Beginning in February 2002, Social Security benefits paid under Title II - Federal Old-Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance Benefits will be subject to the 15-percent levy through the Federal Payment Levy Program (FPLP); to pay your delinquent tax debt. As of October 5, 2015, IRS will no longer systemically levy the SSA Disability Insurance Benefits through the FPLP. The Old Age and Survivors Benefits will continue to be levied at 15% through the FPLP to pay your delinquent tax debt. The lump sum death benefits and benefits paid to children are not included in the FPLP. Additionally, Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments, under Title XVI, and payments with partial withholding to repay a debt owed to Social Security are not levied through the FPLP. Beginning February 2011, the FPLP excludes certain delinquent taxpayers who receive social security payments if their income falls at or below certain established levels, based on the Department of Health and Human Services poverty guidelines. Before your Social Security benefits are included in the FPLP, we will send you a final notice of our intent to levy, with appeal rights, if one has not already been issued. If we don't hear from you, or if you have already received this notice, we will send you an additional notice CP 91 or CP 298, Final Notice Before Levy on Social Security Benefits, explaining that your Social Security benefits may be levied. See Tax Information for Appeals for additional information about your appeal rights. You have 30 days from the date of this notice to make arrangements to pay your tax debt before we begin deducting 15 percent from your monthly benefit. See Publication 594, The IRS Collection Process PDF, and Publication 1, Your Rights as a Taxpayer PDF, for additional information. Because the FPLP is used to satisfy tax debts, the IRS may levy your Social Security benefits regardless of the amount. This is different from the 1996 Debt Collection Improvement Act which states that the first $750 of monthly Social Security benefits is off limits to satisfy non-tax debts. Fifteen percent of the Social Security benefit will be levied through the FPLP regardless of whether or not the remaining benefit sent to you is less than $750.
