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Veteran tells Leavenworth commission his Social Security benefits were erroneously canceled
Summary
A local veteran testified that an administrative error listed him as deceased and that he had to travel to multiple offices to restore benefits; he urged community outreach to help others affected by similar issues.
Harold Peterson, who identified himself as a combat veteran and Leavenworth resident, used his public comment time to describe a problem he said affected him and many others: he said his Social Security record had been changed to show him as deceased and his birthdate altered to 04/06/1758.
Peterson said he traveled to regional Social Security offices in Lawrence and Lenexa, showed documentation proving he is alive, and that the error was recently corrected after delays; he said he feared losing Department of Veterans Affairs disability benefits while the problem persisted. He said other people at the Lawrence office appeared to be in the same situation and warned commissioners that if community support is not mobilized, some people could face homelessness as benefit cuts occur in May.
Peterson urged churches and community outreach groups to assist affected people with transportation and navigating Social Security and VA processes. The mayor thanked him for sharing his story and said staff would follow up as appropriate. The commission did not take formal action on the public comment but acknowledged the concern and the possibility of staff follow-up.
