WYOMING, Mich. — It’s a bit of a stretch to say her lifestyle is elegant.
Melinda Reyes Hinojosa, 46, is legally blind, has Type 2 diabetes, is prone to seizures and is battling a form of stomach cancer.
She’s almost completely dependent on her husband to help take care of her.
“Usually what I do, I stay in my room and stay in my bed until he comes home,” Hinojosa said. “Before he leaves, he leaves me like a little oatmeal, my meds, my insulin...”
Despite her medical concerns, she still finds happiness in the quiet little moments she shares with her dogs.
“My German shepherd — my baby girl,” Hinojosa said, gesturing to the one nestled under her walker. “She knows when I'm gonna have a seizure, she's like all over me. She knows that when I'm not feeling good.”
Originally from the traditionally hot and humid Corpus Christi, Texas, Hinojosa moved to West Michigan in 2021 after she was advised the cooler weather could decrease the likelihood of having a seizure.
Ever since a judge determined she was unable to work and deemed disabled in 2012, she’s collected disability payments from the Social Security Administration known as Supplemental Security Income (SSI).
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In 2023, Hinojosa said she went to the Grand Rapids Social Security office on Knapp Street to update her information. She recalls, however, running into an issue.
“I told her that I wanted to update that I have cancer and other conditions,” Hinojosa said. “She just told me, ‘That's not my problem.’ And she closed the window and she called security."
While in a wheelchair Hinojosa claims she was escorted out of the building, an experience that left her in tears.
“I was in shock, upset,” she said. “I felt like they made me feel like very little, like as if I was a nobody.”
Hinojosa would soon be the recipient of several letters from the SSA. Not only was she notified that her regular monthly SSI payments of around $600 to $900 would get reduced to $0, but she was also informed she had a balance of $11,827.81 due to overpayments.
Documentation shared with the 13 HELP Team shows that the SSA’s reasoning for the sudden billing was due to her husband Alex Hinjosa earning too much money the past few years.
But Alex believes his income may have been incorrectly calculated.
“I was like, ‘Wait a minute,’” he said. “I was looking at my paycheck — my number does not match what they put on there. So they're estimating how much they think I'm making, but they're not estimating the right amount.”
To those who disagree with an overpayment decision, the SSA allows individuals to ask for a waiver, an appeal, or both. The Hinojosas did neither. At some point, there was communication involving Disability Advocates of Kent County, but no progress was made.
The 13 HELP Team reintroduced the Hinojosas to Disability Advocates, and acted as a medium between the two when it comes to submitting all the necessary documentation to move things forward.
But as of now, Hinojosa continues to receive no SSI payments. Her husband Alex makes $16 an hour, and constantly has to put in overtime. He said he found the situation unfair.
“It’s pretty critical where someone could be so cruel,” Alex Hinojosa said. “If they could be in my shoes or be in my wife’s shoes or be in the shoes (of someone) with a disability and try to take something away from them — that's gonna leave a scar. I guess this Social Security thing is leaving my wife another scar.”
While she is hopeful for a solution, Melinda knows the road ahead will be a tough and uncertain one.
“It's gonna be hard — it's gonna be hard because (my husband) has to work, and my mom (from Corpus Christi) going back home and I'm gonna be here again. Like before, alone,” she said. “I know for sure that Social Security here in Michigan — they just threw me out like the dogs —they just don't care.”
At last check, Alex Hinojosa is working to gather up bank statements and paystubs from years past to send over to Social Security. A specialist with Disability Advocates made it clear it could take some time.
The 13 HELP Team reached out to the Social Security Administration concerning Hinojosa’s issue.
A spokesperson said they aren’t able to comment on specific cases due to privacy laws, but did mention the administration would reach out to Hinojosa and answer her questions and resolve any issues she may have with her SSI benefits.
Jay and Trevier may be the face of the HELP TEAM, but there are more members behind the scenes working to get the job done. HELP TEAM stories can be seen on weekdays at 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. and at www.13HelpTeam.com. People are encouraged to contact the HELP TEAM by calling 616-559-1313 and leaving a message or emailing help@13onyourside.com.
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