Sobrepago del Seguro Social. SSA also uses language such as “benefit paid in excess” in some explanations.
Definition
A Social Security overpayment occurs when SSA pays more in retirement, disability, survivor, family, or SSI benefits than the agency determines should have been paid. The notice states the period, amount, reason, proposed recovery, and review rights.
Overpayment is not the same as fraud
An overpayment can result from missing, delayed, or incorrect information and does not by itself establish fraud. The current waiver form separately says not to use it when a person has been convicted of fraud related to the overpayment.
Appeal, waiver, and lower recovery rate
- Appeal or reconsideration: challenges whether the overpayment exists or whether the amount is correct.
- Waiver: asks SSA not to collect some or all of an overpayment when the person was not at fault and repayment would cause hardship or be unfair.
- Lower recovery rate: accepts the debt but asks for smaller monthly withholding or payments.
Practical example
SSA may determine that a person's income changed before the agency adjusted an SSI payment. The person may appeal if the income or calculation is wrong, request a waiver if the overpayment was not their fault and repayment would cause hardship, or do both if the reason is unclear.
Related terms and resources
- Request a waiver
- Appeal or waiver?
- Overpayment notice checklist
- Supplemental Security Income
- Overpayment recovery rate
- Appeal an overpayment determination