Tip #4: Request a Waiver of Overpayment Recovery
Sometimes, the agency is entirely correct about the math, but the mistake was solely their fault. If you recognize that an overpayment did occur—but you played no part in causing it—you can file for a waiver using Form SSA-632.
Requesting a waiver asks the government to forgive the debt entirely. To qualify for this relief, you must prove two specific things: first, that you were entirely “without fault” in causing the overpayment, and second, that paying back the money would cause you severe financial hardship or would be blatantly unfair.
Proving you are without fault means showing that you provided all required information to the agency on time and honestly, yet they still paid you incorrectly. Proving financial hardship requires you to detail your monthly income and essential expenses—such as rent, groceries, and vital medical bills—to demonstrate that you need every dollar of your current check to survive.
In 2024, the agency implemented favorable policy updates that shift the burden of proof away from beneficiaries in certain situations involving administrative errors. This progressive change makes it vastly easier for honest retirees to obtain waivers. Never feel ashamed to request a waiver; the process exists specifically to protect seniors from bearing the brunt of bureaucratic mistakes.
This is just so that I get emails. I’m getting them on an old email account. This is my regular account.
100% veteran on Social security. I was on ticket to work program then they said I owed money? How. Ticket to work allows tou to work without l9sing your benefits
I was over paid i did not know until a letter
I received a letter saying they overpay me as well In social security benefits. How could that be. The mistake had to be done by the social security bureau if there was overpayment . You need to make sure all employees keying in information on the Internet computer system should be doing the right thing . So there will be no mistakes or errors done .
yes, how does one overpay money they put into SS. We American citizens put into SS at 100 %. The government puts nothing into our SS. Its a joke how does one overpay their own savings? What should happen is the government who used our SS in fraudulent ways need to be panelized. Now you have to be almost dead to collect
Two letters arrived stating over payment. The ist rep said it’s not me. The second rep stats it’s from my 1st deceased husbands account.
My 2nd husband passed away few months ago. Then they find an error. I’m dumbfounded.
I am on the ticket to work program as well in nj been working part time and they say I been over paid as well bull crap because I dont control direct deposits or calculation and we pay into social security monthly and they say I been over paid 8k how is that possible