Study: Social Security Overpaid Disability Benefits by $17B

A government watchdog says Social Security overpaid disability beneficiaries by nearly $17 billion over the past decade.

Many payments went to people who earned too much money to qualify for benefits, or to people who weren't disabled anymore. Some payments went to people who had died or to prison inmates.

In all, a 10-year study by the agency's inspector general found that nearly half of the 9 million people receiving disability payments were overpaid.

The study released Friday says Social Security recouped about $8.1 billion, but it often took years to get the money back.

The Social Security Administration did not respond to a request for comment Friday.