Cancer patient (US citizen) declared not legally present, Medicare and SSI stripped

[Winehole23]

She got her Medicare back, but Ms. Rakestraw's SSI hasn't been restored, so now she has no income

A Texas woman and U.S. native who has spent years battling severe diseases is fighting to get her social benefits back from federal officials who removed them after challenging her citizenship.

Ramona Rakestraw was born in 1966 in Dallas County, Texas.

The 59-year-old was stricken with kidney disease at age 28. She received a transplant, but in 2024, she was diagnosed with cancer.

Ramona Rakestraw was born in Dallas County, Texas, but had her Social Security benefits revoked after federal officials questioned her U.S. citizenship. (Photo: Screenshot/KDFW)


She’s enrolled in Medicare Part B and has been receiving Supplementary Security Income (SSI) for years to support her through her illnesses, according to KDFW.

SSI benefits are distributed to people with disabilities or older adults who have little to no streams of income and no financial resources to fall back on.

In October 2025, both her SSI and Medicare benefits were halted, and she was told her immigration status was under review.

Although Rakestraw was born in the U.S. and has never once traveled or lived outside the country, federal officials still raised questions about her legal status.

“I am shocked,” Rakestraw said. “They told me my immigrant status was being questioned, and so I said, ‘I’m not an immigrant.’”

Her Medicare coverage was later restored, but her SSI benefits were not.

Rakestraw took her identification and birth certificate to her local Social Security Office to clear up the issue.

She later received a letter from the federal agency stating: “We cannot pay you benefits because you are not lawfully present in the U.S.”

“That’s my income, my whole income,” she said.

https://atlantablackstar.com/2026/03...n-the-country/

[Winehole23]

It’s unclear what prompted the immigration review and the decision to withhold Rakestraw’s benefits. The Social Security Administration has not released further details, citing privacy concerns.


From the time a recipient’s benefits are denied, they have 60 days to appeal the Social Security Administration’s (SSA) decision. Individuals must update their citizenship status, and then the case is reviewed by someone who did not suspend or revoke the benefits.


Rakestraw said she’s completed all the necessary paperwork, filed her appeal and is now awaiting further contact from the SSA.

[SnakeBoy]

Cool story

[Winehole23]

^^^just dropped in with nothing to say, as usual

[Winehole23]

(nonzero chance DOGE using ChatGPT flagged Rakestraw erroneously)

[Winehole23]

seems random citizens having their legal residency status and benefits revoked for no reason is the price we're expected to pay to rejigger the US racial mix

[ChumpDumper]

Cool story

What the is wrong with you?