From a summary of a report by Social Security's Office of Inspector General (OIG):
In May 2012, the Social Security Administration (SSA) introduced my Social Security — an Internet services portal that allows individuals to create a personal online account to access their own information. In January 2013, the Agency enhanced my Social Security, allowing individuals to change their mailing address or direct deposit bank information. In April 2013, we began receiving reports of changes to address and direct deposit information that beneficiaries did not make or had not authorized. ...
Based on our sample results, we estimated about $20 million in benefit payments to approximately 12,200 beneficiaries was misdirected between January 1, 2013 and January 9, 2014. Furthermore, we estimated about $11 million was not returned to SSA as of August 2015. Additionally, we estimated that SSA prevented about $6 million in benefits from being misrouted for about 5,300 beneficiaries whose direct deposit bank account was changed without their authorization. ...I want all cases of fraud at Social Security addressed but this is by any measure Social Security's biggest fraud problem. I expect that it's far bigger than all other types of fraud combined. So why doesn't it get more attention? For many years Congress, the Office of Management and Budget and many outside groups have been pressing Social Security to transfer all its operations online. All of those pressing for greater availability of online services think there will be big savings for taxpayers as well as better service for the public. The big savings haven't materialized. They may never materialize. People who just want to file a simple retirement claim may get better service but there's little benefit for those filing disability claims. Those filing survivor claims online are often at a disadvantage because they don't know what claims they should be filing. They need the help of trained personnel. Those who have been pressing Social Security to transfer more of its operations online don't like to admit the fraud risks involved since it undermines their arguments in favor of increased online services so they just try to sweep it under the rug.
3 comments:
I'm curious how you can maintain that the agency has not realized any savings by having an online presence. The FAQs alone add tremendous value and frankly, there are a lot of RIB claims that are pretty straightforward. I assume that the ratio of Retirement claims to Disability claims is significant, meaning that online claims do have a benefit to the Agency's operations.
Add to that this fact - as a non-retirement age person, I expect to be able to do my work with the government online. I have no intention of walking into an SSA office to file for retirement. Additionally, I would have no qualms initiating my disability application online if it would save me time and/or allow me to produce a higher-quality product than I could do over the phone.
Fraud exists, yes, and SSA needs to do all it can to minimize the risks. But there's always been fraud and always will be folks trying to make a quick buck -- the issue is how quickly SSA can find/fix it.
And out of curiosity, while even one mispaid dollar is frustrating and something that has to be addressed, what % of paid benefits is the $20 million?
It's all well and good. Until there were unauthorized charges to my card to Europe, and I couldn't pay my bills. I never got my money back and never bounced back financially. Most people on disability really rely on that money just to survive. And in this society no one cares about anyone else, just money, strictly business. How about defending these people who may have a hard time speaking for themselves or may not even understand what's happening. Until they can keep the citizens information secure. Nothing important should be done online.
I am finding many who should file both DIB and SSI claims are not filing the SSI claim. They need the assistance of a live person to know what they should be filing for.
Post a Comment