Social Security officials to review overpayment policies after Channel 9 investigation

WASHINGTON — The Social Security Administration is putting together a team to review its overpayment policies and procedures.

This comes after a Channel 9 investigation, in collaboration with KFF Health News, last month into the SSA, in which it overpaid $20 billion to people who are being asked to pay that money back.

“Despite our high accuracy rates, I am putting together a team to review our overpayment policies and procedures to further improve how we serve our customers,” said Kilolo Kijakazi, Acting Commissioner of Social Security. “I have designated a senior official to work out of the Office of the Commissioner to lead the team and report directly to me.”

The agency has, thus far, refused to disclose how many Americans have been impacted by these overpayments.

The Social Security Administration has not offered any specifics on what the review will entail or a timeline for when it would be completed.

SSA has declined our prior requests for an interview with the acting commissioner and has not responded to a new request to discuss her ordering of this review.

In a news release announcing the review, the agency said when overpayments do happen, the agency is required by law to adjust benefits or recover debts. The law allows Social Security to waive recovery in some cases, which must be balanced with the agency’s stewardship responsibility to safeguard the integrity of benefit programs and the trust funds.

VIDEO: Ch. 9 investigation into Social Security overpayment gets Washington’s attention

Ch. 9 investigation into Social Security overpayment gets Washington’s attention

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