SSA says understaffing led to overpaying 2M beneficiaries since FY 2022

The Social Security Administration overpaid about 2 million beneficiaries over the past two years, and is telling lawmakers that more staffing is needed to reduce improper payments.

SSA is dealing with its lowest staffing level in 25 years, but at the same time is providing benefits to a record 71 million Americans. The agency pays out about $1.4 trillion in benefits each year.

Acting SSA Commissioner Kilolo Kijakazi told members of the House Ways and Means Committee on Wednesday that the agency overpaid more than a million beneficiaries in fiscal 2022, and more than 980,000 individuals in FY 2023.

Kijakazi said those overpayments make up a small fraction of SSA transactions. She said improper payments make up 0.5% of Social Security payments and 8% of Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments.