Action Needed To Resolve Problem of Outstanding Supplemental Security Income Checks
HRD-81-58
Published: Mar 03, 1981. Publicly Released: Mar 03, 1981.
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Highlights
Several proposals before the 96th Congress would have placed a time limit on the negotiation of Federal Government checks issued monthly to Supplemental Security Income (SSI) recipients. However, none of the proposals were enacted. Under present legislation, these and other Government checks are payable without time limitations. GAO conducted a review designed to quantify the number and amount of SSI checks not cashed, determine why they were not cashed, and identify actions to alleviate check-cashing problems.
Recommendations
Matter for Congressional Consideration
| Matter | Status | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| Congress should direct Treasury to give the Social Security Administration information it needs to implement these recommendations. | Please call 202/512-6100 for additional information. | |
| Congress should, upon receiving the Treasury cost data, determine which approach would be the most cost-effective method for managing and controlling these checks. | Please call 202/512-6100 for additional information. |
Recommendations for Executive Action
| Agency Affected | Recommendation | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Department of the Treasury | The Secretary of the Treasury should provide computerized information requested by the Social Security Administration on uncashed Supplemental Security Income checks. |
Please call 202/512-6100 for additional information.
|
| Department of the Treasury | The Secretary of the Treasury should prepare and provide to Congress detailed information concerning the costs it would incur under both methods discussed in this report for handling uncashed Supplemental Security Income checks. |
Please call 202/512-6100 for additional information.
|
| Department of Health and Human Services | The Secretary of HHS should direct the Commissioner of the Social Security Administration (SSA) to incorporate necessary changes into existing SSA check cancellation procedures to cover the additional requirements imposed by the recommendation above and ensure that its field personnel are aware of them. |
Please call 202/512-6100 for additional information.
|
| Department of Health and Human Services | The Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services should direct the Commissioner of the Social Security Administration to periodically request lists of uncashed Supplemental Security Income checks from the Treasury and use the lists to identify and request the Treasury to cancel checks that should be canceled, including those issued to recipients now deceased, and to identify ineligible recipients or those that need assistance in cashing checks. |
Please call 202/512-6100 for additional information.
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Topics
Check disbursement or controlEligibility criteriaFederal fundsFederal legislationFinancial recordsIncome maintenance programsProposed legislationSupplemental security incomeAccounting recordsAdministrative costs