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SOCIAL SECURITY q&a
Question:
What should I do if Social Security paid me too much and wants it back now?
Answer:
If Social Security does pay you too much, you will receive an overpayment notice in the mail. If you have a representative payee who helps you manage your money, a copy of the letter will go to your payee. The notice will explain why you were overpaid, your repayment options, and your appeal and waiver rights. You should read the notice carefully. If you agree with the overpayment decision, you have options for repaying it. We can withhold your overpayment from your monthly benefit payments or withhold a portion of your payment until the money is paid back. If you no longer receive benefits, you can send a check to Social Security for the entire amount or set up a plan to pay back the amount in monthly installments. If you are not receiving benefits, and you do not pay the amount back, we can recover the overpayment from your federal income tax refund, from your wages if you are working, or from future SSI or Social Security benefits. If you believe that the overpayment decision is wrong and you should not have to repay it, you have the right to appeal the decision or request a waiver of recovery. If you believe you were not overpaid or the amount of the overpayment is wrong, you can file an appeal within 60 days of receiving the overpayment notice. If you agree that the overpayment is correct but you believe it was not your fault and paying it back would cause you financial hardship or be unfair for some other reason, then you can request a waiver of recovery. Whether you submit an appeal or waiver request, all recovery would be suspended until a formal decision is sent to you. If you'd like to learn more about Social Security and SSI overpayments, we have a convenient and easy-to-read electronic fact sheet on the subject. You can find it at www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs/10098.html.
Thank you to Oscar Garcia for providing us with this valuable information. Mr. Garcia is a Public Affairs Specialist with the Social Security Administration. You can direct your questions to him at: SSA, 727 E. Durango Blvd, Room B701, San Antonio, Texas, 78206. You can also email him at oscar.h.garcia@ssa.gov. |
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