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HRD-85-31 1 (1985-05-21)

handle is hein.gao/gaobabfcu0001 and id is 1 raw text is: 



BY THE U.S, GENERAL ACCOUNTING OFFICE

Report To The Chairman                             RELEASED

Subcommittee On Social Security

Committee On Ways And Means

House Of Representatives




A Central Wage File For

Use By Federal Agencies:

Benefits And Concerns


In over 100 federal welfare, insurance, and disability
programs, eligibility for billions of dollars of benefits
depends primarily on the accuracy of an individual's
reported wages. However, because of the lack of
current and conveniently accessible data, federal
programs seldom do income verification on a na-
tional basis.

Wage data reported quarterly by employers to state
employment agencies in 41 states would be useful
for verifying beneficiary income levels if such data
were centralized for easy access by federal pro-
grams.

A central file of quarterly wage information super-
vised by a single federal agency would be technically
feasible and relatively inexpensive to establish and
operate. However, improved eligibility verification
must be delicately balanced with privacy concerns.
Though data centralization may help reduce erro-
neous payments, any move to centralization should
occur only when there are adequate assurances that
the data are accurate and individuals' privacy rights
are protected. Thus, while a central file is feasible, it
may not be desirable.



                 ~&~o sr127201



              0-                                             GAO/HRD-85-31
                                                              MAY 21, 1985

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