North Columbus News

COLUMBUS, OHIO – Representative Mike Carey (OH-15) announced today that his office is working on legislation aimed at ending Social Security overpayment clawbacks and protecting recipients from undue burdens. Carey serves as Vice Chair of the House Ways and Means Committee’s Social Security Subcommittee.

Carey stated, “Almost a million Americans every year, including some right here in Ohio’s Fifteenth Congressional District, receive overpayments from the Social Security Administration. 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.”

“No one should suffer as the result of a payroll error. We’re proud to work on this legislation to protect Social Security recipients and prevent future overpayment problems,” Carey concluded.

The draft bill proposes that the Social Security Commissioner be prevented from collecting an overpayment if it occurred more than three years before its discovery and if it resulted from an error by the Commissioner. These provisions would not apply in cases where fraud by the payee is determined.

Congressman Carey has been active in addressing Social Security overpayment issues. He questioned then-Acting Social Security Commissioner Kilolo Kijakazi about the matter during a hearing of the Social Security Subcommittee in October 2023. In November 2023, Carey was featured in a 60 Minutes segment highlighting the impact of Social Security overpayments on seniors. Additionally, he led a bipartisan letter with fellow Ohioan Emilia Sykes (OH-13) demanding answers regarding improper payments from the Social Security Administration.

A discussion draft of the bill can be found here.