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$1 Trillion in Credit Card Debt: How America Got Here
   
 * Money
   
   


DID THE SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION SEND YOU TOO MUCH MONEY? WHAT TO DO

You may or may not have to pay back any extra Social Security money you were
sent.

Katie Teague Writer II
Katie is a writer covering all things how-to at CNET, with a focus on Social
Security and notable events. When she's not writing, she enjoys playing in golf
scrambles, practicing yoga and spending time on the lake.
Expertise Personal Finance: Social Security and taxes
See full bio
Katie Teague
May 19, 2024 7:15 a.m. PT
3 min read


You may not need to pay back those extra Social Security dollars.

Zooey Liao/CNET

Did the Social Security Administration accidentally send you more money than you
usually get? If so, you may not have to pay that extra money back, due to some
new rules the Social Security Administration has concerning overpayments. In
March, SSA Commissioner Martin O'Malley laid out a four-step plan to help
beneficiaries who receive overpayments without knowing their benefits didn't
actually increase.



Typically when a Social Security beneficiary receives more money than they're
supposed to get, they're required to pay it all back, either through reduced
monthly payments or as a lump sum -- even when it's a mistake made by the SSA.
These repayments can negatively impact people who rely on their monthly Social
Security payments to afford housing and other bills.

We'll explain what's happening with Social Security overpayments and how it
could affect you. For more, here's the Social Security payment schedule, and
here's info on the maximum amount of Social Security you can get each month. 




HOW DOES A SOCIAL SECURITY OVERPAYMENT HAPPEN?

There are several reasons why overpayments may occur, according to the Social
Security Administration -- for instance, you start a new job and don't report
your work in a timely manner, or you continue to receive payments during an
appeal.

The SSA says it handles overpayments on a case-by-case basis, so if you receive
a notice, it's best to contact the agency, especially if you think it's a
mistake. In the case of an error, you can submit an appeal.




HOW WILL THE NEW RULES CHANGE SOCIAL SECURITY REPAYMENTS?

On March 20, 2024, Commissioner O'Malley introduced a four-step plan to change
how claimants who receive an overpayment can repay it. 

First, as of March 25, the Social Security administration will no longer take
back 100% of Social Security benefits when a claimant doesn't respond to a
demand for repayment notice. The default withholding amount will now be 10%.

Second, claimants will no longer have to show proof of whether they were at
fault in causing overpayments. Instead, that responsibility will lie within the
agency if it believes the beneficiary was at fault for receiving the
overpayment.

Third, the period for repayment will be extended from 36 months to 60 months.
This longer payback period will give beneficiaries more time to pay, so that
less money will be taken from their monthly checks.




Last, the agency will make it easier for beneficiaries to request a waiver if
they are not at fault or can't afford to repay the money back.



You can request a waiver for Social Security overpayments.

James Bricknell / CNET


HOW TO REQUEST A WAIVER FOR SOCIAL SECURITY OVERPAYMENTS OR FILE AN APPEAL

If you believe you're not at fault for Social Security overpayments you've
received, you can either request a waiver or file an appeal. Here's how to do
it.

Request a waiver:

If you agree that you have been overpaid, but you don't think you should have to
pay it back because the overpayment wasn't your fault or you can't afford to
repay it, you can request a waiver. There isn't a time limit to request waiver
as long as you can prove it wasn't your fault or that paying the money back
would cause a hardship.



To request a waiver, you'll need to submit form SSA-632. Once you've completed
it, you can either mail it or drop it off at your nearest Social Security
office.

Don't use this form if you think you are not at fault and your overpayment is
$1,000 or less. Instead, request a waiver by calling 1-800-772-1213 or your
local Social Security office. Your request could possibly be processed over the
phone.

File an appeal: 

If you don't believe you've been overpaid or if the amount listed on your notice
is correct, you can file an appeal -- here's how. 

Before you file, make sure you've got your notice from the SSA on hand, as well
as any supporting documents. Once you're ready, go to
secure.ssa.gov/iApplNMD/start and click Start an Appeal, then follow the
onscreen instructions. Note that you have 60 days from the date you received the
original overpayment notice (five days after the listed date on the notice) to
file your appeal.




For more Social Security information, here's how to apply for benefits. Also,
here's how to create a My Social Security account.














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