After 16 long years of struggle and doubt, an 80-year-old homeless woman in Washington, D.C., has finally proven that her Social Security claims were valid—and has received $100,000 that was rightfully hers.
Wanda’s Long Road to Victory
Wanda Witter spent nearly two decades living on the streets with just three suitcases holding all her belongings and critical documents. Day after day, she told anyone who would listen that she was owed a massive payout from Social Security. But people dismissed her as “crazy” and suggested she get rid of her suitcases.
Witter, however, refused to give up.
Her journey into homelessness began when she lost her job as a machinist in Corning, New York, and moved to Colorado to live with her daughter. Hoping for a fresh start, she enrolled in paralegal courses and graduated after three years.
When she moved to Washington, D.C., to look for work, things fell apart. Between 2006 and 2008, the Social Security checks she received had wildly inconsistent amounts. Frustrated, she returned the checks marked “void” and fought to have the mistakes corrected.
As her savings ran out, she found herself homeless. She believed that once Social Security acknowledged its error, her problems would be solved.
The Turning Point
In 2016, everything changed when social worker Julie Turner listened to Witter’s story. Turner took Witter to Legal Counsel for the Elderly, where attorney Daniela de la Piedra finally confirmed the truth—Witter had been right all along.
The first breakthrough came in June 2016, when Social Security issued Witter a check for $999, the maximum amount they could release on short notice. But the full payment still wasn’t immediate.
Even after this small victory, life wasn’t easy. Witter was attacked by a homeless man while waiting for the rest of her payments.
Now, her remaining payments are being processed, and she has moved into her own apartment, paying $500 a month.
“She didn’t need mental help; she needed financial justice,” said Turner. “So many homeless cases in D.C. are misdiagnosed as mental health issues, but sometimes it’s just about money.”
Lessons Learned
Witter’s story shows how persistence can overcome bureaucracy. Her case highlights systemic failures in handling homelessness and Social Security errors.
Her determination and belief in her truth brought her out of homelessness into a new chapter of life. It’s a reminder that behind every “crazy” story, there might be an unseen truth waiting to be uncovered.
(Source : the-sun.com)
