The independent source for health policy research, polling, and news.
The Social Security Administration has been overpaying billions of dollars to people, many on disability — then demanding the money back, even if the government made the mistake, an investigation by KFF Health News and Cox Media Group revealed. The reporting has triggered a congressional hearing, additional Senate oversight of the agency, an apology from the head of the SSA to Congress, and an ongoing internal policy review. In early 2024, the head of Social Security announced sweeping policy changes to address concerns about overpayments.
Beneficiaries in five states described what happened when they received letters calling on them to return overpayments that can reach tens of thousands of dollars or more.
Some Social Security beneficiaries say the government is clawing back benefits after they received covid stimulus payments that were supposed to be exempt from asset limits.
More than 2 million people a year have been sent notices that Social Security overpaid them and demanding they repay the money. That’s twice as many as the head of Social Security disclosed at a congressional hearing in October.
“Overpayment Outrage” is a collaboration between KFF Health News and Cox Media Group TV stations.
Do you have an experience with Social Security overpayments you’d like to share?
Click below to contact our reporting team.
Justina Worrell’s aunt and caregiver Addie Arnold, who took her in when she was orphaned as a child, said neither of them has $60,175.90 to repay the government. (WHIO-TV, Dayton)
Hundreds of thousands of families are facing unexpected bills from government (WSB-TV, Atlanta)
Local families told they owe thousands they don’t have after Social Security overpayments (WPXI-TV, Pittsburgh)
Social Security Administration clawing back $21 billion in overpayments (KIRO-TV, Seattle)
Hundreds of thousands of people face overpayment claims from Social Security (WFTV, Orlando)
‘We have to get this right!’ Lawmakers demand action in Congressional hearing over SSA overpayments (WSB-TV, Atlanta)
I-TEAM: Senators demand answers from Social Security for clawbacks tied to Covid relief (WHIO-TV, Dayton)
Lawmakers demand answers from SSA after Channel 2/KFF Health News investigation (WSB-TV, Atlanta)
Social Security reviewing overpayment policies, procedures following Action News Jax investigation (WJAX-TV, Jacksonville)
I-TEAM: Some say they’ve lost Social Security benefits because of stimulus checks (WHIO-TV, Dayton)
Some say they’ve lost Social Security benefits because of stimulus checks (WSOC-TV, Charlotte)
Families say they lost Social Security benefits due to agency erroneously counting COVID-19 checks (WFXT-TV, Boston)
People say COVID-19 stimulus caused social security overpayments, even though that money was exempt (WFTV, Orlando)
Social Security clawbacks hit a million more people than agency chief told Congress (WFTV, Orlando)
Social Security clawbacks hit million more people than agency chief told Congress (KIRO-TV, Seattle)
Social Security chief says about 1M face overpayments each year – internal records show it’s double (WPXI-TV, Pittsburgh)
I-Team: Social Security clawbacks hit 1M+ more people than agency chief told Congress (WHIO-TV, Dayton)
I-TEAM: ‘It’s hell;’ Social Security clawbacks driving some into homelessness (WHIO-TV, Dayton)
‘I am just waiting to die’: Social Security clawbacks drive some into homelessness (WFXT-TV, Boston)
Woman left homeless after Social Security benefits abruptly stops (WSOC-TV, Charlotte)
‘It’s Hell:’ Georgia woman living in car after losing her Social Security disability payments (WJAX-TV, Jacksonville)
David Hilzenrath
Fred Clasen-Kelly
Jodie Fleischer, Cox Media Group
Samantha Manning, Cox Media Group
Justin Gray, WSB-TV, Atlanta
John Bedell, WHIO-TV, Dayton
Shannon Butler, WFTV-TV, Orlando
Amy Hudak, WPXI-TV, Pittsburgh
Jesse Jones, KIRO-TV, Seattle
Ted Daniel, WFXT-TV, Boston
Madison Carter, WSOC-TV, Charlotte
Ben Becker, WJAX-TV, Jacksonville
Alyssa Raymond, WPXI-TV, Pittsburgh
John Hillkirk
Kelly Johnson
Sabriya Rice
Jodie Fleischer, Cox Media Group
Eric Harkleroad
Alessandra Bergamin
Lynne Shallcross
Oona Tempest
Lydia Zuraw
Leah Dunn, WSB-TV, Atlanta
Christine Swartz, WFXT-TV, Boston
Laura Beggs, WSOC-TV, Charlotte
Shawn Lanier, WHIO-TV, Dayton
Maria Tomasch, WJAX-TV, Jacksonville
Christopher Heath, WFTV-TV, Orlando
Cyndy McGrath, WPXI-TV, Pittsburgh
Anna Rodzinski, KIRO-TV, Seattle
Josh Wade, Cox Media Group
Jon Sonnheim, Cox Media Group
Terry Byrne
Gabe Brison-Trezise