As part of its Performance and Accountability Series, GAO provided information on the major management challenges and program risks facing the Social Security Administration (SSA).

GAO noted that: (1) the most critical overarching issue facing SSA is the long-term solvency of the Social Security system; (2) since SSA assumed responsibility in 1974 for the SSI program, SSA officials have been challenged to serve the diverse needs of program recipients while still protecting the program's overall financial health and integrity; (3) while SSA paid over $73 billion in 1998 in cash benefits to nearly 11 million Disability Insurance (DI) and SSI blind and disabled beneficiaries (including DI spouses and dependents), SSA's complex process for determining whether an individual qualifies for a disability benefit--the disability claims process--has been plagued by a number of long-standing weaknesses; (4) to cope with increased workload demands--caused, in part, by the forthcoming retirement of the baby boom generation--SSA is counting on its effective use of technology to allow the agency to serve the increasing numbers of applicants and beneficiaries with fewer staff; (5) SSA has made progress in addressing the overarching issue of Social Security's solvency; (6) despite this progress, SSA must take further steps to meet the serious challenges it faces; and (7) with regard to progress concerning specific management challenges, SSA recently issued a report on SSI management.

Below are the reports in this series:

High-Risk Series: An Update HR-99-1, Jan 1, 1999

Performance and Accountability Series:

Major Management Challenges and Risks: An Executive Summary OCG-99-ES, Feb 1, 1999

Major Management Challenges and Risks: A Governmentwide Perspective OCG-99-1, Jan 1, 1999

Major Management Challenges and Risks: Department of Agriculture OCG-99-2, Jan 1, 1999

Major Management Challenges and Risks: Department of Commerce OCG-99-3, Jan 1, 1999

Major Management Challenges and Risks: Department of Defense OCG-99-4, Jan 1, 1999

Major Management Challenges and Risks: Department of Education OCG-99-5, Jan 1, 1999

Major Management Challenges and Risks: Department of Energy OCG-99-6, Jan 1, 1999

Major Management Challenges and Risks: Department of Health and Human Services OCG-99-7, Jan 1, 1999

Major Management Challenges and Risks: Department of Housing and Urban Development OCG-99-8, Jan 1, 1999

Major Management Challenges and Risks: Department of the Interior OCG-99-9, Jan 1, 1999

Major Management Challenges and Risks: Department of Justice OCG-99-10, Jan 1, 1999

Major Management Challenges and Risks: Department of Labor OCG-99-11, Jan 1, 1999

Major Management Challenges and Risks: Department of State OCG-99-12, Jan 1, 1999

Major Management Challenges and Risks: Department of Transportation OCG-99-13, Jan 1, 1999

Major Management Challenges and Risks: Department of the Treasury OCG-99-14, Jan 1, 1999

Major Management Challenges and Risks: Department of Veterans Affairs OCG-99-15, Jan 1, 1999

Major Management Challenges and Risks: Agency for International Development OCG-99-16, Jan 1, 1999

Major Management Challenges and Risks: Environmental Protection Agency OCG-99-17, Jan 1, 1999

Major Management Challenges and Risks: National Aeronautics and Space Administration OCG-99-18, Jan 1, 1999

Major Management Challenges and Risks: Nuclear Regulatory Commission OCG-99-19, Jan 1, 1999

Major Management Challenges and Risks: Social Security Administration OCG-99-20, Jan 1, 1999

Major Management Challenges and Program Risks: U.S. Postal Service OCG-99-21, Jan 1, 1999