GN 02250.301 Waiver Approval Reviews - Title II and Title XVI

CITATIONS:

Social Security Act 204(b), 1631(b)(1)(B)

A. Overpayment waiver reviews

Certain waiver approvals require a second pin (2-PIN) review before effectuating the waiver determination. The amount of an overpayment waiver approval determines the level of the Decision Maker and Reviewer that is required. For the applicable level of review, including required management and Risk & Quality (RQ) review, refer to the charts in GN 02250.301C. When a second PIN review is required, the person who completes the second PIN is the final approver. The person who completes a second PIN review must be different than the person who completes the first review and proposes a waiver approval.

NOTE: If you can approve the waiver under the administrative waiver tolerance provision, you do not need a second pin review. For information about approving a waiver under the administrative waiver tolerance provision, refer to GN 02250.350.

B. Overpayment waiver approval policy

The amount of a waiver approval determines the level of decision making and review.

1.

Waiver approval amounts over $2,000 require a review and a second pin (2-PIN). After the Decision Maker determines they want to approve the waiver, the Decision Maker refers the case to the applicable reviewer for the second pin review. The reviewer ensures the determination adheres to documentation requirements, policy, and procedures. The reviewer must make sure that the Decision Maker recommends approving the waiver under the correct waiver provision. For more information about the required level of review and required inputs, refer to the Title II and Title XVI charts in GN 02250.301C.
2.

If the Reviewer does not have enough information to concur with the determination, they will notify the Decision Maker that the determination requires additional development or documentation. The reviewer must document the Debt Management System (DMS) Remarks (Title II) or a Consolidated Claims Experience (CCE) Report of Contact (Title XVI) with the reason for returning the case (e.g., no SSA-635, no proof of income, etc.). After the Decision Maker provides a thorough assessment of their waiver determination, they will return the case to the second pin reviewer for a subsequent review if the determination remains an approval after the corrections. If the reviewer concurs with the determination, the reviewer completes the required inputs. After receiving the 2-PIN approval, the Decision Maker releases the waiver approval notice to the individual.
3.

If the reviewer disagrees with the waiver approval because it does not meet one of the waiver provisions, they will notify the Decision Maker. The reviewer must document DMS Remarks (Title II) or a CCE Report of Contact (Title XVI) with the rationale for non-concurrence. For instance, a not at fault determination is not supported by the policy in POMS GN 02250.005 and GN 02250.016 or an against equity and good conscience determination is not supported by the policy in GN 02250.150, etc. The Decision Maker must refer the case to an independent decision-maker to schedule the folder review and personal conference, if a personal conference was not previously scheduled , according to GN 02270.000. If the personal conference already occured, the Decision Maker must revise the waiver determination to a denial and update the determination on the SSA-635 form.

NOTE: We do not require review and concurrence for waiver approvals made by a federal court, an administrative law judge (ALJ), or the Appeals Council. Since, the 2-PIN process is a systems requirement for waiver approvals over $2,000, the reviewer must still provide their 2-PIN approval in the system.

C. Title II and Title XVI Overpayment waiver approval procedures

The Title II and Title XVI waiver approval charts provide these instructions:

•

The waiver approval amount;
•

Who can make a waiver approval determination (Decision Maker);
•

The inputs a Decision Maker must make for a waiver approval;
•

If a waiver approval review and second pin are required;
•

Who provides the waiver review (Reviewer); and
•

The inputs a Reviewer must make for a waiver approval.

For more information about waiver determination documentation, and completing and storing the SSA-635, refer to GN 02250.315.

For more information about the waiver approval notice, refer to GN 02250.370.

1. Title II waiver approvals

Waiver Approval Amount	Decision Maker	Decision Maker procedures	Review required?	Reviewer procedures
$2,000 or less	Customer Service Representative (CSR) or higher (approves the waiver)	• For Title II administrative waiver tolerance procedures, refer to GN 02250.350C.2. • For PC instructions, refer to GN 02201.023. • Reminder: For administrative tolerance determinations, do not complete the SSA-635 form.	No	N/A
$2,000.01 or more but less than $5,000	CSR or higher (proposes waiver approval)	Decision Maker: • Enter the waiver disposition input in DMS. • Complete the SSA-635 and sign the "Determination Prepared/Approved" line on the form, include your name, title, and the date. • After you complete and sign the form, refer the proposed waiver approval to the Reviewer for review. Document DMS remarks that you referred the case for review. • Request the Reviewer to complete the 2nd PIN input and sign the SSA-635, if they agree with your determination. • After the Reviewer signs the SSA-635 and completes the 2nd PIN input, store the SSA-635 according the instructions in GN 02250.315. • Send the waiver approval notice.	Yes, Claim Specialist (CS) or higher Reviewer: Review the determination, sign the SSA-635, and provide the 2nd PIN.	Reviewer (CS or higher): • Review the determination. If you concur, complete the waiver review input in DMS. For more information about the Review Waiver Disposition (DRWR) screen, refer to MS 01106.005. • Sign the SSA-635 on the "Peer Reviewer" line, include your name, title, and the date. • After you sign the SSA-635, complete the 2nd PIN input. • Return the case to the Decision Maker and remind them to send the waiver approval notice.
$5,000 or more but less than $20,000	CS or higher (proposes waiver approval)	Decision Maker: • Enter the waiver disposition input in DMS. • Complete the SSA-635 and sign the "Determination Prepared/Approved" line on the form, include your name, title, and the date. • After you complete and sign the form, refer the proposed waiver approval to the Management Reviewer for review. Document DMS remarks that you referred the case for review. • Request the Management Reviewer to complete the 2nd PIN input and sign the SSA-635, if they agree with your determination. • After the Management Reviewer signs the SSA-635 and completes the 2nd PIN input, store the SSA-635 according the instructions in GN 02250.315. • Send the waiver approval notice.	Yes, Field office Management Reviewer: Review the determination, sign the SSA-635, and complete the 2nd PIN.	Reviewer (FO management): • Review the determination. If you concur, complete the waiver review input in DMS. For more information about the Review Waiver Disposition (DRWR) screen, refer to MS 01106.005. • Sign the SSA-635 on the "Management Reviewer" line, include your name, title, and the date. • After you sign the SSA-635, complete the 2nd PIN input. • Return the case to the Decision Maker and remind them to send the waiver approval notice.
$20,000 or more	CS or higher (proposes waiver approval)	Decision Maker: • Enter the waiver disposition input in DMS. • Complete the SSA-635 and sign the "Determination Prepared/Approved" line, include your name, title, and the date. • After you complete and sign the form, refer the proposed waiver approval to the Management Reviewer for review. Document DMS remarks that you referred the case for review. • Request the Management Reviewer to sign the SSA-635, if they agree with your determination. • After the Management Reviewer signs the SSA-635, refer the proposed waiver approval to RQ for their review. Document DMS Remarks that you referred the case for review. • Request RQ to sign the SSA-635 and complete the 2nd PIN input, if they agree with your determination. • After RQ signs the SSA-635 and completes the 2nd PIN input, store the SSA-635 according to the instructions in GN 02250.315. • Send the waiver approval notice.	Yes FO Management Reviewer and RQ Reviewer required. Field Office Management Reviewer: Review the determination, and sign the SSA-635. RQ Reviewer: Review the determination, sign the SSA-635, and complete the 2nd PIN.	Reviewer (FO management and RQ): • Management Reviewer: • Review the determination. If you concur, sign the SSA-635 on the "Management Reviewer" line, include your name, title, and the date. Do not update DMS or complete the 2nd PIN input. • After the Management Reviewer signs the SSA-635, refer the proposed waiver approval to RQ, Governance and Performance (GAP) for their review. • Upload the SSA-635 into the High Dollar Overpayment Application (HDOP Power App) so that RQ can access the form RQ Reviewer: • Review the determination. If you concur, sign the SSA-635on the "RQ Reviewer" line, include your name, title, and the date and complete the 2nd PIN input in DMS. • After you complete the 2nd PIN input, return the signed SSA-635 to the FO and remind them to send the waiver approval notice.

2. Title XVI waiver approvals

Waiver Approval Amount	Decision maker	Decision Maker procedures	Review required?	Reviewer procedures
$2,000 or less	CSR or higher	• For Title XVI administrative waiver tolerance procedures, refer to GN 02250.350C.4. • Reminder: For administrative tolerance determinations, do not complete the SSA-635	No	N/A
$2,000.01 or more but less than $5,000 IMPORTANT: The Decision Maker and Reviewer inputs must be done on the same day.	CSR or higher (proposes waiver approval)	Decision Maker: • Complete the SSA-635 and sign the "Determination Prepared/Approved" line, include your name, title, and the date. • After you complete and sign the form, refer the proposed waiver approval to the Reviewer for review. • Request the Reviewer to sign the SSA-635, if they agree with your determination. • Input the waiver approval via direct SSR update. • Contact the Reviewer to make sure they complete the 2nd PIN input on the same day that you complete the first direct SSR input. • After the Reviewer completes the 2nd PIN input, store the SSA-635 according to the instructions in GN 02250.315. • Send the waiver approval notice, if the system does not send an automatic notice	Yes, CS or higher Reviewer: Review the determination, sign the SSA-635, and provide the 2nd PIN.	Reviewer (CS or higher): • Review the determination. If you concur, sign the SSA-635 on the "Peer Reviewer" line, include your name, title, and the date. • After you sign the SSA-635, the Reviewer will contact the Decision Maker to complete the 1st PIN input. • After the Decision Maker inputs the 1st PIN input, complete the 2nd PIN input via direct SSR update. NOTE: These inputs must be completed on the same day. • After you complete the 2nd PIN input, return the signed SSA-635 to the Decision Maker and remind them to send the waiver approval notice, if the system does not send an automatic notice.
$5,000 or more but less than $20,000 IMPORTANT: The Decision Maker and Reviewer inputs must be done on the same day.	CS or higher (proposes waiver approval)	Decision Maker: • Complete the SSA-635, and sign the "Determination Prepared/Approved" line, include your name, title, and the date. • After you complete and sign the form, refer the proposed waiver approval to the Management Reviewer for review. • Request the Management Reviewer to sign the SSA-635, if they agree with your determination. • Input the waiver approval via direct SSR update. • Contact the Management Reviewer to make sure they complete the 2nd PIN input on the same day that you complete the first direct SSR input. • After the Management Reviewer completes the 2nd PIN input, store the SSA-635 according to the instructions in GN 02250.315. • Send the waiver approval notice, if the system does not send an automatic notice.	Yes, Field Office Management Reviewer: Review the determination, sign the SSA-635, and provide the 2nd PIN.	Reviewer (FO management): • Review the determination. If you concur, sign the SSA-635 on the "Management Reviewer" line, include your name, title, and the date. • After you sign the SSA-635, the Reviewer will contact Decision Maker to complete the 1st PIN input. • After the Decision Maker inputs the 1st PIN input, complete the 2nd PIN input via direct SSR update input. NOTE:These inputs must be completed on the same day. • After you complete the 2nd PIN input, return the signed SSA-635 to the Decision Maker and remind them to send the waiver approval notice, if the system does not send an automatic notice.
$20,000 or more IMPORTANT: The Decision Maker and Reviewer inputs must be done on the same day.	CS or higher (proposes waiver approval)	Decision Maker: • Complete the SSA-635 and sign the "Determination Prepared/Approved" line, include your name, title, and the date. • After you complete and sign the form, refer the proposed waiver approval to the Management Reviewer for review. • Request the Management Reviewer to sign the SSA-635, if they agree with your determination. • After the Management Reviewer signs the SSA-635, refer the proposed waiver approval to RQ for their review. • RQ will contact the FO before they complete the 2nd PIN input to make sure the input is completed on the same day that the Decision Maker completes the approval. • After RQ completes the 2nd PIN input, store the SSA-635 according to the instructions in GN 02250.315. • Send the waiver approval notice, if the system does not send an automatic notice.	Yes FO Management and RQ review required for waiver approval. FO Management Reviewer: Review the determination and sign the SSA-635. RQ Reviewer: Review the determination, sign the SSA-635, and provide the2nd PIN.	Reviewer (FO management and RQ): • Management Reviewer: Review the determination. If you concur, sign the SSA-635 on the "Management Reviewer" line, include your name, title, and the date. Do not complete the 2nd PIN. • After the Management Reviewer signs the SSA-635, refer the proposed waiver approval to RQ, Governance and Performance (GAP) for their review. • Upload the SSA-635 into the High Dollar Overpayment Application (HD OP Power App) so that RQ can access the form. Do not upload the SSA-635 into the Evidence Portal (EP) until a final decision is made by R&Q (GAP). RQ Reviewer: • Review the determination. If you concur, document the waiver review on an RPOC, and sign the SSA-635 on the "RQ Reviewer" line, include your name, title, and the date. • After you sign the SSA-635, the RQ Reviewer will instruct the FO Decision Maker to complete the 1st PIN input. • After the FO completes the 1st PIN input via direct SSR update input you must complete the 2nd PIN input on the same day. • After you complete the 2nd PIN input, return the signed SSA-635 to the FO and remind them to send the waiver approval notice, if the system does not send an automatic notice.

To Link to this section - Use this URL:
http://policy.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0202250301

GN 02250.301 - Waiver Approval Reviews - Title II and Title XVI - 09/30/2026
Batch run: 09/30/2026
Rev:09/30/2026

Program Operations Manual System (POMS)