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SS Administration Claims Woman is Illegal Alien

08/25/09 6:58 pm | reporter: Brian Damewood producer: Scott Wilson

search tags: social security • stewart • alien

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ABC 13 - SS Administration Claims Woman is Illegal Alien

Lynchburg, VA - A Lynchburg widow is fighting Social Security to keep her benefits, and asking a congressman for help.

Natalie Stewart received a letter Tuesday saying she's being cut off because she's not legally living in the U.S.

The 85-year-old says she’s getting tired of this. She had a similar problem several months ago.

Stewart says she was born in New York and has never left the country, not even for a vacation.

After a quick scan of the letter, Natalie Stewart saw she was fighting the same old battle.

Natalie Stewart, Losing Social Security Benefits - "That again? I'm going through this again?"

Months ago, she says the Social Security Administration stopped paying her late-husband's survivors benefits, saying she wasn't lawfully in the U.S. Robert Stewart, a decorated Army officer and World War II veteran, died in 2004. Natalie says the administration later fixed their mistake, but didn't give a reason for making it.

Stewart - "When you know that you have lived in this country all your life, and then to have something to fall upon you like this, it is awful."

Now Stewart is facing the same problem again, again saying she's not lawfully present in the U.S. On top of that, her own benefits are decreasing. But if it's like last time, her daughter says her mom won't get any money until it's resolved.

Theodora Henry, Natalie's Daughter - "We do help her out financially now, but for us to add more on as a family, that's going to be really huge."

Stewart is hesitant to appeal it.

Stewart - "They give me the same story every time I go, so what's the use?"

Henry is going to Congressman Bob Goodlatte for assistance.

Henry - "I just needed someone else to try to help us to get to the bottom of this instead of repeating itself."

Goodlatte's office says they're waiting on paperwork from Stewart, then they'll investigate her case. They've helped out families before, and now it's Stewart's turn.

Stewart - "for them to do this to me, an older person -- old or young -- it's not fair."

We called the local Social Security office and couldn't get through. Then we left a message with the press office in Washington, D.C. after hours, but we haven't heard back.

Natalie Stewart plans to write Congressman Goodlatte for help Wednesday morning.

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