Wanda Ritter, an elderly woman who had been homeless for 16 years, captured attention by holding a note instead of begging for money. Her message was clear: she believed the government owed her $100,000 every day. Most dismissed her as a lunatic, but everything changed when social worker Julie Turner took interest in her case.

Wanda, once a mother of four and a locksmith, had been living on the streets, clutching a suitcase full of documents and unpaid checks. Julie Turner realized that Wanda needed financial assistance, not mental health support. Turner examined the papers and confirmed that Wanda was owed money by the Social Security Administration.

Wanda had received monthly checks ranging from $300 to $900, but she never cashed them, suspecting errors. With Turner’s help, she resolved the issue and secured a $500 apartment. Shortly after her story went viral, Wanda received her first $1,644 Social Security check. It was a life-changing turn of events for a woman who had been living on the streets, holding onto a belief that finally paid off.