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DOCUDEIT RESUME
061)9 - (B1446 :-j
,Need for SSa To Assess Penalties against SSi Recipients Than
Fail To Rcport Changes in Their Cizcums'rances]. BHD-78-118;
B-164031(41. 1a7 22, 1978. 5 pp.
Report to Secretary# Department of Realth, Education, and
Welfare; by Gregory J. Ahart, Director, Hunan Resources Div.
Issue Area: Income Security Programs: Eligitility Determination
(1301); Income Security Programs: Program Effectiveness
(1302) ;Income Security Programs: Program monitoring and
Administration (1303).
Contact: Human Resources Div.
Budget Function: Income Security: Public Assistance and Other
Income Supplements (604).
Organization Concerned: Social Security Administration.
Congressional Relevance: House Committee cn Ways and Means;
Senate Committee on Finance.
Authority: Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1383(e)). =20 C.F.R
416.
Substantial overpayments have been made to recipients
of the Social Security Administration's (SSA&s) Supplemental
Security Income program because the recipierts had not reported
or improperly reported changes in their incove, resources, or
other circumstanaes. The integrity of the SSI program depends to
a large degree on accurate and timely reporting of these
changes. Steps have been taken to reduce the errcneous payments,
including informing recipients of their repcrting
responsibilities, but more can be done to improve recipient
reporting. The SSA has also taken steps io obtain and use
information on benefits paid to SST recipierts from sources
other than the recipient. Altbougt recipients are generally
aware cf their reporting responsibilities, over 50% of the
recipients questioned vbo had indicated that their circumstances
had changed had not report3d the changes. In establishing the
SSI program, the Congress gave SSA authority to assess penalties
against recipients who do not fulfill their reporting
responsibilities; however, this authority has rot been use.
Implementation of the penalty provision could providc a viable
mechanism for improving recipient compliance with reporting
requirements, improving the iccuracy of benefit payments, and
reducing overpayments. The Secretary of Health, Education, and
Welfare should direct the Commissioner of SSA to implement the
penalty provision, including necessary programing of the SSI
computer system to process penalties for untimely reporting and
nonreporting of changes in recipient circumstances. (BRS)](ViewImageLocal?handle=hein.gao/gaobaaxjr0001&div=1&collection=&method=preview&ext=.png&size=3)