Priority Open Recommendations: Social Security Administration
Fast Facts
Each year, we make more than 1,000 recommendations to help the federal government save money, address issues on our High Risk List, and significantly improve government operations.
This letter to the Social Security Administration outlines 4 open recommendations that it should prioritize. For example, to protect the integrity of its Disability Insurance program, SSA must collect data to ensure it doesn't continue overpaying beneficiaries who are also getting federal workers' compensation benefits.
SSA implemented 1 recommendation we identified as a priority last year. We regularly update priority recommendations here.
Highlights
What GAO Found
In March 2023, GAO identified four priority recommendations for the Social Security Administration (SSA). Since then, GAO closed one priority recommendation involving the default overpayment withholding rate for Disability Insurance beneficiaries as no longer relevant. The agency changed its policy, making the recommendation no longer applicable. SSA has not implemented the remaining three priority recommendations.
In May 2024, GAO identified one additional priority recommendation for SSA, bringing the total number to four. These recommendations involve the following areas:
- ensuring program integrity,
- serving vulnerable populations;
- protecting sensitive information; and
- assessing software licenses.
SSA's attention to these issues could lead to significant improvements in government operations.
Why GAO Did This Study
Priority open recommendations are the GAO recommendations that warrant priority attention from heads of key departments or agencies because their implementation could save large amounts of money; improve congressional and/or executive branch decision-making on major issues; eliminate mismanagement, fraud, and abuse; or ensure that programs comply with laws and funds are legally spent, among other benefits. Since 2015 GAO has sent letters to selected agencies to highlight the importance of implementing such recommendations.
For more information, contact Cindy Brown Barnes (202) 512-7215 or brownbarnesc@gao.gov.