Supplemental Security Income: Long-Standing Problems Put Program at Risk forFraud, Waste, and Abuse. Statement of Jane L. Ross, Director Income Security Issues, Health, Education and Human Services Division

摘要

The problem we have identified in the SSI program are long-standing and havecontributed to billions tax dollars being overpaid to recipients. They have also service to compromise the integrity of the program and reinforce public perceptions that the SSI program pays benefits to too many people for too long. Although many of the changes recently enacted by the Congress or implemented by SSA may result in improvements, the underlying still exist. Our work has shown that SSI's vulnerability is due both to problems in program design and inadequate SSA management attention to the program. Revising SSA's approach to managing the program will require sustained attention and direction at the highest levels of the agency as well as actively seeking the cooperation of the Congress improving the program's operations and eligibility rules. One challenge for the new SSA Commissioner will be to focus greater agency attention on management of SSI and the future viability and integrity of this program.