263. Feds Threaten WWII Vet

"They're going to kick me out of my own home," said Karl Berger, 86 years old. Karl is a widower with no living children. When Karl's wife died a couple of years ago, he told the Social Security Administration to stop sending monthly checks to his wife. 

But the agency continued to send the checks. Karl called again; a clerk said not to worry. He told Karl to mail a followup letter that included his wife's date of death. But the checks continued to come. Karl needed the money, so he cashed his wife's checks. 

When SSA finally realized its mistake, it sent Karl a letter saying that he owed SSA $5,900 plus interest. Karl receives only $12,000 a year, which is slightly above poverty level. The only savings that he ever had -- $5,000 -- was spent on his wife's funeral. 

He fought on Iwo Jima, site of one of the most furious battles of World War II. The battle left him deaf in one ear and almost blind in one eye. His small house used to be in a good neighborhood. He takes the bus once a week to visit his wife's grave. 

The rest of his time is spent at home, where he carves wooden military figures that he donates to a local charity. The charity sells the carvings and uses the money to help feed the homeless. SSA gave Karl six months to pay the debt in full. Otherwise, the SSA letter said, the agency would seize his home. 

Karl wrote back, asking if it would be okay to pay $30 a month. That was all he could afford. "That's insufficient," said William Shatner, an SSA agent. "We know that he is a war veteran, but that doesn't entitle him to free money. He knew that his wife was dead, yet he cashed her monthly checks. That is fraud, pure and simple."

Vocabulary Words

                                                           

No.	Word	Definition	Example Sentence
01	kick me out	To force someone to leave (in this case, his home).	"They're going to kick me out of my own home," said Karl.
02	widower	A man whose wife has died and who has not married again.	Karl is a widower with no living children.
03	Social Security Administration (SSA)	A U.S. government agency that administers social insurance programs.	he told the Social Security Administration to stop sending monthly checks.
04	monthly checks	Payments received once every month.	he told the Social Security Administration to stop sending monthly checks.
05	clerk	An office worker who handles routine paperwork and tasks.	Karl called again; a clerk said not to worry.
06	mail a followup letter	To send a second letter to continue a discussion or action.	He told Karl to mail a followup letter that included his wife's date of death.
07	cashed	Converted a check or payment into actual money.	Karl needed the money, so he cashed his wife's checks.
08	realized its mistake	Became aware of its error or oversight.	When SSA finally realized its mistake, it sent Karl a letter.
09	poverty level	The minimum annual income needed to live, determined by the government.	which is slightly above poverty level.
10	savings	Money kept in reserve rather than spent.	The only savings that he ever had was spent on his wife's funeral.
11	funeral	A ceremony held to honor and bury or cremate a dead person.	was spent on his wife's funeral.
12	fought on Iwo Jima	Participated in a famous, fierce battle in World War II.	He fought on Iwo Jima, site of one of the most furious battles of World War II.
13	deaf in one ear	Unable to hear in one of his ears.	The battle left him deaf in one ear and almost blind in one eye.
14	carves	Cuts a hard material to produce a shape or design.	where he carves wooden military figures.
15	donates	Gives money or goods for a good cause.	that he donates to a local charity.
16	local charity	An organization in the area that helps people in need.	that he donates to a local charity.
17	homeless	People without a fixed home, typically living on the streets.	to help feed the homeless.
18	debt	A sum of money that is owed or due.	SSA gave Karl six months to pay the debt in full.
19	seize his home	To take possession of his house, usually by legal force.	the agency would seize his home.
20	fraud	Wrongful or criminal deception intended to result in financial or personal gain.	That is fraud, pure and simple.

Comprehension Questions and answers

                                                       

No.	Question	Answer
01	How old is Karl Berger?	He is **86 years old**.
02	What is Karl's family status (relationship to his wife and children)?	He is a **widower** with **no living children**.
03	What did Karl ask the Social Security Administration (SSA) to do after his wife died?	To **stop sending monthly checks** to his wife.
04	What was the clerk's instruction to Karl after he called again about the checks?	To **mail a followup letter** with his wife's date of death.
05	Why did Karl eventually cash his wife's checks?	Because **he needed the money**.
06	How much money (plus interest) did the SSA claim Karl owed them?	**$5,900** plus interest.
07	What is Karl's total annual income?	Only **$12,000 a year**.
08	How much money did Karl have in savings, and what was it spent on?	**$5,000**, spent on his **wife's funeral**.
09	In which World War II battle did Karl fight?	**Iwo Jima**.
10	What two physical disabilities resulted from his battle experience?	He was left **deaf in one ear** and almost **blind in one eye**.
11	How often does Karl leave his home, and why?	**Once a week**, to visit his **wife's grave**.
12	What creative hobby does Karl do at home?	He **carves wooden military figures**.
13	What does Karl do with the wooden figures?	He **donates them to a local charity**.
14	How does the charity use the money from the carvings?	To help **feed the homeless**.
15	How long did SSA give Karl to pay the debt in full?	**Six months**.
16	What was the consequence if Karl failed to pay the debt?	The SSA would **seize his home**.
17	How much money did Karl offer to pay per month?	**$30 a month**.
18	Who was the SSA agent Karl dealt with?	**William Shatner**.
19	What was the SSA agent's response to Karl's offer?	He said it was **"insufficient"**.
20	What word did the SSA agent use to describe Karl's action of cashing the checks?	**Fraud**.