califano yamasaki argued march decided june section social security act act authorizes secretary department health education welfare recoup erroneous overpayments made beneficiary survivors disability insurance programs decreasing future payments overpaid person entitled however commands shall adjustment payments recovery person without fault adjustment defeat purpose subchapter equity good conscience secretary practice ex parte determination made overpayment made recipient notified determination recipient may file written request seeking reconsideration determination asking secretary waive recovery accordance upon review papers decision goes recipient recoupment begins recipient given opportunity oral hearing thereafter continues object recoupment recipient may seek subsequent administrative review finally may seek review federal act provides person final decision secretary made hearing party may obtain review decision instituting civil action respondents unsuccessfully sought administrative relief recoupment determinations instituted federal actions alleging given adequate notice opportunity oral hearing recoupment began recoupment procedures violated due process clause fifth amendment action class certification sought one action requested class nationwide respective district courts granted class certification held secretary recoupment procedures unconstitutional ordered injunctive relief appeals consolidated cases appeal upheld certification classes merits without directly addressing respondents statutory claims held inter alia waiver recoupment requested pursuant due process clause required recipient given oral hearing recoupment began prior hearing required reconsideration cases dispute centered computational error payment problem demanding evaluation credibility held recipients file written request waiver entitled opportunity prerecoupment oral hearing merely request reconsideration entitled pp face requires secretary make prerecoupment waiver decision decision like concerning fact overpayment accurate pp neither standards due process clause require prerecoupment oral hearings requests reconsideration whether overpayment occurred rare instance credibility dispute relevant claim sufficient require secretary grant hearing requests involve credibility however respect waiver secretary right recoup nature statutory standards involving determinations fault whether recoupment equity good conscience makes prerecoupment oral hearing essential recipient requests waiver pp nothing prohibits prerecoupment hearing relief awarded case pp district jurisdiction claims members class accordance requirements set also discretion fed rule civ proc certify class action litigation claims pp abuse discretion certifying nationwide class pp classes certified exceed bounds permitted final decision requirement include persons filed requests reconsideration waiver past future nevertheless basis altering relief actually granted include meet requirement pp injunctive relief may awarded proceeding nothing either language legislative history statute indicating congress intended preclude injunctive relief pp blackmun delivered opinion members joined except powell took part consideration decision case peter buscemi argued cause petitioner pro hac vice briefs solicitor general mccree assistant attorney general babcock william kanter stanley levin argued cause respondents brief jeff spence briefs amici curiae urging affirmance filed albert woll laurence gold american federation labor congress industrial organizations edward king gray panthers charles bane thomas barr norman redlich robert murphy norman chachkin richard kohn stuart schmitz lawyers committee civil rights law justice blackmun delivered opinion petitioner secretary department health education welfare hew determined respondents beneficiaries social security act overpaid seeks recoup overpayments withholding future benefits respondents otherwise entitled respondents turn requested reconsideration waiver recoupment act primary questions case whether petitioner must grant respondents opportunity oral hearing recoupment begins whether jurisdiction act permits federal district certify nationwide class grant injunctive relief section social security act stat amended authorizes recovery overpayments made beneficiary survivors disability insurance programs administered hew particular permits secretary recoup erroneous overpayments decreasing future payments overpaid person entitled section however expressly limits recoupment authority conferred section set forth commands shall adjustment payments recovery person without fault adjustment recovery defeat purpose subchapter equity good conscience regulations say defeat purpose subchapter deprive person income required ordinary necessary living expenses expenses defined include among things food rent medical bills recoupment equity good conscience recipient notice payment made reason incorrect payment relinquished valuable right changed position worse example detrimental reliance sufficient permitting private hospital insurance lapse mistaken expectation receiving federal hospital benefits ibid secretary practice make ex parte determination overpayment made notify recipient determination shift recipient burden either seeking reconsideration contest accuracy determination ii asking secretary forgive debt waive recovery accordance recipient files written request reconsideration waiver recoupment deferred pending action request social security claims manual claims manual papers sent one seven regional offices request reviewed regional office decision goes recipient recoupment begins recipient monthly benefits reduced terminated overpayment recouped recipient continues object given opportunity present story person someone authority decide case opportunity takes form de novo evidential hearing independent hearing examiner cfr recipient may seek subsequent review appeals council finally federal act decided secretary initial determination error amounts wrongfully recouped repaid ii elliott case district certified class social security old age disability benefit recipients resident state hawaii subjected adjustment social security benefits pursuant without adequate prior notice grounds action without prior hearing disputed issues relating actions found jurisdiction mandamus statute granted relief respondents said due process required secretary provide opportunity informal oral hearing independent decisionmaker prior recoupment holding relied goldberg kelly determined due process clause statutory right welfare benefits terminated without prior notice opportunity evidential hearing also held constitution required initial overpayment notice modified inform recipient fully concerning recoupment procedures although discuss respondents statutory claim granted judgment respondents statutory constitutional grounds ordered injunctive relief class elliott weinberger supp buffington case district certified nationwide class composed individuals eligible survivors benefits whose benefits reduced otherwise adjusted without prior notice opportunity hearing however excluded class residents hawaii eastern district pennsylvania suits raising similar issues known brought see mattern weinberger precautionary measure also excluded persons participated plaintiffs members plaintiff class litigation secretary similar issues decision merits previously rendered app granted summary judgment class found jurisdiction mandamus statute enjoined secretary ordering recoupment without provided recipients prior opportunity informal hearing independent decisionmaker also ordered initial notice amended provide information recoupment procedures buffington weinberger civ wd app appeals subsequent decision mathews eldridge held due process clause require oral hearing prior termination social security disability insurance benefits granted petitions writs certiorari filed secretary case mattern supra vacated judgments remanded cases consideration light eldridge remand appeals adhered essential features original decision elliott weinberger reaffirmed holding jurisdiction mandamus statute noted eldridge indicated named plaintiffs able assert jurisdiction based weinberger salfi doubt whether statute provide jurisdiction class action seeking injunctive relief therefore extraordinary remedy mandamus invoked found actions foreclosed jurisdictional limitations contained actions brought enforce constitutional rights recover claim benefits merits found eldridge distinguishable one three grounds cited support conclusion particular relevance expressly found secretary procedures handling waivers created undue risk erroneous deprivation said unlike medical decision issue eldridge grant waiver frequently depended credibility ascertained written submission secretary relied thus held waiver requested due process clause required recipient given oral hearing recoupment begins said prior hearing required however reconsideration cases dispute routine one centering computational error payment problem demand evaluation credibility specified six requirements oral hearing meet including rights receive notice submit evidence witnesses counsel impartial hearing officer receive written decision require transcript hearing made also held notice must plainly clearly communicated ibid suggested accomplished including notice matters reason overpayment statement right request reconsideration waiver forms available purpose description nature reconsideration waiver notice right prerecoupment hearing secretary filed petition writ certiorari seeking review holding due process clause required prerecoupment oral hearing determination class properly certified secretary however request review holding notice recoupment constitutionally defective certiorari granted califano elliott iii presented statutory constitutional grounds support relief requested usually pass statutory claim considering constitutional question new york city transit authority beazer cio ashwander tva concurring opinion due respect coordinate branches government well reluctance conscious fallibility speak utmost finality see brown allen jackson concurring result counsels unnecessary constitutional adjudication construction statute fairly possible serious doubt constitutionality may avoided crowell benson adopt construction particular willing assume congressional solicitude fair procedure absent explicit statutory language contrary see greene mcelroy district courts appeals cases us gave principles somewhat short shrift declining pass expressly respondents contention requires prerecoupment oral hearing turn statute first find fairly may read require prerecoupment decision secretary respect reconsideration whether overpayment occurred agree statute require decision involve prior oral hearing reject respondents contention constitution respect waiver secretary right recoup however nature statutory standards makes hearing essential find unnecessary determine whether constitution require similar result face requires secretary make prerecoupment waiver decision decision like concerning fact overpayment accurate imperative voice says shall adjustment payments recovery person qualifies waiver see mattern weinberger echoing requirement says proper adjustments recoveries made implication recoupment person qualifying proper insofar read require prerecoupment decision reading accord manner secretary presently administers statute recoupment made preliminary waiver reconsideration decision taken place either default recipient received proper notice review written request claims manual interpretation also reinforced comparison sections social security act section strikingly unlike expressly permits suspension disability benefits eligibility finally decided see richardson wright hand analogy may drawn california human resources dept java interpreted require payment unemployment benefits pending final determination eligibility neither expressly addresses timing hearing speak mandatory terms imply mandated act waiver recoupment payment benefits precede action heart present dispute concerns whether prerecoupment decision made whether making decision regional office review written waiver request sufficient protect recipient right subjected improper recoupment regard requests reconsideration whether overpayment occurred may distinguished requests waiver secretary right recoup courts appeals case mattern noted requests reconsideration involve relatively straightforward matters computation written review ordinarily adequate means correct prior mistakes elliott mattern mathews many named respondents found overpaid based earnings reports submitted unlike appeals case think rare instance credibility dispute relevant claim sufficient require secretary sift requests reconsideration grant hearing involve credibility statute authorizes proper recoupment leeway practical administration must allowed standards due process clause tolerant strict language issue require prerecoupment oral hearings afforded cases nature due process hearing shaped risk error inherent truthfinding process applied generality cases rare exceptions mathews eldridge inconsistent principle require hearing review beneficiary written submission adequate means resolving disputes mattern contrast written review hardly seems sufficient discharge secretary statutory duty make accurate determination waiver subsection secretary must assess absence fault determine whether recoupment equity good conscience standards apply previously noted broad fault standard inherently subject factual determination adversarial input mitchell grant secretary regulations make clear fault depends evaluation pertinent circumstances including recipient intelligence physical mental condition well good faith cfr see evaluated absent personal contact recipient person decides case evaluating fault like judging detrimental reliance usually requires assessment recipient credibility written submissions particularly inappropriate way distinguish genuine hard luck story fabricated tall tale see goldberg kelly consequences injunctions entered district courts confirm reasonableness interpreting require prerecoupment oral hearing compliance orders secretary beginning calendar year granted respondents term short personal conference impartial employee social security administration time recipient presents testimony evidence witnesses administrative employee questions recipient brief respondents approximately conferences held january october resulted reversal secretary decision brief petitioner rate reversal confirms view without oral hearing secretary may misjudge number cases otherwise able assess properly hearing requirement imposed appeals significantly furthers statutory goal shall recoupment waiver appropriate therefore agree appeals opportunity prerecoupment oral hearing required recipient requests waiver iv without full consideration question appeals expressed doubts availability full relief act judicial review provision therefore invoked extraordinary remedy mandamus jurisdiction provided secretary contends mandamus appropriate though concedes jurisdiction claims named plaintiffs proper argues class relief inappropriate section secretary contends alternative even class relief appropriate nationwide class certified classes include individuals filed reconsideration waiver relief awarded persons courts jurisdiction secretary also contends injunctive relief awarded suit reject secretary contentions entirely find nothing prohibits prerecoupment hearing relief awarded case reach question whether mandamus otherwise available secretary argues class relief available connection action brought therefore class relief afforded case making argument secretary relies language authorizes suit ny individual speaks judicial review final decision secretary made hearing plaintiff party empowers district courts enter judgment affirming modifying reversing decision secretary language secretary says indicates congress contemplated adjudication claims incompatible class relief secretary contends decision weinberger salfi finding class relief inappropriate facts case legislative history support argument regard though secretary concedes every appeals considered issue concluded class relief available distinguishes cases grounds evinced insufficient respect statute plain language exaggerated need class relief actions restricted judicial review detrimental effect administration social security act secretary says appeal adverse decisions abide within jurisdiction courts rendering thus need repetitious litigation order establish legal principles beyond confines particular case need afford class relief cases brought section contains express limitation class relief prescribes judicial review shall usual type civil action brought routinely district connection array civil litigation federal rule civ proc turn provides rules govern procedure district courts suits civil nature emphasis added rules provide class actions type certified case fed rule civ proc absence direct expression congress intent depart usual course trying suits civil nature rules established purpose class relief appropriate civil actions brought federal including seeking overturn determinations departments executive branch government cases judicial review determinations authorized find necessary clear expression congressional intent exempt actions brought statute operation federal rules civil procedure fact statute speaks terms action brought individual contemplates adjudication indicate usual rule providing class actions controlling rule certification class action otherwise permissible indeed wide variety federal jurisdictional provisions speak terms individual plaintiffs class relief never thought unavailable see civil rights provides jurisdiction civil actions authorized law commenced person mandamus empowers federal courts compel certain government officials agencies perform duty owed plaintiff employee retirement income security act provides jurisdiction civil action brought act participant beneficiary unusual like jurisdictional statutes speaks terms individual plaintiff since rule device designed allow exception usual rule litigation conducted behalf individual named parties moreover class relief consistent need adjudication emphasized secretary least long membership class limited meet requirements see norton mathews nn stevens dissenting district jurisdiction claim individual member class rule provides procedure may exercise jurisdiction various individual claims single proceeding finally note class relief claims presented respondents case peculiarly appropriate issues involved common class whole turn questions law applicable manner member class ultimate question whether prerecoupment hearing held individual claim little monetary value unlikely differences factual background claim affect outcome legal issue device saves resources courts parties permitting issue potentially affecting every social security beneficiary litigated economical fashion rule therefore agree district jurisdiction claims members class accordance requirements set also discretion fed rule civ proc certify class action litigation claims secretary next argues assuming class actions fact may maintained error courts sustain nationwide class buffington litigation argues nationwide class unwise forecloses reasoned consideration issues federal courts artificially increases pressure docket endowing national importance issues adjudicated narrower context might require immediate attention moreover secretary citing dayton board education brinkman example argues nationwide class relief inconsistent rule injunctive relief burdensome defendant necessary provide complete relief plaintiffs nothing rule however limits geographical scope class action brought conformity rule since class certified accordance rule limitations class size associated rule actions apply directly nationwide class inconsistent principles equity jurisprudence since scope injunctive relief dictated extent violation established geographical extent plaintiff class dayton board class action otherwise proper jurisdiction lies claims members class fact class nationwide scope necessarily mean relief afforded plaintiffs burdensome necessary redress complaining parties concede force secretary contentions nationwide class actions may detrimental effect foreclosing adjudication number different courts judges increasing certain cases pressures docket often preferable allow several courts pass given class claim order gain benefit adjudication different courts different factual contexts reason federal asked certify nationwide class take care ensure nationwide relief indeed appropriate case certification class improperly interfere litigation similar issues judicial districts decline adopt extreme position class may never certified certification nationwide class like issues arising rule committed first instance discretion district facts case conclude district buffington abused discretion especially light sensitivity ongoing litigation issue districts determination counsel adequate represent class secretary concedes named plaintiffs satisfied requirements jurisdiction argues however district courts erred awarding relief class members subjected recoupment sought either reconsideration overpayment determinations waiver recovery secretary contends class members failed obtain final decision secretary required construed weinberger salfi mathews eldridge relief secretary objects determination must afford class members opportunity prerecoupment oral hearing respect relief classes certified plainly broad elliott buffington classes included persons filed requests reconsideration waiver past future final decision concerning right prerecoupment hearing made secretary errs however suggesting lower courts ordered opportunity prerecoupment oral hearing afforded persons appeals aptly summarized holding district courts recipients entitled opportunity hearing claim waiver procedure claiming waiver involves filing written request secretary agree appeals ordered relief meet jurisdictional prerequisites secretary objection class definition well taken provides basis altering relief actually granted case finally secretary contends district courts erred granting injunctive relief argues grant jurisdiction found speaks power enter judgment affirming modifying reversing decision secretary encompass equitable power direct statute implemented procedures authorized secretary invoking maxim equitable relief appropriate party adequate remedy law says respondents adequate remedy simply reversed secretary decision grant prerecoupment oral hearings face order forced says suspend recoupment recipient afforded hearing secretary reading statute grudging absent clearest command contrary congress federal courts retain equitable power issue injunctions suits jurisdiction see porter warner holding radio fcc nothing either language legislative history indicates congress intended preclude injunctive relief suits injunctions play essential role litigation without power order stay recoupment pending decision practical purposes unable reverse decision concerning prerecoupment rights class actions injunctions may necessary protect interests absent class members prevent repetitive litigation grant injunctive relief makes secretary duty comply enforceable contempt order urely congress intend provide reluctant federal officials means delay remote eventuality might feel bound judgment federal norton mathews dissenting opinion conclusion injunctive relief available supported implicit holding properly convened jimenez weinberger opinions four courts appeals reasons hold recipients file written request waiver entitled opportunity prerecoupment oral hearing merely request reconsideration entitled class certification permissible buffington abuse discretion certifying nationwide class class exceed bounds permitted class members received relief satisfied requirement request waiver filed injunctive relief may awarded proceeding judgment appeals therefore affirmed part reversed part ordered footnotes whenever secretary finds less correct amount payment made person subchapter proper adjustment recovery shall made regulations prescribed secretary follows respect payment person correct amount secretary shall decrease payment subchapter overpaid person entitled shall require overpaid person estate refund amount excess correct amount shall decrease payment subchapter payable estate person basis wages income basis payments overpaid person shall apply combination foregoing case correct amount payment made shall adjustment payments recovery person without fault adjustment recovery defeat purpose subchapter equity good conscience although average overpayment survivors insurance beneficiaries overpaid exceeded thus subject recoupment sought waiver brief petitioner figures include disability beneficiaries ibid see also elliott weinberger supp haw secretary altered procedures several respects since initiation litigation including rather terminate benefits recoupment completed secretary nonfraud cases usually reduces recipient monthly payments see claims manual ii recipients report excessive earnings found overpaid receive notice rather recoupment begins see elliott weinberger neither party contends changes moot case respondent evelyn elliott died counsel respondent class moved substitute nancy yamasaki respondent named caption case motion granted order consistent heretofore published reports cases refer decisions district courts appeals original captions respondents isabelle ortiz jordan silva john vaquilar secretary determination based annual excess earnings reports filed secretary determined respondents raymond gaines nancy yamasaki overpaid administrative errors elliott weinberger respondent fannie buffington received wife benefits husband filed report revealed earnings exceeded statutory limit respondent frances biner asked file earnings report check employer showed earnings exceeded previously reported elliott weinberger district also asserted jurisdiction administrative procedure act et seq thereafter califano sanders however held act provide grant jurisdiction respondents rely statute appeals third circuit remand reaffirmed prior holding due process clause required oral hearing prior recoupment waiver requested said hearing ever required reconsideration requested mattern mathews cert pending sub nom califano mattern number statutes authorizing recovery federal payments make exception cases equity good conscience entirely permissive provide recovery required serviceman family annuity survivors benefit agency may waive recovery proper showing made civil service training expenses foreign station allowances agency head shall make provision finds appropriate supplemental security income simply recovery may waived military pay contrast mandatory form says shall recovery waiver proper regard resembles equity good conscience waiver provisions found four statutes veterans benefits medicare railroad retirement act railroad unemployment insurance act even statutes identical material respects use word shall particularly reference equitable decision eliminate discretion see hecht bowles least imposes secretary duty decide provision recovery provision waiver phrased equally mandatory terms reasonable infer particular statute congress intend exalt recovery waiver legislative history indicates merely congress intended make recovery equitable authorizing waiver see hearings social security house committee ways means pt section provides secretary basis information obtained submitted believes individual entitled disability benefits may ceased disability secretary may suspend payment benefits determined whether individual disability ceased secretary believes disability ceased section provides secretary labor shall make certification payment state unless finds law state includes provision methods administration found secretary labor reasonably calculated insure full payment unemployment compensation due pertinent part provides individual final decision secretary made hearing party may obtain review decision civil action commenced within sixty days mailing notice decision within time secretary may allow secretary noting sparseness legislative history social security act issue points language indicating intended fill gap original act congress indicated amended act specify remedy open claimant event claim benefits denied social security board reference passage claimant claim secretary believes bolsters argument congress intended adjudication see caswell califano jones califano liberty alliance blind califano johnson mathews jimenez weinberger cert denied sub nom mathews jimenez brief petitioner five named representatives elliott class district found notice sent respondents secretary advise need file written request even personally touch local social security office within days objected recoupment also found suit initiated john vaquilar evelyn elliott raymond gaines nancy yamasaki filed written requests reconsideration waiver requests changed status filing timely secretary says files social security administration also show jordan silva filed request reconsideration waiver denied brief petitioner isabelle ortiz never filed request secretary expresses reservation whether met requirements brief petitioner two named representatives buffington class fannie buffington filed request reconsideration frances biner filed request waiver respondents also sought obtained ruling secretary provided constitutionally adequate notice breadth classes caused part inclusion received adequate notice class far larger class receiving notice filed request reconsideration waiver secretary secretary challenge appeals ruling notice none parties discuss whether decision send notice final decision within meaning therefore decline consider whether appeals jurisdiction grant notice relief class members see see caswell califano letourneau johnson mathews jimenez weinberger see generally weinberger salfi noting issue