Social Security update: SSA says billions owed in overpayments to beneficiaries

Participants of the Social Security Administration's various programs have received letters in the mail claiming that they owe thousands of dollars because they were admittedly overpaid by the administration.

Some recipients have reported that they were told to return $67,000 over the next 30 days or submit a partial refund with a letter explaining their circumstances, the beneficiaries told Newsweek. Beneficiaries can also appeal the refund.

During the last fiscal year, the administration said it regained $4.7 billion of overpayments, but another $21.6 billion remained outstanding, according to a report by SSA's inspector general.

"We continually strive to improve stewardship of our programs and reduce improper payments," an SSA spokesperson told Newsweek. "While staffing losses and resource constraints have challenged our service delivery, our payment accuracy rates remain very high."

The letters affect those on the Supplemental Security Income program, who have disabilities, and those on regular Social Security. The highest a retiree can receive through the program is up to $4,555 per month for people who retire at 70, according to the Social Security Administration. Those on SSI receive up to $914 each month for individual filers.