The Social Security Administration collects money from the children of parents who were overpaid benefits in error. These parents were not aware of the overpayment and their children were minors at the time of the overpayment. These children were not aware that benefits were paid on their behalf. Their tax refunds are withheld from them to pay for money their parents received when they were children. These were not benefits paid to their parents because of fraud. The benefits were paid in error. The adult children are penalized for benefits that were paid to their parent without their knowledge when they were minors. Essentially they are forced to repay the benefits their parents received without their knowledge. The over paid parent is not allowed to accept responsibility for the debt.



