Public Law 119-73 (01/23/2026)

45 U.S.C. § 231i

Erroneous payments

(a)

Recovery

45 U.S.C. 351section 231f(b)(2) of this title42 U.S.C. 401If the Board finds that at any time more than the correct amount of annuities or other benefits has been paid to any individual under this subchapter, or payment has been made to an individual not entitled thereto, recovery by adjustment in subsequent payments to which such individual, or any other individual on the basis of the same compensation, wages, or self-employment income, is entitled under this subchapter, or the Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act [ et seq.] may, except as otherwise provided in this section, be made under regulations prescribed by the Board. If the individual to whom more than the correct amount has been paid dies before recovery is completed, recovery may be made by setoff or adjustments, under regulations prescribed by the Board, in subsequent payments due, under this subchapter, or the Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act, to the estate of such individual or to any person on the basis of the compensation, wages, or self-employment income of such individual. The Board shall have the authority to recover from any payment which would be made to an individual by the Board under the amount of annuity payments made to such individual which are erroneous because of such individual’s entitlement to monthly insurance benefits under title II of the Social Security Act [ et seq.].

(b)

Adjustments

Adjustments under this section may be made either by deductions from subsequent payments or, with respect to payments which are to be made during a lifetime or lifetimes, by subtracting the total amount of annuities or other benefits paid in excess of the proper amount from the actuarial value, as determined by the Board, of such payments to be made during a lifetime or lifetimes and recertifying such payments on the basis of the reduced actuarial value. In the latter case, recovery shall be deemed to have been completed upon such recertification.

(c)

Decision not to recover

45 U.S.C. 351There shall be no recovery in any case in which more than the correct amount of annuities or other benefits has been paid under this subchapter to an individual or payment has been made to an individual not entitled thereto who, in the judgment of the Board, is without fault when, in the judgment of the Board, recovery would be contrary to the purpose of this subchapter or the Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act [ et seq.] or would be against equity or good conscience.

(d)

Liability of officers

No certifying or disbursing officer shall be held liable for any amount certified or paid by him in good faith to any person where the recovery of such amount is waived under subsection (c) of this section or has been begun but cannot be completed under subsection (a) of this section.

Aug. 29, 1935, ch. 812, § 10June 24, 1937, ch. 38250 Stat. 307Pub. L. 93–445, title I, § 10188 Stat. 1344Pub. L. 97–35, title XI, § 112395 Stat. 638(, as restated , pt. I, , as restated , , ; amended , , .)

Editorial Notes

References in Text

act June 25, 1938, ch. 68052 Stat. 1094section 367 of this titleThe Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act, referred to in subsecs. (a) and (c), is , , which is classified principally to chapter 11 (§ 351 et seq.) of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see and Tables.

act Aug. 14, 1935, ch. 53149 Stat. 620section 1305 of Title 42The Social Security Act, referred to in subsec. (a), is , . Title II of the Social Security Act is classified generally to subchapter II (§ 401 et seq.) of chapter 7 of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see and Tables.

Amendments

Pub. L. 97–35section 231f(b)(2) of this title1981—Subsec. (a). inserted provisions authorizing Board to recover from any payment which would be made to an individual by Board under amount of annuity payments made to such individual which are erroneous because of such individual’s entitlement to monthly insurance benefits under title II of the Social Security Act.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 1981 Amendment

Pub. L. 97–35section 1129 of Pub. L. 97–35section 231 of this titleAmendment by effective , see , set out as a note under .