South Iowa News

U.S. Representative Zach Nunn has introduced a bipartisan bill aimed at protecting Social Security beneficiaries from government errors. The legislation, named the Social Security Overpayment Relief Act, seeks to prevent the Social Security Administration (SSA) from reclaiming overpayments older than ten years unless fraud is involved. Co-led by U.S. Representative Kristen McDonald Rivet, the bill addresses concerns about the financial impact on seniors caused by SSA's indefinite lookback period for collecting overpayment errors.

"When the government created Social Security, it made a promise to Iowa’s retirees. I’m 100% committed to protecting that promise," said Rep. Nunn. He emphasized the importance of safeguarding seniors who rely on fixed incomes from being burdened by past administrative mistakes.

Currently, SSA's policies allow them to collect funds from recipients for errors made decades ago, which can result in significant financial demands on seniors. "When the government comes to collect after decades of mispayments, it can throw a senior citizen into a financial crisis due to no fault of their own," stated Rep. McDonald Rivet.

The proposed legislation would limit the lookback period for recovering overpayments to ten years for recipients of Social Security, Social Security Disability Insurance, and Supplemental Security Income, except in cases involving fraud or other crimes.

Companion legislation has been introduced in the Senate by U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy and Ruben Gallego.