Retention Date: 06/09/2025
A. Purpose
The purpose of this emergency message (EM) is to provide instructions for answering inquiries related to the Campos Settlement. This instruction is the second of several that technicians will receive about the Campos settlement. The first instruction is in EM-24005 REV, COVID-19 Circumstances in Overpayment Waiver Determinations. We will continue to provide additional instructions as we implement the provisions of the settlement agreement.
B. Background
The United States District Court in the Eastern District of New York approved a nationwide class action settlement agreement in the case of Campos v. Kijakazi. The Campos settlement became final on January 20, 2024 and involves Title XVI overpayments incurred during the COVID-19 pandemic from March 2020 through April 2023.
C. Responding to Inquiries about the Campos Litigation
Class members will receive notification that they are included in the class by approximately May 2025.
If you receive an inquiry where an individual identifies themself as a potential Campos class member and questions when and if they will receive a waiver or any relief under the settlement, tell the recipient:
“If you are part of the settlement class, we will notify you between February and May 2025. The notice will explain everything you need to know. If you qualify for a waiver of an overpayment(s) under the settlement, there is nothing you need to do, and we will let you know once that waiver has been applied.
If you have an overpayment that qualifies for a waiver under the settlement, you will likely receive the waiver by summer 2025.
You may still request a waiver of any overpayment at any time. For more information, you can visit our website at www.ssa.gov/Campos."
Additionally, you can provide the individual with the attached Campos Fact Sheet.
The Campos Settlement.pdf
If the caller incurred a Title XVI overpayment for any period between March 2020 and April 2023 and wishes to request a waiver, follow instructions EM-24005 REV, COVID-19 Circumstances in Overpayment Waiver Determinations.
Direct all program-related and technical questions to your Regional Office (RO) support staff using vHelp or Processing Center (PC) Operations Analysis (OA) staff. RO support staff or PC OA staff may refer questions, concerns, or problems to their Central Office contacts.
OHO personnel should direct questions through the office’s management chain. Regional office staff may direct questions about this matter to the Office of the Chief Administrative Law Judge’s Division of Field Procedures.
OAO staff should direct any questions regarding this EM through their management chain. OAO managers may direct additional questions to the Executive Director’s Office
References
EM-24005 REV, COVID-19 Circumstances in Overpayment Waiver Determinations.