An underpayment is the difference in the beneficiary’s favor between the amount the
Social Security Administration (SSA) paid to a beneficiary and the amount SSA actually
owed the beneficiary, see 20 C.F.R. §404.504. An individual provides “good acquittance”
when SSA’s payment of an underpayment to that individual relieves SSA from any further
liability for payment. This means that the individual has attested that there is no
one of higher priority who could claim an underpayment and SSA has determined this
to be true. For additional information, see 20 C.F.R §.404.503(e) and GN 02301.030C.
Pursuant to section 28-41-102 of the Arkansas Code, a person making a payment pursuant
to an affidavit described in Section 28-41-101 shall be released to the same extent
as if payment had been made to the decedent’s personal representative. The person
making the payment per the affidavit shall not be required to see to its application
or to inquire into the truth of any statement in the affidavit. If the person to whom
the affidavit is delivered refuses to pay, payment may be compelled by judicial process
brought by or on behalf of the distributee entitled to the property per the facts
stated in the affidavit. The distributee, to whom payment is made, is made answerable
and accountable to any person having a prior right and to any personal representative
later appointed.
References: Ark. Code Ann. §§ 28-41-101, 28-41-102 (West 2013).