Disabled workers who have been through the Social Security disability ringer know all too well that qualifying for either Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplement Security Income (SSI) payments can be a monumental task. Considering this is the case, it may be difficult to believe that sometimes Social Security actually overpays people and then chases its mistake.
Disabled workers and SSI recipients should not have to be Social Security’s accountants in determining if they are receiving too much money from the agency, but it is a good practice to make sure you are not getting more money from Social Security than you deserve.
A number of factors can contribute to why Social Security may pay someone more money than they are entitled to. Sometimes Social Security continues to pay a disabled worker long after they have decided that the worker is no longer disabled. Sometimes Social Security will overpay through a dual benefit, such as for an SSDI claim and for Disabled Widows Benefits.
A recent report from the Social Security Inspector General’s office showed that of 50 sample SSDI cases, 29 were paid incorrectly by Social Security. The report indicated that this resulted in $6 million in recoverable overpayments. When Social Security determines there are recoverable overpayments, the agency will notify the recipients that it wants its money back.
This doesn’t seem fair because most of the time the disabled worker who receives too much money has no idea that they are being overpaid. That is why it is crucial to make sure you are entitled to the benefits you are receiving, so Social Security won’t be knocking at your door asking you to return money.
In certain circumstances, when a disabled worker is overpaid, Social Security may waive its right to collect overpayments or may be willing to reduce the amount of overpayment owed, but is better not to be caught in this situation.
