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HRD-83-90 1 (1983-09-30)

handle is hein.gao/gaobabneb0001 and id is 1 raw text is: UNITED STATES GENERAL ACCOUNTING OFFICE R. WASHINGTON, D.C. 20548 HUMAN R0UC,122782W DIvIGCN September 30, 1983 B-204638 The Honorable Margaret M. Heckler The Secretary of Health and Human Services Dear Madam Secretary: Subject: Better Case File Monitoring of the Workers' Compensation Offset Provision by the Social Security Administration Could Save Millions (GAO/HRD-83-90) The Social Security Disability Insurance (DI) trust fund loses millions each year because DI payments to disabled workers are not being reduced--offset--as required by the workers' com- pensation offset provision of the Social Security Act. In fiscal year 1981, although the provision saved almost $168 million, we estimate that another $43 million of potential savings was lost because offsets were not imposed. These lost offsets consisted of $14 million attributable to federal workers' compensation programs, and $29 million to state workers' ompensation. In about one-third of the lost offset cases in our sample of DI recipients receiving state workers' compensation payments, the offsets were missed because the recipients did not notify the Social Security Administration (SSA) about these payments and there was no other information in the case files which would indicate that the recipients were--or were likely to be--entitled to such benefits. In the other two-thirds, however, SSA failed to follow-up on such information that was in the case files. Computer matching between SSA and state workers' compensa- tion agencies may be the long term solution to this problem, but most states do not now have automated centralized workers' com- pensation files. Meanwhile, better case review and development procedures could help SSA identify potential offset cases. Com- puter matches with federal workers' compensation programs are possible now and should be pursued by SSA. BACKGROUND The DI program authorized under title II of the Social Secu- rity Act is the Nation's primary source of income replacement for disabled workers. Many DI recipients with work-related disabil- ities may be entitled to workers' compensation benefits. The two types of benefits can overlap and cause disabled workers to re- ceive more in disability benefits than they were earning before they became disabled. (105146)

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