U.S. Rep. Mike Carey (R-OH) is working on legislation that seeks to end the practice by the Social Security of collecting overpayments.
The bill would prevent the Social Security Commissioner from collecting an overpayment if the payment occurred more than three years prior or if the overpayment was due to error on the part of the Commissioner. These provisions would not apply if determined that the payee had committed fraud.
“Almost a million Americans every year, including some right here in Ohio’s Fifteenth Congressional District, receive overpayments from the Social Security Administration. These individuals did not ask for these overpayments, and sometimes did not know they were received. Yet, they may be asked years later to return this money,” Carey said.
Carey is the vice chair of the House Ways and Means Committee’s Social Security Subcommittee.
“No one should suffer as the result of a payroll error. We’re proud to work on this legislation to protect Social Security recipients and prevent future overpayment problems,” Carey said.
Carey has long advocated for this change. In 2023, he questioned then-Acting Social Security Commissioner Kilolo Kijakazi about the issue in a hearing of the Social Security Subcommittee.
A month later, Carey was featured in this 60 Minutes segment highlighting the impact of Social Security overpayments on seniors.
Further, Carey and Rep. Emilia Sykes (D-OH) recently sent a letter to the Social Security Administration seeking answers on improper payments from the SSA.