What to Do If You Have a Social Security Overpayment

If you receive a letter from the Social Security Administration (SSA) saying you were paid too much Supplemental Security Income (SSI), disability, or retirement benefits, this is called an overpayment. 

This guide explains what you can do if you are dealing with this problem. 

What a Social Security overpayment means 

An overpayment happens when SSA gives you more benefits than you should get under their rules. You might get an overpayment if: 

• SSA miscalculates your monthly benefit.
• You don't report changes in your income, health, marital status, or resources (such as money in a bank account) to the SSA.  

If SSA thinks they overpaid you, they will send you a letter called a "Notice of Overpayment." This notice will include: 

1. Why SSA thinks there was an overpayment.
2. How much money you owe.
3. How they plan to take back the money.   
4. How to ask for a review of the decision.
5. Important deadlines.  

What to expect if you are overpaid 

Usually, SSA will lower your monthly Social Security payment until you pay off the debt. If you don’t get benefits anymore, SSA will ask you to pay them back directly. 

• If you receive SSI benefits, your payment will be reduced by 10% each month until you repay the debt.
• If you get Social Security disability or retirement benefits, SSA can take your full payment each month until you repay the debt. 

Other ways to handle an overpayment 

You do not have to accept the repayment plan SSA suggests. You have other choices: 

• Ask SSA to forgive the debt: If the overpayment was not your fault and you cannot afford to pay it back, you can ask SSA to forgive the debt. If they agree, you will not have to repay it.
• Ask SSA to lower your payment: If you cannot afford the repayment plan, you can ask Social Security to reduce your monthly payments to make them more affordable.
• Ask SSA to review their decision: If you think SSA made a mistake, like miscalculating the overpayment, you can ask them to look at their decision again. This option has strict deadlines, so don’t delay in requesting review if you disagree with the amount of the overpayment or that you were overpaid at all.  

The following sections will give you more details about these options. 

How to ask SSA to forgive or waive the debt 

You can ask SSA to forgive the overpayment. This is called a request for waiver. You can request a waiver if you agree there was an overpayment, but it was not your fault, and you cannot afford to repay the money. 

Important deadline:  

• There is no deadline to ask for a waiver, but if you request one within 30 days of the notice date, you can keep receiving benefits while SSA decides if you qualify for a waiver. 

Steps to take:  

1. Complete a form. Fill out Form SSA-632 (Request for Waiver).   
2. Fax or take your form to your local Social Security office. Mailing it is not recommended because it could get lost or take too long. You can find your local Social Security office here.
3. Check your mail after you file. SSA will send you a written decision. If your reconsideration or waiver request is denied, you can ask for a hearing with a judge within 60 days by submitting Form 501. 

How to ask for a lower monthly payment 

You can ask for a lower repayment amount if you agree there was an overpayment, but you cannot afford to pay it back at the rate SSA suggested. 

Important deadline:  

• There is no deadline to ask for a lower monthly payment, but if you request one within 30 days of the notice date, you can keep receiving benefits while SSA decides if you qualify. 

Steps to take:  

1. Fill out a form. Use Form SSA-634 (Request for Change in Rate of Overpayment Recovery).   
2. Fax or take your form to your local Social Security office. Mailing is not recommended because it could get lost or take too long. You can find your local Social Security office here.
3. Check your mail after you file. SSA will send you a written decision. If your reconsideration or waiver request is denied, you can ask for a hearing with a judge within 60 days by submitting Form 501. 

How to ask SSA to review their decision 

You can ask SSA to review your case if you don’t agree that you were overpaid or think the amount is incorrect. This is called a request for reconsideration. 

Important deadlines:  

• In most cases, you have 60 days from the date on the notice to ask SSA to review their decision.
• If you act within 30 days of the notice, you can ask Social Security to keep paying your benefits while they review your case. 

Steps to take:  

1. Complete a form: Use Form SSA-561 (Request for Reconsideration). For your appeal, include a short explanation of why you think Social Security is wrong. You can write something like “I do not believe I was overpaid” or “I do not think you accurately calculated the overpayment.” You do not need to provide many details. details.
2. Attach evidence: You can include evidence (like bank statements or receipts) to support your request.   
3. Fax or take your form and evidence to your local Social Security office. Mailing is not recommended because it could get lost or take too long. You can find your local Social Security office here.
4. Check your mail after you file. Social Security will send you a written decision. If your reconsideration or waiver request is denied, you can ask for a hearing with a judge within 60 days by submitting Form 501. 

Where to get help

• Social Security: Call 1-800-772-1213 if you have questions about your case.
• Oregon Public Benefits Hotline: If Social Security cannot help, call Oregon’s Public Benefits Hotline. Legal aid attorneys and paralegals answer the hotline and provide quick, free advice. Find out how to contact the hotline here. 

Frequently Asked Questions