About 130,000 disabled Americans may have been shortchanged on government benefits, but officials said yesterday that they have fixed the problem and will settle up now.

Those disabled Americans could begin receiving up to $20 more a month and retroactive payments averaging $2,000, the Social Security Administration said.

The 130,000 had been getting money through a supplemental security program for the needy and were not notified they could be eligible for traditional Social Security, the administration said.

In some cases, people could be owed benefits for several years.

Larry G. Massanari, the Social Security Administration's acting commissioner, said a review caught the mistake, and the administration would ensure people get money they are owed. Those people will be contacted about the benefits.

Also this month, checks for about $19 are being mailed to about 50 million Social Security recipients to make up for some $1 billion in underpayments blamed on a computer problem.

That problem, caused by another agency, is unrelated to the latest glitch, said spokeswoman Carolyn Cheezum.

The agency said that beneficiaries will receive a statement in July explaining the one-time payment and their adjusted monthly benefit. No action is required by beneficiaries to get the adjusted benefits, the agency said.

The retroactive payments will be made separately from regular monthly payments.

Cheezum said 99.7 percent of the 52 million people who receive traditional Social Security or supplemental benefits get accurate monthly checks.

Washington Post

-- Anonymous, July 06, 2001