How to Fix a Social Security Benefit Payment Error
How to Fix a Social Security Benefit Payment Error
Incorrect payments happen for a number of reasons: The SSA might be at fault — a computational error, or a failure to obtain or act on information relevant to a recipient's eligibility or benefit amount. A beneficiary might have neglected to notify Social Security of, or provided incorrect data about, a life event that can affect benefits, such as a change in income or a death in the family. Your case might not be finished. If a beneficiary a loss or reduction of benefits, the SSA is required in some instances to keep paying the amount in question until the case is decided. If the appeal fails, then the beneficiary was getting the “wrong” amount during this time. Mistakes are most prevalent in (SSDI) and, especially, (SSI), the benefits that serve . Eligibility for these programs is subject to and, in the case of SSI, ceilings on and . Unreported or unidentified income and assets are leading causes of payment errors, according to Social Security, which that overpayments accounted for nearly 9 percent of the approximately $57 billion in SSI benefits sent out in fiscal year 2021.
You can request an outright waiver of the debt by filing . You'll have to demonstrate that the overpayment was not your fault and that repayment would cause financial hardship. If you don't think you were overpaid, you can appeal using . You have 60 days from the date you receive the overpayment notice to file your appeal. You'll find more information in the Social Security publication .
You can check your earnings record online at any time if you have a . If you spot discrepancies or omissions, report them to Social Security to seek a correction. You'll want to assemble proof of earnings such as W-2 forms, tax returns and pay stubs. For more details, see the SSA publication .
What if my Social Security benefit is the wrong amount
Mistaken Social Security payments are rare, but with the Social Security Administration (SSA) delivering monthly benefits to nearly 70 million people, they do happen. In the 2021 fiscal year, Social Security paid out around $1.1 trillion in retirement, survivors and disability benefits. That included about $1.8 billion in overpayments to beneficiaries, or 0.17 percent of total outlays, according to SSA's most recent to the federal Office of Management and Budget (OMB). If you believe you were either overpaid or underpaid by Social Security, as soon as possible. Failing to report the error in a timely way can lead to months of incorrect payments along with the eventual hassle of sorting it out.Incorrect payments happen for a number of reasons: The SSA might be at fault — a computational error, or a failure to obtain or act on information relevant to a recipient's eligibility or benefit amount. A beneficiary might have neglected to notify Social Security of, or provided incorrect data about, a life event that can affect benefits, such as a change in income or a death in the family. Your case might not be finished. If a beneficiary a loss or reduction of benefits, the SSA is required in some instances to keep paying the amount in question until the case is decided. If the appeal fails, then the beneficiary was getting the “wrong” amount during this time. Mistakes are most prevalent in (SSDI) and, especially, (SSI), the benefits that serve . Eligibility for these programs is subject to and, in the case of SSI, ceilings on and . Unreported or unidentified income and assets are leading causes of payment errors, according to Social Security, which that overpayments accounted for nearly 9 percent of the approximately $57 billion in SSI benefits sent out in fiscal year 2021.
If you ve been overpaid
If Social Security paid you too much, you generally have to pay the money back. You will receive a notice explaining the error and outlining your options and rights. Typically, SSA withholds some or all of your corrected monthly payment until the debt is settled. If you no longer are receiving benefits, the agency seeks a lump sum refund, which you can repay online using the Treasury Department's . You'll find information on using Pay.gov on your billing notice. SSA has the authority to or income tax refunds if you don't comply. But it also can work with you to set up a monthly payment plan you can afford.You can request an outright waiver of the debt by filing . You'll have to demonstrate that the overpayment was not your fault and that repayment would cause financial hardship. If you don't think you were overpaid, you can appeal using . You have 60 days from the date you receive the overpayment notice to file your appeal. You'll find more information in the Social Security publication .
If you ve been underpaid
If you get a benefit payment you believe was too little, call SSA at 800-772-1213 or . SSA will investigate the matter and compensate you for any underpayment in a lump sum or through increased monthly payments. Local offices after being closed to walk-in traffic for more than two years due to the , but Social Security recommends calling in advance and scheduling an appointment to avoid long waits. The chief cause of underpayments is computational or clerical errors, often arising from inaccurate information in a beneficiary's earnings history. That's the year-by-year listing in Social Security's records of how much you made over your career and the foundation for .You can check your earnings record online at any time if you have a . If you spot discrepancies or omissions, report them to Social Security to seek a correction. You'll want to assemble proof of earnings such as W-2 forms, tax returns and pay stubs. For more details, see the SSA publication .