Social Security Administration Resumes Treasury Offset Program Collections After COVID-19 Suspension
Reading Time: 1 MinuteLast Updated: March 20, 2025
The Social Security Administration (SSA) today announced the immediate resumption of debt collection activities through the Treasury Offset Program (TOP) for debts accrued prior to March 2020. This decision comes after a suspension of collections due to the economic challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Treasury Offset Program, administered by the Department of the Treasury’s Bureau of Fiscal Service, is a centralized program designed to collect delinquent debts owed to federal and state agencies by intercepting Federal and state payments. Since 1992, SSA has referred delinquent Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance (OASDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) debts to TOP as mandated by law.
Prior to the suspension in March 2020, SSA had successfully collected almost $2 billion in previously unrecoverable delinquent debt through TOP. The program is essential for maintaining the integrity of the OASDI and SSI programs.
“Resuming collections through the Treasury Offset Program is a critical step in our commitment to being good stewards of taxpayer funds and ensuring the integrity of our programs,” said Lee Dudek, Acting Commissioner of Social Security. “We are dedicated to recovering overpayments while providing individuals with the necessary information and options to address their debts.”
The Department of Treasury has begun collecting debts SSA referred to Treasury before March 2020, impacting an estimated 280,000 individuals with a collective debt balance of $2.7 billion.
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Tiffany F.
I finally won my SSI (disability) case after 4 years that was in October. $33,000 was the back pay I was rewarded according to the letter they sent me,. The question is do they seeing you the letter stating how much but pay you going to receive before or after they estimate how much they’re going to give your attorney. Also is it normal for your bird back pain payment to be $3,000 out of $33.000?
Gemini27
I won a few jackpots at a casino over the past several years..I reported it to them & got a letter saying I had to pay back every penny I won! They have been garnishing my Disability Checks for the last 5+ years & now their trying to kick me off of Disability altogether. I don’t know what to do or how I’ll live? I’m gonna end up on the streets just because the lady who did my Review is mean & has no compassion & is trying to make a name for herself & get promotions by showing her boss how many people she can take checks from & kick off of Social Security! I’m beside myself & don’t know what to do? I don’t have the money to pay for an Attorney to help me so all I’m doing every single day now is worrying, stressing & having panic attacks!
Maria J.
Gracias
Tony
We all know that DOGE is trying to find money to pay for the $4.5 trillion tax cut for the rich. Next will be cuts to Medicaid and Food Stamps.
J.R.
When you cash your DOGE check, please send me a 25% “I told you so” tariff……
Arlene
Wow! They’re finding incredible amounts of waste and fraud and that is where you are going with this. So, if they’ll be sending the taxpayers some found money, I guess you will return it. Sorry, listen to more than just the msm. He has more than enough of his own money. Don’t go after the one who is finding all the misappropriations. Take care
AJ
*GLUK GLUK GLUK* That’s the sound of Arlene sucking off the Billionaire class.
Rhonda
That’s what I’m waiting for because some of the people I know who voted for him are on those programs.
Rj
You do understand that this is just a continuation of the current tax policies,right?! If they were to lapse,it would be a large tax hike on the middle class including those with kids who would only get half as much per child. Stop with the liberal talking points already!!
Debbie
Who do you think will pay for everything anyway?
Melissa M.
They already have.
Arturo
Its too bad so many millions of persons believed that trump was being truthfull when he said he would not touch their benefits.
Tonya H.
I can’t answer sorry and I didn’t get the stimulation checks for 19 covet
William J.
It’s nice to see the government watching over retirement age people. It is refreshing to hear this progressive action. Keep up the great work!
Arlene
Agreed! Accountability in govt….imagine that!
Stephanie O.
Glad to see integrity restored. It is befuddling that a suspension of debt collection from those owing SS programs, due to CoVid-19, was not lifted once CoVid-19 as a barrier, was over, such as 3+ years ago.
Cory C.
SSA database shows who is a victim of ID THEFT but refuse to contact US CITIZENS to inform them that their SSN is being used elsewhere simultaneously while working in a different state. Adding insult to injury, one has to wait over a year to remove the erroneous employer. The IRS depends on the SSA numbers to determine our tax.
Tonya H.
I didn’t get my coat the money for SSI