Why this matters Some seniors discover a sudden monthly reduction in their Social Security payment and assume it’s an SSA problem. In many cases, it may be tied to an IRS collection action—or identity theft where income is reported under the victim’s name. Shame and secrecy make this worse. The fix starts with the right agency and the right proof. Emergency checklist (do this in order) Confirm what the deduction is Ask: “Is this an IRS levy or an SSA overpayment?” Get the exa