Español
If you’ve recently received a letter from the Social Security Administration (SSA) about an overpayment, you’re not alone — and a major rule change just made it even more important to act quickly.
What Changed?
As of March 27, 2025, the SSA has ended its more lenient policy of recouping overpayments at a reduced rate. Previously, beneficiaries had 10% of their monthly check withheld if they were overpaid.
Now? The SSA will withhold 100% of your benefit until the overpayment is fully repaid — meaning you could temporarily receive no monthly check at all.
Key Takeaways
• Full withholding applies to overpayments issued after March 27, 2025.
• If you were already repaying an older overpayment, your 10% rate stays the same.
• SSI overpayments are still recovered at 10%.
What If You Can’t Afford Full Withholding?
You have options. If losing your full check would cause financial hardship, the SSA allows you to:
• Request a lower repayment rate by calling 1-800-772-1213 or visiting your local SSA office.
• Appeal the overpayment if you believe the amount is incorrect.
• Request a waiver if it wasn’t your fault and you can’t afford to pay it back.
SSA will wait 30 days (plus 5 for mail time) after sending the notice before beginning collections.
How to Avoid Future Overpayments
Social Security overpayments happen for a number of reasons — some avoidable, some not. But you can reduce your risk by:
• Reporting any changes to your income, marital status, or living situation promptly.
• Asking questions if you notice an unexpected increase in your benefits.
Even if the SSA makes the error, beneficiaries are still responsible for repayment under current law.
Why the Change?
This new policy is part of a larger SSA plan to reduce improper payments and recover over $7 billion in overpayments over the next decade. The agency reports that it made nearly $72 billion in improper payments between 2015 and 2022, with $23 billion still uncollected.
