What action needs to be taken within 30 days of receiving a notice of overpayment to prevent SSA from initiating recoupment efforts?

Requesting a waiver is crucial when dealing with a notice of overpayment from the Social Security Administration (SSA). This action involves asking for the overpayment to be reconsidered, typically on the grounds that the individual was not at fault and that repaying the amount would cause financial hardship.

By submitting a waiver request within the specified 30-day period, the individual interrupts the SSA's process of initiating recoupment efforts, which can include deducting the overpayment amount from future benefits. This request needs to be well-articulated and provide justifications, highlighting the circumstances surrounding the overpayment and the inability to repay the amount.

Other actions listed do not directly address the need to prevent SSA from starting recoupment within the 30-day timeframe. For instance, filing a complaint is often associated with grievances about service or process rather than stopping an overpayment action, while submitting supporting documents and changing payment methods do not specifically halt recoupment efforts either. Therefore, the most effective and appropriate action to take in this situation is to request a waiver.