Dealing with Overpayment from the Social Security Administration
How to repay the Social Security Administration
When the Social Security Administration becomes aware of an overpayment, it will send you a notice indicating why you were overpaid, how much you were overpaid, and your repayment options. It will also explain your appeal and waiver rights, which we'll discuss below.
If you get a Social Security check but haven't actually signed up, you can do one of the following to pay back the funds:
- Use your credit card, debit card, or bank account to pay back the money you received via Pay.gov.
- Make a payment to the Social Security Administration using your bank's online bill-pay feature.
- Send the Social Security Administration a check for the full amount within 30 days.
- Contact the Social Security Administration to set up a monthly installment agreement to pay what's owed.
What to do if you disagree about the overpayment
If you don't believe you were overpaid or believe the amount is incorrect, you can file an appeal within 60 days of receiving the overpayment notice. Your appeal must be in writing and explain why you believe you weren't overpaid or why the amount is incorrect.
Don't skip repayments or risk facing consequences such as withholding money from your tax return or damaging your credit score. Understand your rights and options when dealing with overpayments from the Social Security Administration.
This article was prepared using information from open sources in accordance with the principles of Ethical Policy. The editorial team is not responsible for absolute accuracy, as it relies on data from the sources referenced.