Social Security: Dear K, "How we paid you $31,093.00 too much in benefits"

10. What Should I Do If I Receive Notice Of Overpayment?

As soon as you receive the notice, file a Request for Reconsideration to stop
SSA from withholding the overpayment during the appeal process. Then request a
conference with the local SS office to review the circumstances that SSA claims caused
the overpayment. If you are not satisfied with the conference results and the
Reconsideration decision is against you, you may request an Administrative Law Judge
hearing within 60 days from the date you are notified of the decision.

Even if you do not question the accuracy of the overpayment, you may still file a
Request for Waiver of Overpayment. This request must be granted if you were without
fault concerning the overpayment, and repayment of the overpayment will deprive you
of income needed for ordinary and necessary living expenses. You may request the
waiver at any time.

See: http://www.ssa.gov/online/ssa-632.html for further information.

Text Version of this information from Pro Seniors, Inc.