In March 2025, Public Investigator reported on a Wisconsin man who paid into Social Security for years but after receiving a terminal cancer diagnosis was unable to get disability benefits.
Due to a complex rule tied to the Social Security Administration’s Compassionate Allowances program, Michael Kraft had to undergo a five-month waiting period before receiving his first check.
At the time, his doctors estimated that he had two weeks to live. If he died before then, his family was guaranteed none of the Social Security funds…