In Grainger County, Tennessee, a woman with disabilities has been hit with a hefty bill from Social Security, demanding she repay tens of thousands of dollars.

Annemarie Fugate has been informed by Social Security that they overpaid her, leading to a significant debt. Fugate, who has been living with a disability since the early 1990s, recently had to quit her job as her condition made it increasingly challenging to work full-time.

After a severe car accident, Fugate, who is divorced, continued her career as a dental technician, a skill she honed during her time in the US Air Force in the early 1980s, beginning her service at 19.

Since 2021, she has relied on a monthly Social Security disability payment, but a letter she received in July brought unexpected news.

“They claim I was overpaid by $57,000,” Fugate explained. “I wasn’t even employed during that period.”

Fugate promptly filed an appeal against the notice.

“It says, ‘Do you think we’re wrong about your overpayment?’ Yes. Pay stubs, mortgage or rent, utility bills for three months, medical and dental bills,” said Fugate.

That’s just some of the information she forwarded to Social Security to file her appeal.

“I’ve done all the paperwork, everything they’ve asked me for,” said Fugate. “And I’m still sitting and waiting. When I called Social Security this past week, they told me that because of the government shutdown, I’m just going to have to wait. They can’t tell me anything. Meanwhile, I have bills that have to be paid. Plus the $57,000 that I never got.”

This Social Security schedule shows that in 2021, she was paid $1,374 a month, and her disability steadily rose to $1,592 a month by the beginning of 2023.

“I’m trying to get someone to listen to me, so I can get this reinstated. Because I have bills I’ve got to pay and I can’t pay them if I have no income,” said Fugate.

In February 2024, Social Security informed her that she owed them $4,500 despite receiving scheduled monthly payments.

“I’ve mailed it to them, made the calls, everything they told me to do. But nobody can give me an answer as to why, all of a sudden, I owe $57,000,” said Fugate. “I’ve had several seizures and a stroke. They say that I’m able to work. Well, I’m not able to work. But they’re saying you got overpaid, so you need to work, get a job, and pay it back.”

Her nasty-looking leg injury, suffered years ago, still requires future surgery. She wants the overpayment issue worked out.

“I want my social security to be reinstated,” said Fugate.

Fugate believes that if she could meet someone from Social Security face to face, perhaps they could explain why she owes the government so much money. But right now she has no answer. She says she did work part-time over the last four years, but says she never made more than what is allowed under regulations to keep her social security disability. Fugate says she is desperate, and if needed, her next step is seeking legal assistance.