A change to how the Social Security Administration handles overpayments means some beneficiaries could see their payments slashed to zero.

The agency recently announced it was reinstating a plan to claw back 100% of a beneficiary’s monthly check until any overpayment is repaid, meaning some seniors could potentially receive no benefits for months. It’s a large change from the previous policy that withheld only 10% from each check to repay an overpayment.

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Known officially as the Treasury Offset Program, it is designed to collect delinquent debts owed to federal and state agencies and is “a critical step in our commitment to being good stewards of taxpayer funds and ensuring the integrity of our programs,” Lee Dudek, acting commission of Social Security, said in a statement.

“We are dedicated to recovering overpayments while providing individuals with the necessary information and options to address their debts,” he said.

The agency began mailing notices about the new 100% withholding rate at the end of March. It will only apply to new errors; people who were overpaid before March 27 will remain under the 10% rule. The withholding rate for Supplemental Security Income overpayments will remain at 10%. SSI beneficiaries are people living with disabilities or low-income senior citizens.

Federal officials estimate the change will save about $7 billion over the next decade. According to Kiplinger, there were about $71.8 billion in improper or overpaid benefits between 2015-2022, a figure that represents less than 1% of the $8.6 trillion paid to beneficiaries.

What can you do if you have an overpayment?

People have a right to appeal an overpayment amount or repayment decision, the agency said and can ask for the collection to be waived if they believe the error wasn’t on their part or paying it back would cause undue hardship.

Any repayment withholdings are paused during an appeal or waiver, so a person would continue to receive their benefits while the issue is resolved.

Beneficiaries can also call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 or contact their local office to request a lower rate but it’s not guaranteed.