Social Security overpayment cap shields beneficiaries from steep income cuts
H.R. 2999 — To amend title II of the Social Security Act to provide that not more than 10 percent of a monthly benefit may be withheld on account of overpayments. · Filed by Dwight Evans (D-PA) · 34 cosponsors · Introduced Apr 24, 2025 · Referred to committee
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What it does
This bill caps Social Security overpayment recovery at 10% of a beneficiary's monthly benefit, unless the beneficiary requests a faster repayment rate. Currently, the Social Security Administration can withhold larger amounts to recover overpayments (money paid in error). The bill protects beneficiaries from having their monthly checks reduced too sharply while still allowing them to choose faster repayment if they wish.
Why we flagged it
The bill's sole operative mechanism is a floor on withholding rates for overpayment recovery—a direct protection for beneficiaries against income disruption. It is a straightforward consumer-protection measure within the Social Security system.
What the text implies
- The 10% cap applies only to non-fraudulent overpayments; fraudulent overpayments remain subject to existing (potentially higher) withholding rules, creating a two-tier recovery system.
- Beneficiaries who request a higher recovery rate may face faster repayment, potentially creating pressure on those who do not fully understand the option or who face financial emergencies.
- The bill does not address the underlying causes of overpayments (e.g., reporting delays, administrative errors) and may increase the time horizon over which SSA recovers funds, affecting agency cash flow.
Section numbers refer to the bill text the analysis read — linked under Primary records below.
Who it affects
Social Security beneficiaries—typically elderly, disabled, or survivor-benefit recipients living on fixed incomes—face less financial hardship when overpayment recovery is capped at 10% per month. The bill preserves their agency by allowing faster repayment if they choose, while protecting those who cannot afford steeper withholding.
Named in the bill
Social Security Administration, Commissioner of Social Security, Title II of the Social Security Act, 42 U.S.C. § 404(a)(1)(A)
Where it stands
34 cosponsors: 34 Democrats.
- Apr 24, 2025 — Introduced · Congress.gov: “Introduced in House”
- Apr 24, 2025 — Referred to House Committee on Ways and Means · Congress.gov: “Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means”
Dates and quoted wording are Congress.gov's action record; the timeline shows status changes, not every procedural step.
How this was measured
Analysis — Quorum's AI read the bill text published by Congress.gov (881 characters) on May 21, 2026. Section numbers in the findings refer to that text, linked below; transparency and hidden-provision scores are compared against the median of 16,222 analysed bills.
Status and sponsors — Congress.gov's bill record — actions, committee referrals and cosponsors — loaded nightly. The timeline shows status changes, not every procedural action.
As of — page rendered 2026-10-20.
“Social Security overpayment cap shields beneficiaries from steep income cuts” QuorumCivic. https://share.quorumcivic.app/bill/119/hr2999 Report an error
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