Every month, the Social Security Administration (SSA) sends money to retirees. That year, the average payment was $1,827. However, sometimes the SSA sends more money than the beneficiary earns and, therefore, requests a refund.
An overpayment occurs when the beneficiary receives more money during a month than he or she should have. The amount of the overpayment is the difference between the amount received from the beneficiary and the amount owed. This can result in an overpayment:
- Your income is higher than you calculated.
- Your living situation changes
- Your marital status changes
- You have more resources than the allowable limit
- You are no longer disabled and continue to receive benefits
- You do not report a change to SSA as required.
- SSA miscalculates benefits due to incorrect or incomplete information
What to do if Social Security asks you to repay benefits you have already received?
If there is an overpayment, SSA will send a notice explaining the overpayment and request a full refund within 30 days. If your overpayment letter includes online payment instructions, you can pay at pay.gov. If you currently receive payments and do not issue a full refund, the notice applies:
- Suggest withholding the 10 percent overpayment or the full monthly payment, whichever is less.
- Indicate the month in which the proposed withholding should begin.
- This will explain your objection rights in detail.
- Explain how you can ask SSA to review the overpayment and waive it so you do not have to repay it.
- Explain how you can appeal the decision.
Appealing to SSA
If you believe you have not overpaid or that the overpaid amount is incorrect, you may request reconsideration. If you appeal within 60 days of receiving the notice, all “debts” will remain in effect until the SSA makes a decision.
If you think you may have overpaid, but believe it was not your fault and you cannot pay, you may request an overpayment waiver by completing SSA Form 632.
For more information, visit the SSA WEBSITE or call 1-855-807-8807 or 1-800-772-1213.