WASHINGTON – Senator Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) and Bill Cassidy (R-LA)introduced the bipartisan Social Security Overpayment Relief Act to limit the Social Security Administration’s (SSA) overpayment lookback period to ten years. This bill protects Social Security recipients – including 1.4 million Arizonans – from the burden of having to pay back funds that arise from overpayment errors on the part of SSA.
See coverage below:
Arizona Republic: Gallego bill would cap what seniors owe Social Security for overpayments. Here’s how
[Russ Wiles, 3/13/25]
Seniors and others who receive excessive Social Security benefits in error would not face the risk of repaying the money from more than a decade, under legislation announced March 13 by Sen. Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz., and Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La.
The bipartisan Social Security Overpayment Relief Act would cap the Social Security Administration’s overpayment “lookback” period at 10 years.
This bill protects Social Security recipients including up to 1.4 million Arizonans from the possibility of having to repay benefits, from over much longer periods, that arise from overpayment errors on the agency’s part. The 10-year lookback period dates to when the Social Security Administration detects an overpayment error.
Currently, the lookback period is indefinite, meaning the Social Security Administration may collect funds from a recipient for an overpayment error going back decades. That could result in collection notices totaling tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars per person.
If enacted, the legislation would limit that period to 10 years for recipients of Social Security retirement benefits, Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI). The 10-year lookback limit would not apply to individuals who committed fraud or other crimes.
“Seniors shouldn’t have to pay for the government’s mistakes, especially not mistakes that happened decades ago,” Gallego said. “That’s why I’m introducing this bipartisan, commonsense legislation to ensure that Arizona seniors aren’t blindsided by massive repayment amounts through no fault of their own.”
3/14/25