tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19246708.post3984188438577297267..comments2024-03-29T07:01:55.138-04:00Comments on Social Security News: GAO Report Urges More Efforts To Find Fraud To Satisfy GOPUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19246708.post-29895558898386967672014-12-12T20:08:51.725-05:002014-12-12T20:08:51.725-05:00At least the report draws attention to the dearth ...At least the report draws attention to the dearth of resources on the front lines. SSA has had *plenty* of resources to limit fraud, but it has been putting all those resources at the butt end of the disability process - the Appeals Council - instead of addressing fraud as earlier in the process as possible. <br /><br />It suits the Agency politically if it squeezes resources at the DDS level to make it look like the Agency is underfunded. But trace the flow of funding going to fight fraud at the very end of the disability administrative process, and you'll see thousands of new attorneys hired over the past few years being used to review the mistakes made by the underfunded components that are evaluating claims at earlier stages of the process. The whole system is messed up.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19246708.post-30952538064688674782014-12-12T19:02:42.333-05:002014-12-12T19:02:42.333-05:00It's easy to explain declining allowance rates...It's easy to explain declining allowance rates. For years the Agency encouraged ALJs to pay cases to move them. They went to Congress and bragged about how their superior management skills would save the day and reduce the backlog. Now that congress has finally caught on to the huge allowance rates of some ALJs and the resultant cost, the Agency has begun to emphasize (tongue in cheek here) quality. Outlier judges are being throttled back and most other judges are more aware that they'd better have a good basis for paying a case. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19246708.post-23413738208490297262014-12-12T14:58:00.316-05:002014-12-12T14:58:00.316-05:00@ 1:28 - if that is the case, how do you explain t...@ 1:28 - if that is the case, how do you explain the hard data of allowances steadily declining, not to mention the anecdotal (but intuitive) evidence of reps taking less and less cases due to the declining allowance rates?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19246708.post-13772225292206363872014-12-12T13:53:50.975-05:002014-12-12T13:53:50.975-05:00Social Security is rife with fraud, but it is over...Social Security is rife with fraud, but it is overwhelmingly non-disability related. The field offices try to pursue it, but get no help nor cooperation from OIG nor any other components. Trying to downplay its existence as Charles does is as bad as misrepresenting its true nature and extent.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19246708.post-40699305020851669932014-12-12T13:28:27.227-05:002014-12-12T13:28:27.227-05:00Charles can you really be that naive. Disability ...Charles can you really be that naive. Disability fraud is rampant in both RSDI and SSI. It has been rampant for years. However the next big scandal will be increased allowances across the board now that almost every case--initial and appeal has representation. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19246708.post-46156601243256979812014-12-12T08:38:49.072-05:002014-12-12T08:38:49.072-05:00the problem isn't finding fraud, it's all ...the problem isn't finding fraud, it's all over. It's having effective resources to fight it. Right now, we really on referral to the OIG, which only takes high-value cases and then passes them to the US Attorney. SSA should be given resources/authority to chase these on their own and cut/suspend benefits when it is found. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19246708.post-68780197327476490152014-12-12T08:29:37.835-05:002014-12-12T08:29:37.835-05:00If the GOP wants to find people cheating the gover...If the GOP wants to find people cheating the government, they should give more money to the IRS to detect tax cheats. That would be cost effective.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com