Homeless woman proves Social Security owes her $100K

In this Aug. 10, 2016 photo, homeless woman Wanda Witter waits at her sleeping spot outside the Au Bon Pain on 13th and G Street in Washington, DC Witter, who is 80 years old, was recently attacked at the location suffering a black eye and two stitches. For 20 years she's carried suitcases full of paperwork that she says proves that Social Security owes her $93,000. A lawyer is working with her to get her money back. (Linda Davidson/The Washington Post via AP) In this Aug. 10, 2016 photo, homeless woman Wanda Witter waits at her sleeping spot outside the Au Bon Pain on 13th and G Street in Washington, DC Witter, who is 80 years old, was recently attacked at the location suffering a black eye and two stitches. For 20 years she's carried suitcases full of paperwork that she says proves that Social Security owes her $93,000. A lawyer is working with her to get her money back. (Linda Davidson/The Washington Post via AP)

By Associated Press August 23, 2016 2 min read

WASHINGTON (AP) – For years, Wanda Witter has lived on the streets in Washington, D.C., trying to persuade officials that Social Security owes her more than $100,000. For years, the 80-year-old woman says people dismissed her as crazy.

But finally someone listened — and now, her attorney says she’s about to get a $99,999 payout.

Witter moved to the District of Columbia in 1999 to seek work after losing her job as a machinist in New York years earlier, according to The Washington Post (http://wapo.st/2bJAgEr ).

But even though Witter had earned a paralegal certificate to prepare for a new career, she remained jobless. In 2006 she decided to draw Social Security benefits. However, the monthly checks varied wildly, from $900 to $300. Believing the checks were wrong, Witter didn’t cash them and sought help.

“If I just cashed them, who would believe me that they were wrong?” Witter said.