FEMA refused to release our SSN's to the press.

[madeline_con]

FEMA sent us a letter, telling us about the decision in the case News-Press v. DHS/FEMA, in which the South Florida Sun-Sentinel sued FEMA for the names, addresses and SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBERS of those who applied for and/or received disaster aid between 1998 and 2004!

Hurricane Frances destroyed half our house in Sept. '04. We received $1600 to rent an apartment for 2 months while we had a new roof put on, replaced ceilings, removed mold, and dumped a big percentage of our waterlogged belongings.

Why would the press expect our SSN's to be released?!

I would have been glad to give them information, if they'd asked, but :wtf:??



FEMA info here:

http://www.fema.gov/individual/privacy/

[bbinacan]

1. FEMA got something right.

No need to release SSNs

[Mojorabbit]

2. I got the letter too

I am happy for the sun sentinel to have the other info excluding SS numbers and I hope they find out who got all that money in areas that were not hit by the hurricanes.

[madeline_con]

3. Yes, I see the point there, but...

I would think the addresses and amounts would raise red flags where fraud or corruption was going on, without the need for SSNs.

editred 4 speeling

[Mojorabbit]

4. Oh I agree

I see no need for them to have the SS numbers at all! It seems like there may have been major fraud though and some big money. I am interested to see what they turn up.

[madeline_con]

5. I suspected that was the reason...

but I felt too much risk with a huge list of SSNs at the disposal of the press.

A lot of "follow the money" investigating can be done w/out them.

I do hope they find th $ and they're made to repay.