USPS: Missing Social Security Checks Delivered

The U.S. Postal Service says customers waiting for delayed social security checks have received their check by mail or made arrangements with the Social Security Administration to get a re-issue.

By: Fred Cunningham | News Channel 7
Published: December 08, 2008

The U.S. Postal Service says Upstate customers waiting for delayed social security checks have received their check by mail or made arrangements with the Social Security Administration to get a re-issue.

Harry Spratlin of the USPS in South Carolina said he made calls - along with a Social Security representative - to all offices reporting delays. He says only the office in Union reported receiving calls.

Social Security recipients in Union, Cowpens, Spartanburg and Greenville reported delays in receiving their checks last week.

"There's really no "mystery" to this type of situation," said Spratlin in a written statement. "Because we are in the process of moving millions of pieces of mail daily, we can't just walk into a facility and find a quantity of mail. It's a process that takes time to go through."

"In my 11-year career, a delayed check issue of any significance has happened 4 times, with this (2,550 Social Security checks) being the largest number of checks ever delayed. In each case, the reason for the delay was human error."

Spratlin says check distribution problems can include mislabeling or missending on the USPS part, computer or distribution (missending or mislabeling) error on the part of the issuing agency or addressing problems on the part of the recipient.

Because First-Class Mail is not trackable, Spratlin says they can only tell there's a problem when customers call, complaining of a missed check.

Government agencies will allow a customer, who hasn't received a check, to apply for a re-issue if delivery is not made on the third day according to Spratlin.