Social Security: Pension Data Useful for Detecting Supplemental Security Payment Errors
HRD-86-32
Published: Mar 12, 1986. Publicly Released: Mar 12, 1986.
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Highlights
GAO evaluated the Social Security Administration's (SSA) computerized employment pension income database to determine its potential usefulness in detecting payment errors in the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Program.
Recommendations
Recommendations for Executive Action
| Agency Affected | Recommendation | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Department of Health and Human Services | The Secretary of Health and Human Services should direct the Acting Commissioner of Social Security to perform a computer match patterned after a GAO pilot test and consider subsequent periodic matches of the entire SSI benefit file and the W-2P pension file to identify potential overpayment cases. |
Closed – Implemented
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) made the first partial match in October 1986, and completed it in December 1986. HHS identified more than 5,400 confirmed overpayment cases totalling $6.49 million and estimates that it will save $6.37 million over a 2-year period, at a cost of $571,500. Subsequent matches will be performed annually, starting in fiscal year (FY) 1988.
|
| Department of Health and Human Services | The Secretary of Health and Human Services should direct the Acting Commissioner of Social Security to investigate and resolve, in accordance with existing agency policies and procedures, the cases identified. |
Closed – Implemented
HHS forwarded identified cases to its field offices for investigation and resolution after the December 1986 match was completed. Field action resulted in identifying over 5,400 overpayment cases totalling $6.49 million and estimated savings of $6.37 million over a 2-year period, at a cost of $571,500. Subsequent matches will be performed annually, starting in FY 1988.
|
| Department of Health and Human Services | The Secretary of Health and Human Services should direct the Acting Commissioner of Social Security to comply with all applicable privacy and due process regulations. |
Closed – Implemented
HHS complied with privacy and due process requirements, including contacting the recipients when investigating and resolving identified cases.
|
| Department of Health and Human Services | The Secretary of Health and Human Services should direct the Acting Commissioner of Social Security to attempt to determine what caused the payment errors and whether corrective actions can be taken to prevent their recurrence. |
Closed – Implemented
SSA conducted a special study of the computer match alerts sent to field offices for investigation and determined that most overpayments identified were the result of recipients not reporting their pension income to SSA. SSA has concluded that the only practical way to deal with this overpayment cause is to do recurring computer matches on an annual basis.
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Topics
Auditing standardsData collectionIncome maintenance programsMedicaidOverpaymentsProgram evaluationSocial security benefitsSupplemental security incomeData errorsPensions