Social Security Could Improve Its Management and Detection of Postentitlement Changes by Using Postadjudicative Appraisal Data
HRD-84-27: Published: Jan 20, 1984. Publicly Released: Jan 20, 1984.
Additional Materials:
- Full Report:
Contact:
GAO analyzed the timeliness with which people report to the Social Security Administration (SSA) events such as marriage, death, and cessation of school attendance, which could affect their social security benefits.
GAO found that most such events are reported promptly. However, it estimated that for 1981 about 7 percent of such events were not reported within 2 months of the event and that about $65 million in overpayments were made to such beneficiaries. GAO could not estimate how much of this overpayment will eventually be recovered because the SSA debt collection management system does not track collection of overpayments by event. Late notification of death caused about half of all the overpayments resulting from untimely reporting. Marriage notifications were most often 2 or more months late. Data on the frequency and effect of late reporting and the characteristics of late reporters could be useful to SSA. By using the data it already collects and other data from its enforcement efforts, SSA should be better able to: (1) assess the degree of compliance with its reporting requirements; (2) determine the type of events that are most often not reported; (3) determine the characteristics of beneficiaries who do not report in a timely manner; (4) determine the overpayment effects of untimely reporting; (5) decide what changes might be needed to quickly detect unreported postentitlement changes and better enforce beneficiary reporting requirements; and (6) monitor changes in the mix of late reporters and the amounts lost due to late reporting to help assess the future impact of any new outreach or detection efforts.
Sep 24, 2020
Retirement Security:
Older Women Report Facing a Financially Uncertain FutureGAO-20-718T: Published: Sep 24, 2020. Publicly Released: Sep 24, 2020.
Aug 28, 2020
-
Retirement Security:
DOL Could Better Inform Divorcing Parties About Dividing SavingsGAO-20-541: Published: Jul 31, 2020. Publicly Released: Aug 28, 2020.
Aug 13, 2020
-
Retirement Security:
Older Women Report Facing a Financially Uncertain FutureGAO-20-435: Published: Jul 14, 2020. Publicly Released: Aug 13, 2020.
Jun 16, 2020
-
Retirement Security:
BLS Should Explore Ways to Improve the Accuracy, Timeliness, and Relevance of Its Cost-of-Living MeasurementsGAO-20-422: Published: Jun 16, 2020. Publicly Released: Jun 16, 2020.
Feb 27, 2020
-
Private Pensions:
IRS and DOL Should Strengthen Oversight of Executive Retirement PlansGAO-20-70: Published: Jan 28, 2020. Publicly Released: Feb 27, 2020.
Jan 9, 2020
-
Social Security Disability:
Action Needed to Help Agency Staff Understand and Follow Policies Related to Prescription Opioid MisuseGAO-20-120: Published: Jan 9, 2020. Publicly Released: Jan 9, 2020.
Dec 18, 2019
-
Capitol Police:
Potential Effects of Raising the Mandatory Retirement AgeGAO-20-137R: Published: Dec 18, 2019. Publicly Released: Dec 18, 2019. -
Millennial Generation:
Information on the Economic Status of Millennial Households Compared to Previous GenerationsGAO-20-194: Published: Dec 13, 2019. Publicly Released: Dec 18, 2019.
Oct 21, 2019
-
Military Pensions:
Servicemembers Need Better Information to Support Retirement Savings DecisionsGAO-19-631: Published: Sep 19, 2019. Publicly Released: Oct 21, 2019.
Oct 4, 2019
-
Social Security Benefits:
SSA Needs to Improve Oversight of Organizations that Manage Money for Vulnerable BeneficiariesGAO-19-688: Published: Sep 26, 2019. Publicly Released: Oct 4, 2019.
Looking for more? Browse all our products here
Explore our Key Issues on Retirement Security
Explore our other Key Issues here
