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Dear Colleague,

We have made updates to our overpayment waiver process to ensure fairer outcomes and reduce administrative hurdles.

Recent changes:

• Deciding fault: We begin from a neutral position when determining fault and must thoroughly document the evidence that established an individual was at fault for causing an overpayment.
• Presumed Inability to Repay: For people receiving benefits from specific means-tested programs, we will presume an inability to repay an overpayment without requiring documentation of income, resources, or expenses. These programs include:
• Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
• Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
• Means-tested programs from the Department of Veterans Affairs
• Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
• Medicare Part D Extra Help
• Expanded Poverty-Level Criteria: We will also presume an inability to repay for people with household income at 150 percent or below the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) and resources within the established limits.

Additionally, we’ve made significant updates to our financial criteria:

• Increased Resource Limits: We raised the resource limits from $3,000 for one person and $5,000 for a couple (plus $600 per additional dependent) to $6,000 for one person and $10,000 for a couple (plus $1,200 per additional dependent).
• Expanded Vehicle Exclusions: Households can now exclude two vehicles—or three in certain situations—from their resources. Previously, only one vehicle (or two in special circumstances) was excluded.
• Increased Income-Expense Margin: We now consider people unable to repay an overpayment if their resources are within established limits and income does not exceed their ordinary and necessary household expenses by more than $250 per month, up from the previous margin of $55.

These updates reflect our commitment to improving service and ensuring the waiver process remains both fair and accessible. For more information about these updates, please visit our POMS Recent Changes webpage.

Please share this information with your members, colleagues, and affiliates.

Sincerely,

Erik N. Jones
Senior Agency Official for Overpayment Review
OEA.Net.Post@ssa.gov