth is alive, and in determined want of advantages he’s earned.
“They say, we’ll do an investigation, and we’ll call you. And — nothing,” stated Deana Bain, his goddaughter, stated of the Social Safety Administration.
Sadly, that has not been the one impediment Pagan has confronted. He stated when he initially went to the Social Safety workplace close to his house in Feeport, he introduced his Social Safety card. He claims it was confiscated by a employee who tried telling him it was faux.
“I am a fraud? That’s what hurts me,” stated Pagan.
He will get emotional speaking in regards to the insulting suggestion, including no authorities adopted up on the fraud allegation. He and his household stated they offered his start certificates and different documentation displaying his Social Safety quantity was authentic. However they declare nobody within the workplace listened.
Including a little bit of insult to harm, Pagan had no bother acquiring a U.S. passport from the federal authorities in 2025, together with his Social Safety quantity listed on the applying.
Even after that, he continued to obtain dying notices.
“Everything has been blocked. And I’m not sure exactly why, but they just refuse to do anything,” Bain stated. “Any avenue he tried to go through, Social Security blocked it.”
As if the household did not want any extra confusion to take care of, Bain stated one level they have been advised another person was getting Pagan’s advantages by way of his Social Safety quantity. No additional rationalization was given.
“They told him there was someone in the Dominican Republic receiving benefits because the person died who was using his Social,” Bain defined.
“I’m entitled to that money. They don’t want to give it,” stated Pagan.
Pagan might be owed 1000’s of {dollars} in again advantages.
