until section 402(x)(1) of this title no longer applies, or would no longer apply in the case of benefits that have terminated.
the amount of such payment in excess of the correct amount shall be treated as a payment of more than the correct amount to such other person. If any payment of more than the correct amount is made to a representative payee on behalf of an individual after the individual's death, the representative payee shall be liable for the repayment of the overpayment, and the Commissioner of Social Security shall establish an overpayment control record under the social security account number of the representative payee.
No certifying or disbursing officer shall be held liable for any amount certified or paid by him to any person where the adjustment or recovery of such amount is waived under subsection (b), or where adjustment under subsection (a) is not completed prior to the death of all persons against whose benefits deductions are authorized.
If an individual dies before any payment due him under this subchapter is completed, payment of the amount due (including the amount of any unnegotiated checks) shall be made-
For payments which are adjusted by reason of payment of benefits under the supplemental security income program established by subchapter XVI, see section 1320a-6 of this title.
For provisions relating to the cross-program recovery of overpayments made under programs administered by the Commissioner of Social Security, see section 1320b-17 of this title.
1See References in Text note below.
2So in original. Probably should be "delinquent".
42 U.S.C. § 404
EDITORIAL NOTES
REFERENCES IN TEXTSubsection (j)(11)(B)(iii), referred to in subsec. (a)(3)(B), probably means subsection (j)(11)(B)(iii) of section 205 of the Social Security Act, which is classified to section 405(j)(11)(B)(iii) of this title.The Right to Financial Privacy Act, referred to in subsec. (b)(3)(C)(i), probably means the Right to Financial Privacy Act of 1978, title XI of Pub. L. 95-630, Nov. 10, 1978, 92 Stat. 3697, which is classified generally to chapter 35 (§3401 et seq.) of Title 12, Banks and Banking. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 3401 of Title 12 and Tables.
AMENDMENTS2018-Subsec. (a)(3). Pub. L. 115-165 added par. (3). 2015-Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 114-74 amended subsec. (b) generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: "In any case in which more than the correct amount of payment has been made, there shall be no adjustment of payments to, or recovery by the United States from, any person who is without fault if such adjustment or recovery would defeat the purpose of this subchapter or would be against equity and good conscience. In making for purposes of this subsection any determination of whether any individual is without fault, the Commissioner of Social Security shall specifically take into account any physical, mental, educational, or linguistic limitation such individual may have (including any lack of facility with the English language)."2009-Subsec. (a)(1)(B). Pub. L. 111-115 designated existing provisions as cl. (i), substituted "Subject to clause (ii), with" for "With", and added cls. (ii) and (iii). 2004-Subsec. (g). Pub. L. 108-203 amended subsec. (g) generally. Prior to amendment, subsec. (g) read as follows: "For payments which are adjusted or withheld to recover an overpayment of supplemental security income benefits paid under subchapter XVI of this chapter (including State supplementary payments paid under an agreement pursuant to section 1382e(a) of this title or section 212(b) of Public Law 93-66), see section 1320b-17 of this title."1999-Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 106-169, §201(a), inserted at end "If any payment of more than the correct amount is made to a representative payee on behalf of an individual after the individual's death, the representative payee shall be liable for the repayment of the overpayment, and the Commissioner of Social Security shall establish an overpayment control record under the social security account number of the representative payee."Subsec. (f)(1). Pub. L. 106-169, §203(c), substituted "3711(f)" for "3711(e)" and inserted "all" before "as in effect".1998-Subsec. (g). Pub. L. 105-306 added subsec. (g).1996-Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 104-134 which directed that subsec. (f) be amended to read as follows: "(f)(1) With respect to any deliquent amount, the Commissioner of Social Security may use the collection practices described in sections 3711(f), 3716, 3717, and 3718 of title 31 and in section 5514 of title 5, as in effect immediately after April 26, 1996.", was executed by substituting the new language for par. (1) only to reflect the probable intent of Congress. Prior to amendment, par. (1) read as follows: "With respect to any delinquent amount, the Commissioner of Social Security may use the collection practices described in sections 3711(f), 3716, and 3718 of title 31 as in effect on October 1, 1994." Subsec. (f)(1). Pub. L. 104-316 substituted "sections 3711(e)" for "sections 3711(f)".1994-Subsecs. (a)(1), (b), (d)(1), (4), (5). Pub. L. 103-296, §107(a)(4), substituted "Commissioner of Social Security" for "Secretary" wherever appearing. Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 103-387 added subsec. (f). 1990-Subsec. (a)(1)(A). Pub. L. 101-508 inserted "or shall obtain recovery by means of reduction in tax refunds based on notice to the Secretary of the Treasury as permitted under section 3720A of title 31," after "payments to such overpaid person,". 1989-Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 101-239 inserted at end "In making for purposes of this subsection any determination of whether any individual is without fault, the Secretary shall specifically take into account any physical, mental, educational, or linguistic limitation such individual may have (including any lack of facility with the English language)." 1986-Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 99-272 redesignated existing subsec. (a) as (a)(1) and pars. (1) and (2) thereof as subpars. (A) and (B), respectively, and added par. (2).1980-Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 96-265 added subsec. (e). 1968-Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 90-248, §152(a), incorporated in text preceding par. (1) part of existing provisions and broadened the Secretary's authority to include recovery of overpayments. Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 90-248, §153(a), inserted last sentence which provided that payments made on an erroneous report by the Defense Department of the death, in the line of duty, of a member of the uniformed services on active duty are not to be deemed incorrect payments until the Department notifies the Secretary that he is alive. Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 90-248, §152(a), incorporated in par. (2) part of existing provisions and broadened Secretary's authority to provide that in the case of underpayments, the Secretary is to pay the balance due the underpaid person but if he dies before receiving the full amount due him or before negotiating checks representing the correct payments, the balance due or the amount for which the checks were issued but not negotiated are to be paid under subsec. (d) of this section.Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 90-248, §152(b), authorized the Secretary to waive adjustment or recovery of overpayments from any person who is without fault, even where he is not the overpaid person and the latter is at fault, whereas heretofore a condition for waiver was that the overpaid person be without fault.Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 90-248, §154(a), struck out, in text preceding par. (1), provision excepting subsec. (d) from subsec. (a) and provision that the total amount due at the time of death may not exceed the amount of the monthly insurance benefit to which an individual was entitled for the month preceding the month in which he died, added cl. (ii) in par. (1), added pars. (2) to (6), designated existing provisions as par. (7) and inserted therein references to pars. (1) to (6). 1965-Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 89-97 added subsec. (d).1954-Subsec. (a). Act Sept. 1, 1954, inserted "and self-employment income" after "wages" in second sentence.1950-Act Aug. 28, 1950, substituted "Administrator" for "board".1939-Act Aug. 10, 1939, omitted former provisions relating to payments to aged individuals not qualified for benefits and substituted the present section relating to overpayments and underpayments.
STATUTORY NOTES AND RELATED SUBSIDIARIES
EFFECTIVE DATE OF 2018 AMENDMENT Pub. L. 115-165, title I, §104(c), Apr. 13, 2018, 132 Stat. 1264, provided that: "The amendment made by subsection (a) [amending this section] shall apply with respect to overpayment determinations made on or after the date of the enactment of this Act [Apr. 13, 2018] and to any other overpaid amounts that have not been recovered as of such date."
EFFECTIVE DATE OF 2015 AMENDMENT Pub. L. 114-74, title VIII, §834(c), Nov. 2, 2015, 129 Stat. 615, provided that: "The amendments made by this section [amending this section and section 1383 of this title] shall apply with respect to determinations made on or after the date that is 3 months after the date of the enactment of this section [Nov. 2, 2015]."
EFFECTIVE DATE OF 2009 AMENDMENT Pub. L. 111-115, §2(c), Dec. 15, 2009, 123 Stat. 3030, provided that: "The amendments made by this section [amending this section and section 1383 of this title] shall be effective for payments that would otherwise be made on or after the date of the enactment of this Act [Dec. 15, 2009]."
EFFECTIVE DATE OF 2004 AMENDMENT Pub. L. 108-203, title II, §210(c), Mar. 2, 2004, 118 Stat. 517, provided that: "The amendments and repeal made by this section [amending this section and sections 1008, 1320b-17, and 1383 of this title and repealing section 1320b-18 of this title] shall take effect on the date of enactment of this Act [Mar. 2, 2004], and shall be effective with respect to overpayments under titles II, VIII, and XVI of the Social Security Act [42 U.S.C. 401 et seq., 1001 et seq., 1381 et seq.] that are outstanding on or after such date."
EFFECTIVE DATE OF 1999 AMENDMENT Pub. L. 106-169, title II, §201(c), Dec. 14, 1999, 113 Stat. 1831, provided that: "The amendments made by this section [amending this section and section 1383 of this title] shall apply to overpayments made 12 months or more after the date of the enactment of this Act [Dec. 14, 1999]." Amendment by section 203(c) of Pub. L. 106-169 applicable to debt outstanding on or after Dec. 14, 1999, see section 203(d) of Pub. L. 106-169 set out as a note under section 3701 of Title 31, Money and Finance.
EFFECTIVE DATE OF 1998 AMENDMENT Pub. L. 105-306, §8(c), Oct. 28, 1998, 112 Stat. 2930, provided that: "The amendments made by this section [enacting section 1320b-17 of this title and amending this section and section 1383 of this title] shall take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act [Oct. 28, 1998] and shall apply to amounts incorrectly paid which remain outstanding on or after such date."
EFFECTIVE DATE OF 1994 AMENDMENTS Amendment by Pub. L. 103-387 applicable to collection activities begun on or after Oct. 22, 1994, see section 5(c) of Pub. L. 103-387 as amended, set out as a note under section 3701 of Title 31, Money and Finance. Amendment by Pub. L. 103-296 effective Mar. 31, 1995, see section 110(a) of Pub. L. 103-296 set out as a note under section 401 of this title.
EFFECTIVE DATE OF 1990 AMENDMENT Amendment by Pub. L. 101-508 effective Jan. 1, 1991, and inapplicable to refunds to which the amendments made by section 2653 of the Deficit Reduction Act of 1984, Pub. L. 98-369, do not apply, see section 5129(d) of Pub. L. 101-508 set out as a note under section 6402 of Title 26, Internal Revenue Code.
EFFECTIVE DATE OF 1989 AMENDMENT Amendment by Pub. L. 101-239 applicable with respect to determinations made on or after July 1, 1990, see section 10305(f) of Pub. L. 101-239 set out as a note under section 403 of this title.
EFFECTIVE DATE OF 1986 AMENDMENT Pub. L. 99-272, title XII, §12113(c), Apr. 7, 1986, 100 Stat. 289, provided that: "The amendments made by this section [amending this section and section 1383 of this title] shall apply only in the case of deaths of which the Secretary is first notified on or after the date of the enactment of this Act [Apr. 7, 1986]."
EFFECTIVE DATE OF 1980 AMENDMENT Amendment by Pub. L. 96-265 applicable in the case of payments of monthly insurance benefits under this subchapter, entitlement for which is determined on or after July 1, 1981, see section 501(d) of Pub. L. 96-265 set out as an Effective Date note under section 1320a-6 of this title.
EFFECTIVE DATE OF 1968 AMENDMENT Pub. L. 90-248, title I, §153(b), Jan. 2, 1968, 81 Stat. 861, provided that: "The amendment made by this section [amending this section] shall apply with respect to benefits under title II of the Social Security Act [this subchapter] if the individual to whom such benefits were paid would have been entitled to such benefits in or after the month in which this Act was enacted [January 1968] if the report mentioned in the amendment made by subsection (a) of this section had been correct (but without regard to the provisions of section 202(j)(1) of such Act [42 U.S.C. 402(j)(1)] )."
EFFECTIVE DATE OF 1939 AMENDMENTAct Aug. 10, 1939, ch. 666, title II, §201, 53 Stat. 1362, provided that the amendment made by that section is effective Jan. 1, 1940.
REPORT ON OVERPAYMENT WAIVERS Pub. L. 114-74, title VIII, §845(c), Nov. 2, 2015, 129 Stat. 619, provided that: "Not later than January 1 of each calendar year, the Commissioner of Social Security shall submit to the Committee on Ways and Means of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Finance of the Senate a report on-"(1) the number and total value of overpayments recovered or scheduled to be recovered by the Social Security Administration during the previous fiscal year of benefits under title II and title XVI [probably means title II and title XVI of act Aug. 14, 1935, ch. 531, which are classified to 42 U.S.C. 401 et seq. and 42 U.S.C. 1381 et seq.], respectively, including the terms and conditions of repayment of such overpayments; and "(2) the number and total value of overpayments waived by the Social Security Administration during the previous fiscal year of benefits under title II and title XVI, respectively."
- Administrator
- The term "Administrator" means the Administrator of General Services.
- Secretary
- The term "Secretary" means the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development.1See References in Text note below.
- United States
- The term "United States" means (but only for purposes of subparagraphs (A) and (B) of this paragraph) the fifty States and the District of Columbia.
- person
- The term "person" means an individual, a trust or estate, a partnership, or a corporation.
- practices
- The term "practices" means design, financing, permitting, construction, commissioning, operation and maintenance, and other practices that contribute to achieving zero-net-energy buildings or facilities.