U.S. Rep. Mike Carey (R-OH) said on Tuesday he is working on legislation to end Social Security overpayment clawbacks in an effort to protect Americans who may receive overpayments from the program.
“Almost a million Americans every year, including some right here in Ohio’s Fifteenth Congressional District, receive overpayments from the Social Security Administration,” said Rep. Carey, vice chair of the U.S. House Ways and Means Social Security Subcommittee.
“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,” he said. “No one should suffer as the result of a payroll error.”
The draft bill would prevent the Social Security commissioner from collecting an overpayment if it occurred more than three years before the date of finding, and if the overpayment resulted from an error on the part of the commissioner, according to a bill summary provided by Rep. Carey’s staff.
These provisions would not apply if it is determined that the payee had committed fraud in respect to the Social Security program, the summary says.
“We’re proud to work on this legislation to protect Social Security recipients and prevent future overpayment problems,” Rep. Carey said.