North Columbus News

Representatives Mike Carey (OH-15) and Emilia Sykes (OH-13) have introduced the bipartisan “Protecting Americans from Social Security Clawbacks Act” to prevent the Social Security Administration (SSA) from reducing monthly payments for beneficiaries who received overpayments more than three years prior. Carey discussed the bill’s introduction exclusively with Cox Media Group and KFF Health News.

Samantha Manning, CMG Washington News Bureau, reported that a company-wide investigation in partnership with KFF Health News into Social Security overpayments has led to new legislative action. For nearly a year, it was revealed that millions of people across the country were being told they owe money to the government due to SSA's mistaken overpayments. In some cases, individuals were notified years or even decades after the error occurred.

The proposed “Protecting Americans from Social Security Clawbacks Act” aims to limit the time frame within which SSA can demand repayment to three years. Representative Mike Carey explained, “What we’re saying is listen, if you couldn’t get your act together and notify these people within a three-year window, then you’re going to have to waive that.” He added that media reporting had played a significant role in bringing attention to this issue among members of Congress.

Carey noted that previous statements by SSA indicated about one million people were affected annually by overpayments. However, investigative reporting revealed that the actual number was double this figure. “Through your actions and through your FOIA requests, you realized that that number was significantly lower than the number of people that were actually being targeted by these claw backs,” said Carey.

The bill aims to improve efficiency at SSA and reduce burdens on millions of beneficiaries. Carey expressed hope for sufficient bipartisan support in Congress for the bill's passage into law.

In response to future preventive measures against Social Security overpayments, Carey stated, “I think this is the first step and I do think we need to make sure that Social Security has the tools that they need to make sure that this doesn’t happen again.”