The time it takes to process claims and a resulting increase in pending cases are atop the management challenges for the SSA, even as the agency has taken steps to improve the quality and consistency of its decisions, an IG report has said.
SSA needs to address receipt of millions of initial disability and reconsideration claims and backlogs of initial disability claims and continuing disability reviews, while also protecting its disability programs from fraud and encouraging beneficiaries to return to work, it said.
“Given the large overall dollar amounts involved in SSA’s payments, even the slightest error in the overall process can result in millions of dollars in over- or underpayments,” the annual report said. Similarly, properly posting the wages reported under Social Security numbers–and protecting those numbers from misuse–“are critical to ensuring eligible individuals receive the full benefits they are due.”
SSA meanwhile is challenged to decide how best to use technology to accomplish its mission within its budget and resource constraints, while ensuring its information systems are secure and sensitive data are protected, the report said.
