Social Security: Effects of Budget Constraints on Disability Program
HRD-88-2
Published: Oct 28, 1987. Publicly Released: Oct 28, 1987.
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Highlights
In response to a congressional request, GAO reviewed state disability determination services (DDS) to: (1) evaluate the effects of budget constraints that the Social Security Administration (SSA) imposed on state agencies' operations; and (2) determine whether SSA productivity standards were appropriate.
Recommendations
Recommendations for Executive Action
| Agency Affected | Recommendation | Status Sort descending |
|---|---|---|
| Department of Health and Human Services | The Secretary of Health and Human Services should direct SSA to eliminate the backlog of MIE cases. SSA should determine whether it has sufficient funds in its FY 1988 budget, including the contingency fund, to process these cases. If sufficient funds are not available, the Secretary should seek legislative authority to expend additional trust funds to process MIE cases. |
Closed – Implemented
SSA has completed its review of backlog cases.
|
| Department of Health and Human Services | The Secretary of Health and Human Services should direct SSA to recognize in its Cost-Effectiveness Management System the particular case mix by type of impairment for each DDS when developing productivity measurements and comparisons. |
Closed – Not Implemented
After considering the use of a MEDDIC subsystem to recognize case-mix by impairment type, the Department of Health and Human Services rejected the idea as being impractical.
|
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Topics
Budget cutsComparative analysisDisability benefitsEligibility determinationsstate relationsIncome maintenance programsPerformance measuresProductivity in governmentReductions in forceState-administered programsSupplemental security income