The Social Security Administration (SSA) recently lowered the default withholding rate for recovering Social Security benefit overpayments from 100 percent to 50 percent. This follows a brief period where the rate was increased to 100 percent, drawing criticism for potentially harming low-income beneficiaries.
The latest change in policy aims to balance fiscal responsibility with the potential hardship faced by beneficiaries. The SSA previously lowered the rate to 10 percent in March 2024, citing concerns about financial hardship, before reversing this decision in March 2025 to 100 percent, citing fiscal responsibility and estimated savings.
The 50 percent rate applies to Title II overpayments (retirement and disability insurance), while Title XVI overpayments (Supplemental Security Income) remain at 10 percent.
Lawmakers and advocates criticized the previous 100 percent withholding rate, highlighting the potential for financial hardship among beneficiaries reliant on Social Security. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) also noted concerns about overpayments, particularly for disability beneficiaries returning to work.
The SSA is conducting an internal review and working on expanding data sharing with payroll systems to minimize future payment errors. The agency disbursed about $1.4 trillion in benefits in fiscal year 2023, with roughly $3.3 billion representing overpayments.