Effective Dates: 10/01/2025 - Present

Identification Number:
EM-25058
Intended Audience:All RCs/ARCs/ADs/FOs/TSCs/PSCs/OCO/OCO-CSTs/OHO/OARO
Originating Office:
Title:$10 to $50 Minimum Installment Policy Change: Non-Payment Debts
Type:EM - Emergency Messages
Program:Title II (RSI); Title XVI (SSI)
Link To Reference:See References at the end of this EM
 

Retention Date: 04/01/2026

A. Purpose
    The purpose of this emergency message (EM) is to provide information regarding a policy change to increase the minimum installment payment for all non-pay SSA records from $10 to $50. Only non-payment records with initial overpayment notices dated after October 1, 2025, will be affected. Individuals who received an overpayment notice dated on or before October 1, 2025, and who either request an installment payment plan or already have an installment payment plan established, will not be affected.

    This is a business process change for overpaid individuals with non-payment records and will not affect records in current pay. Technicians in the Field Office (FO), Teleservice Center (TSC), and Processing Center (PC) should continue to follow current remittance procedures for overpaid individuals in current pay.


    B. Background

    We are updating the minimum installment payment amount from $10—which has been in place since 1970—to $50 to reflect today’s standards.

    The initial overpayment notice includes options for repayment and informs the individual that they should notify the agency if they would like to repay by installment. Refer to GN 02210.214; SI 02220.025 . Policy provides that the agency will attempt to negotiate a monthly installment payment amount that permits recovery of the overpayment within 60 months. Refer to GN 02210.214; SI 02220.025 . If that is not possible, the agency will negotiate the highest installment amount that is not less than a certain minimum. Refer to GN 02210.214; SI 02220.025 . For individuals who receive an overpayment notice dated after October 1, 2025, and request installment payments, the minimum payment is now $50.

    Direct all program-related and technical questions to your Regional Office (RO) support staff using vHelp or Program Service Center (PSC) Operations Analysis (OA) staff. RO support staff or PSC OA staff may refer questions, concerns or problems to their Central Office contacts.



    Policies:

    Policy Policy Link
    GN 02210.180 Collection of Title II Overpayments by Installments
    GN 02210.214 Debtor Willing to Repay
    SM 01311.245 Examples Using the G TAC - Recover By Installments
    TC 26001.050 Request for Refund of Overpayment in Installments or Change in Installment Rate - Beneficiary is Not in Current Pay
    TC 26010.095 Negotiating or Changing an Installment Agreement (Non-Pay Cases)
    TC 27010.020 Handling TRO Pre-offset Debtor Inquiries/Protests
    TC 27010.030Handling TRO Postcertification/Postoffset Inquiries
    TC 27070.065Debtor Offers to Make Installment Payments
    VB 02005.200 SVB Overpayment — Recovery by Refund
    VB 02005.225 Recovery by Refund Through Installment Payments
    SI 02220.025 SSI Overpayment-Recovery By Refund

    References:
    35 Fed. Reg. 5943 (Apr. 10, 1970)
    44 Fed. Reg. 20653 (Apr. 6, 1979)
    EM-25058 - $10 to $50 Minimum Installment Policy Change: Non-Payment Debts - 10/01/2025