Regardless of the outstanding overpayment balance in the month of the overpaid recipient’s death, do not pursue recovery of the overpayment from the estate if there is:

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  A liable representative payee;

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  A liable spouse;

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  A sponsor of an alien recipient; or

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  An indication of fraud.

If you suspect the overpayment was a result of fraud, develop the potential for recovery of the overpayment from the individual(s) who committed fraud. For additional information regarding SSI overpayments resulting from fraud, see SI 02201.007.

When the outstanding balance of the overpayment in the month of the overpaid recipient’s death is:

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  Less than $5,000.01, notify the estate but do not pursue recovery of the overpayment.

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  $5,000.01 or more, pursue recovery from the deceased recipient’s estate.

When the decedent’s estate is liable for repayment, attempt to obtain all development information by direct telephone contact with the appropriate court. Initiate development no earlier than 60 days after the death of the recipient and no later than 2 years after the death.

For more information regarding estate liability and instructions for developing the deceased recipient’s estate, see GN 02215.050B.

We must notify the estate’s legal representative that the decedent was overpaid and of the estate’s liability for repayment. If there are insufficient funds in the estate to satisfy all of the decedent’s debts, certain expenses take priority over debts due the United States. Additionally, the Social Security (SSA) is subject to state court jurisdiction in some states. For instructions regarding legal representative notification, and more information on state court jurisdiction, see GN 02215.055.

After we notify an estate’s legal representative of an SSI overpayment, they may be personally liable for repayment if they subsequently disburse estate funds to pay other debts but fails to repay the SSI overpayment.

If the court has distributed the assets of a debtor’s estate, SSA may also proceed against the distributee(s) of the estate. For instructions regarding closed estates and recovering assets from distributees, see GN 02215.070.

If the legal representative of an estate refuses to refund the deceased recipient’s overpayment of $5,000.01 or more, refer the overpayment to the Department of Justice (DOJ) with a request for recovery from the deceased’s estate by civil suit. For instructions on SSI overpayment recovery by civil suit, see SI 02220.035.