Oakland immigrant blindsided by loss of Social Security benefits, reimbursement demand

After turning 66 in January, Oakland preschool teacher Rosa Carranza applied for Social Security benefits, receiving $1,126 a month in February and March. But in April, an alarming letter arrived in the mail from the Social Security Administration.

“Based on the information we have, we cannot pay benefits beginning March 2025,” the letter said. “We cannot pay you benefits because you are not lawfully present in the U.S.”

But Carranza has lived, worked and paid taxes in the U.S. legally for more than 30 years.