Social Security Administration: Actions Taken to Strengthen Procedures for Issuing Social Security Numbers to Noncitizens, but Some Weaknesses Remain

The Social Security Administration (SSA) took several actions to perform systematic reviews of field office compliance with verification requirements. SSA (1) issued an Emergency Message to all field staff that explained the new verification policy; (2) conducted broadcast interactive video training on enumeration policies; (3) expanded a program the SSA New York region developed for processing SSN applications nationwide, which improved service delivery and helped field offices control workloads; and (4) improved the automated management information system so that employee compliance could be monitored and potential weaknesses could be identified. The agency also made field office compliance with verification requirements a part of an on-going quality review of enumeration activities, as well as the agency's Comprehensive Integrity Review Process to make improvements when problems are identified.

In response to our report, SSA agreed to modify the Modernized Enumeration System (MES), and would consider such modifications as part of its Long Term Enumeration Fraud initiative. In the nearer term, it would make programming changes to MES in 2005, which would interrupt the card production process whenever the system detected problems: at that point, a card would not be produced until an investigation was concluded. On March 1, 2005, SSA mandated Field Office use of the SS-5 Assistant for most SSN applications. The SS-5 Assistant works with SSA's Modernized Enumeration System (MES) and, in effect, implements SSA's policies and verification procedures for enumerating noncitizens. The SS-5 Assistant helps the interviewer in properly documenting the interview and evidence in accordance with policy through more structured screens and questions. As part of the application process, the SS-5 Assistant will also automatically query the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) system used to verify immigration documents and status. As of April 2007, 98 percent of SSN transactions were processed using the SS-5 Assistant. SSA is also currently developing the Social Security Number Application Process (SSNAP), an automated SSN assignment system that will replace and incorporate the same functionality as the SS-5 Assistant and MES. Phase one of SSNAP is expected to be implemented some time at the end of fiscal year 2009.

SSA conducted a study to assess the accuracy of the Enumeration at Entry (EAE) process and identified several changes that were needed. The SSA Inspector General also issued a report on the EAE process. The first of these reports noted higher error rates in the EAE program compared to the regular enumeration process and both studies made recommendations for improving the EAE process. For example, both studies found that the EAE process is more prone to multiple SSN issuances than the regular enumeration process. Recommendations were made to SSA, Homeland Security and the Department of State. SSA and State officials agreed to explore expansion of EAE to three additional nonimmigrant groups.

SSA reported that as of March 2005, a report was issued to the Deputy Commissioner for Operation that assessed the feasibility of expanding enumeration centers to other parts of the country. SSA reported that, based on data from the report, the agency opened an additional enumeration center in Las Vegas, Nevada and will open more as resources permit.

The Social Security Administration (SSA) has implemented the requirement of the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004, which states that SSA independently verify any birth records submitted by an individual to establish eligibility for a Social Security account number, other than for purposes of enumeration at birth. SSA now verifies birth records of all individuals seeking an original or replacement Social Security card.

The The Social Security Administration (SSA) has implemented the requirement of the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004, which limits the number of replacement Social Security cards issued to an individual to 3 per year and 10 for the life of the individual.