The Social Security Administration has announced four changes to its policies about overpayments.

1. Reducing the default withholding rate for overpayments from Social Security benefits from 100 percent of monthly benefits to 10 percent of monthly benefits.
2. Shifting the burden of proof away from the claimant when determining whether the claimant was at fault in causing the overpayment. This change should make it easier to have waiver of overpayment granted.
3. Increasing the possible timeframe for a payment plan from 36 months to 60 months. This change should make it easier to enter into and follow repayment agreements.
4. Making it easier to request waiver of overpayment. The policy is not specific about now it will be easier to request waiver of overpayment.

The change in default withholding is effective March 25, 2024.  There is an exception when the overpayment is the result of fraud.

If people who receive overpayment notices are March 25, 2024 are incorrectly subject to 100 percent withholding, they should call 1-800-772-1213 to lower their withholding rate.

For overpayments established before March 25, 2024 that have a withholding rate greater than ten percent, people can ask for a lower recovery rate by callin Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 or contacting their local Social Security office. If a beneficiary requests a withholding rate lower than ten percent, Social Security can the request if the overpayment will be repaid within 60 months.  If the beneficiary’s proposed repayment rate would extend recovery of the overpayment beyond 60 months, Social Security will gather income, resource, and expense information from the beneficiary and make a determination about the repayment rate. (Social Security Dear Colleague Letters, March 20, 2024 and March 29, 2024.)

The Social Security Administration has announced four changes to its policies about overpayments.

1. Reducing the default withhold for overpayments from Social Security benefits from 100 percent of monthly benefits to 10 percent of monthly benefits.
2. Shifting the burden of proof away from the claimant when determining whether the claimant was at fault in causing the overpayment. This change should make it easier to have waiver of overpayment granted.
3. Increasing the possible timeframe for a payment plan from 36 months to 60 months. This change should make it easier to enter into and follow repayment agreements.
4. Making it easier to request waiver of overpayment. The policy is not specific about now it will be easier to request waiver of overpayment.

(Social Security Dear Colleague Letter, March 20, 2024.)

The Social Security Administration has published a final rule changing the In Kind Support and Maintenance (ISM) rule.  Currently, the ISM rule counts both food and shelter that a SSI recipient receives as unearned income that can reduce Supplemental Security Income.  The new rule counts only shelter and no longer counts food as in kind support that can count as income. The new rule is effective starting on September 30, 2024.  (Social Security Dear Colleague Letter, March 27, 2024.)

Clients can now download their Social Security Benefits Statements for the past six years from their My Social Security account. A Benefit Statement shows the total amount of benefits a person received from Social Security in a calendar year.  (Social Security Dear Colleague Letter, November 29, 2023.)

Overpayments of Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits happen when recipients get more benefits than they are entitled to.  When there is an overpayment allegation, recipients have four options:

• Repay the overpayment
• Request an appeal
• Request waiver of the overpayment. Wavier is available if the recipient is without fault in the overpayment, and repayment would be a hardship.  A recipient can request waiver by filing the SSA-632-BK form at their local Social Security office.  If the overpayment is less than $1,000, recipients can call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 or their local Social Security office to request waiver verbally.
• Request a lower repayment amount. Social Security can grant a lower repayment amount if the person is unable to meet their necessary living expenses, or is unable to repayment the debt within 60 months.  Note that the 60 month timeframe is a change in Social Security Administration policy.  A person can request a lower repayment amount by filing the SSA-634 form at their local Social Security. (Social Security Dear Colleague Letter, March 7, 2024.)

Social Security offices have enabled a Mobile Check-In feature.  To use Mobile Check-in, clients scan the QR code at the Social Security office they are visiting to check in for both scheduled and unscheduled visits.  The Mobile Check-in requires clients to enable mobile location service and use the latest version of their internet browser.  Clients will need to be at the Social Security office when their ticket number is called.  Clients will need to enable mobile notifications.

Mobile Check-In will show clients their place in line, alert when someone is able to assist, provide the interview location, and invite participation in a feedback survey.  (Social Security Dear Colleague Letter, October 24, 2023.)