Overpayment of
Benefits
If Social Security
sends a notice that
you are overpaid,
there are three
things you can do:
1. You can request
to
appeal the
overpayment if you
disagree there is an
overpayment or with
the amount of the
overpayment.
-
During
reconsideration,
you can give
information
showing why you
are not overpaid
or why the
amount of the
overpayment is
not correct.
-
Appeal in
person at your
local Social
Security office
and fill out a
form (SSA form
561-U2. It
officially
records your
request.
-
If you cannot
get to your
local Social
Security office,
call and ask
them to send you
SSA form 561-U2.
Fill out this
form, tear off
your copy, and
return the
original to
Social Security
as soon as
possible.
-
You only have 60
days to appeal.
It is not
difficult, but
you must act
quickly!
-
If you disagree
with the results
of your
reconsideration,
you can appeal
again. The next
appeal is a
hearing.
AND/OR
2. You can ask to
have the overpayment
forgiven, if you
agree you have been
overpaid, but
believe you should
not have to pay the
money back. You must
show that you did
not intentionally
cause the
overpayment and that
you cannot pay it
back. Be sure to
check that the
amount of the
overpayment is
correct before you
file a waiver
request.
-
Request a
“waiver” in
person at your
local Social
Security office
and complete a
form (SSA form
632BK). It
officially
records your
waiver request.
-
This form asks
you to say why
the overpayment
was not your
fault and why
you cannot pay
it back.
-
There is no
deadline for
filing a waiver,
but it is
important to do
this as soon as
possible.
-
If you cannot
get to your
local Social
Security office,
call and ask
them to send you
SSA form 632BK.
Fill out this
form, make a
copy for your
records, and
return the
original to
Social Security.
-
If your first
waiver request
is denied, you
have options.
Social Security
will offer you a
personal
conference.
Be sure to
attend this
conference!
It is a good
opportunity to
get your
overpayment
forgiven. If you
disagree with
Social
Security’s
decision after
this conference,
you can request
an appeal.
OR
3. You can repay the
overpayment.
To learn more about
overpayments and the
steps you may click
on this link:
http://www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs/10098.html
