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IRMAA appeal after an employer settlement payment
On Form SSA 44 this is employer settlement payment. We do not file. Social Security decides.
Form SSA 44 includes employer settlement payment. Social Security’s proof list is narrow. It points to a letter from the employer about settlement terms of the bankruptcy court and how that affects you or your spouse.
A generic bonus, severance, or lawsuit payout is not automatically this box. If the facts are really work stoppage or work reduction, use that event instead.
The free check will not invent an extra event to make a sale. If this is not what happened, you should see a no.
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What this event is
Use employer settlement payment when that is the life event on SSA’s list and you have the kind of employer letter they ask for. The form is about MAGI in a more recent year, not about relitigating the settlement.
Bankruptcy related employer settlements are the example in SSA’s evidence language. If you do not have that fact pattern, this is probably the wrong page.
Severance and buyouts
A buyout or severance can change MAGI in the year you receive it. That year might even look higher. The life event still has to be one of the eight printed on the form.
Stopping work after a buyout is often work stoppage. Do not pick employer settlement payment just because the phrase sounds close.
What Social Security lists as proof
These are SSA’s examples for this event, not a promise they will accept your file. Official instructions live on ssa.gov.
- A letter from the employer stating the settlement terms of the bankruptcy court and how it affects you or your spouse.
Official overview: ssa.gov/medicare/lower-irmaa. Official form: Form SSA 44 PDF.
Related life events
FAQ
Ready to see if this applies?
The free check is three screens. It does not ask for your Social Security number. You are not charged to see yes or no. If a packet applies, you can buy a filled Form SSA 44. You file it. Social Security decides.
Check IRMAA is independent of the Social Security Administration, CMS, and Medicare. This is not a government website. SSA decides whether to use more recent income. We do not file for you, represent you, or guarantee a lower premium. Dollar amounts on this site are estimates from published CMS brackets using the facts you entered. They are not a promise of savings.
Last updated August 27, 2026.