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Social Security disability

If Social Security says you were overpaid

You can disagree, ask for a waiver, or ask to pay less each month. Collection stops while you ask.

If SSA says you were overpaid

  • SSA sends a notice saying how much it thinks you were overpaid and why. It tells you about your right to appeal and to ask for a waiver.
  • If you think the amount is wrong or you were not overpaid, ask for reconsideration within 60 days (Form SSA-561).
  • If you agree you were overpaid, but it was not your fault and you cannot pay it back, ask for a waiver (Form SSA-632). You can ask at any time, even after SSA starts collecting. If the overpayment is $2,000 or less, you may not need the form.
  • SSA waives repayment only if you were not at fault AND repaying would either take money you need for basic living costs or be unfair ('against equity and good conscience').
  • If you ask for reconsideration or a waiver, SSA stops collection until it decides.
  • For SSDI and other Social Security benefits, if you do nothing, SSA withholds 50% of your monthly benefit. This applies to overpayment notices sent on or after April 25, 2025. Older notices keep 10% unless there is a new overpayment.
  • For SSI overpayments, the default is still 10%.
  • You can ask for a lower monthly amount with Form SSA-634 (Request for Change in Overpayment Recovery Rate). SSA looks at your income and expenses.
  • If you no longer get benefits, SSA can ask the Treasury to take your federal tax refund. It can also use other federal collection tools, such as wage garnishment, under its rules.
  • SSA can also collect from your SSI or other SSA payments ('cross-program recovery'). It waits at least 30 days after notice, and waits for a decision if you ask for review or a different amount in that time.

You have 60 days to appeal each decision, plus 5 days for mail.

Check your last day with the deadline calculator

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Last checked: November 2026