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  (9)GAO’s reports and testimonies give Congress, federal agencies, and the public timely, fact-based, non-partisan information that can improve government operations and save taxpayers billions of dollars.Jump To:
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                    Most Recent Reports**1 - 20 of 438 Reports**
	
	

	
	  **Released on   Feb 6, 2024**
          Private Debt Collection Program: IRS Could Improve Results and Better Promote Equitable Outcomes for Taxpayers
    GAO-24-106140
      Published:   Feb 6, 2024
. 
        Publicly Released:   Feb 6, 2024
.
    Under the Private Debt Collection Program, the IRS contracts with private collection agencies to collect certain taxes that haven't been paid. Most of the individual and business taxpayers that IRS assigns to this program owe $5k or less. The IRS should evaluate potential equity disparities in this program, such as unintended and unwarranted differences in collection referrals by race, sex, or location. However, the IRS...
      **Released on   Jan 29, 2024**
          Federal Software Licenses: Agencies Need to Take Action to Achieve Additional Savings
    GAO-24-105717
      Published:   Jan 29, 2024
. 
        Publicly Released:   Jan 29, 2024
.
    Federal agencies buy thousands of software licenses annually. Across the 24 agencies we examined, 10 vendors accounted for the majority of the most widely used licenses. But it's unclear which products under those licenses are most widely used because of agencies' inconsistent and incomplete data. For example, multiple software products may be bundled into a single license with a vendor, and agencies may not have...
      **Released on   Nov 30, 2023**
          Social Security Series Part 2: Criteria for Evaluating Reform Proposals
    GAO-24-106778
      Published:   Nov 30, 2023
. 
        Publicly Released:   Nov 30, 2023
.
    In Part 1 of this series, we reported that Social Security faces financial challenges and is projected to be unable to pay full scheduled benefits starting in 2033. This brief identifies criteria for policymakers to consider when evaluating potential reforms intended to address these challenges. Specifically: Can the reform sustain the program financially over time? Does the reform address goals related to the adequacy and...
      **Released on   Oct 18, 2023**
          Disability Insurance: SSA Faces Ongoing Challenges with Overpayments
    GAO-24-107113
      Published:   Oct 18, 2023
. 
        Publicly Released:   Oct 18, 2023
.
    We testified about the Social Security Administration's challenges with overpaying disability insurance benefits. Individuals can receive benefits if their disabilities prevent them from working. But if they return to work and SSA doesn't adjust the benefits, they might have been overpaid. This is a problem for beneficiaries—who may have to repay benefits—and SSA, as some overpayments are never paid back at all. SSA has made...
      **Released on   Sep 12, 2023**
          Unemployment Insurance: Estimated Amount of Fraud During Pandemic Likely Between $100 Billion and $135 Billion
    GAO-23-106696
      Published:   Sep 12, 2023
. 
        Publicly Released:   Sep 12, 2023
.
    We estimate that fraud accounted for 11-15% of the total amount of unemployment insurance benefits paid during the pandemic. In that time frame, the Department of Labor provided funding to states to help prevent, detect, and investigate fraud and recover fraudulent payments. States reported finding about $55.8 billion in total overpayments—$5.3 billion of which were fraudulent. States reported recovering about $6.8 billion total, including $1.2...
      **Released on   May 16, 2023**
          Priority Open Recommendations: Social Security Administration
    GAO-23-106466
      Published:   May 9, 2023
. 
        Publicly Released:   May 16, 2023
.
    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, one of these recommendations would help SSA safeguard recipients' personal data by ensuring privacy officials are reviewing and approving protections...
      **Released on   Nov 17, 2022**
          Social Security Administration: Remote Service Delivery Increased during COVID-19, but More Could Be Done to Assist Vulnerable Populations
    GAO-23-104650
      Published:   Nov 17, 2022
. 
        Publicly Released:   Nov 17, 2022
.
    The Social Security Administration changed how it delivered services due to COVID-19 . It temporarily closed its offices to the public, with few exceptions, and expanded its telephone, video, and online services. The public filed fewer SSA benefit claims during the pandemic—especially disability claims and claims by certain vulnerable populations. This may be in part because some benefit applications can't be submitted online, including those...
      **Released on   Oct 17, 2022**
          Older Households: Comparison of Income, Wealth, and Survival in the United States with Selected Countries
    GAO-22-103950
      Published:   Sep 15, 2022
. 
        Publicly Released:   Oct 17, 2022
.
    In recent decades, income and wealth disparities have been increasing among older Americans and exceed those in Canada, Germany, and the United Kingdom. We found: In 2007, older Americans in a typical low-income household needed to work 12 years to equal what a typical high-income older household earned in 1 year; there were similar gaps in Germany, where they'd need to work 6 years, and...
      **Released on   Sep 22, 2022**
          Privacy: Dedicated Leadership Can Improve Programs and Address Challenges
    GAO-22-105065
      Published:   Sep 22, 2022
. 
        Publicly Released:   Sep 22, 2022
.
    Federal agencies that collect personally identifiable information—such as birthplaces and Social Security numbers—are required to establish programs to protect it. The 24 agencies we examined had designated a senior agency official for privacy, as required. However, these officials may have numerous other duties and may not bring a needed focus on privacy. They generally delegated many aspects of privacy programs to less-senior officials. We recommended...
      **Released on   Jul 18, 2022**
          Social Security Disability: SSA Expedited Most Critical Cases at Hearings Level but Lacks Consistent Policy Implementation
    GAO-22-104191
      Published:   Jun 16, 2022
. 
        Publicly Released:   Jul 18, 2022
.
    People who disagree with a Social Security benefits decision may appeal for a hearing with an administrative law judge. The Social Security Administration prioritizes some appeals as "critical" for medical or financial reasons—like having a terminal illness or dire financial need. SSA policy directs hearing offices to expedite a case flagged as critical, but some claimants face unnecessary processing delays. For example, some offices require...
      **Released on   Jun 13, 2022**
          Priority Open Recommendations: Social Security Administration
    GAO-22-105623
      Published:   Jun 6, 2022
. 
        Publicly Released:   Jun 13, 2022
.
    Each year, we make more than 1,000 recommendations to help improve the federal government. We alert department heads to where they can save the most money, address issues on our High Risk List , or significantly improve government operations. This report outlines our 6 priority open recommendations for the Social Security Administration as of May 2022. For example, we recommended improving oversight of the "representative...
      **Released on   Jun 7, 2022**
          Federal Contracting: Opportunities Exist to Reduce Use of Time-And-Materials Contracts
    GAO-22-104806
      Published:   Jun 7, 2022
. 
        Publicly Released:   Jun 7, 2022
.
    The government spends billions on services every year (such as consulting and engineering services) using various types of contracts. We looked at the government's use of two contract types that are considered higher-risk because contractors bill by the hour. With hourly billing, contractors could conceivably work less efficiently in order to charge more hours. From FYs 2017-2021, the government spent $139 billion on these contracts...
      **Released on   Nov 9, 2021**
          Social Security Administration: Actions Needed by SSA to Ensure Disability Medical Consultants Are Properly Screened and Trained
    GAO-22-103815
      Published:   Nov 9, 2021
. 
        Publicly Released:   Nov 9, 2021
.
    The Social Security Administration pays benefits to eligible people who are unable to work due to disability. State agencies review claims for disability benefits, and use "consultants" (physicians) to determine if claimants are medically eligible. SSA requires state agencies to ensure consultants meet its employment and training standards. While most states we surveyed reported meeting the requirements, several did not. As a result, SSA risks...
      **Released on   Nov 1, 2021**
          Social Security and Medicare: Improving the Timeliness of Trust Fund Reports
    GAO-21-105413
      Published:   Sep 30, 2021
. 
        Publicly Released:   Nov 1, 2021
.
    Boards of trustees manage the trust funds for some Social Security and Medicare programs. In 2019, we reported that the trustees issued their annual reports to Congress after the statutory deadline in 17 of the 25 years from 1995-2019, and were more than 2 months late in 6 of the years from 2010-2019. We reported that Treasury—which chairs the boards—agreed to our prior recommendations to...
      **Released on   Oct 28, 2021**
          Social Security Disability: Ticket to Work Helped Some Participants, but Overpayments Increased Program Costs
    GAO-22-104031
      Published:   Oct 28, 2021
. 
        Publicly Released:   Oct 28, 2021
.
    The Ticket to Work program seeks to help those receiving Social Security disability benefits find jobs and reduce reliance on benefits. We found: Participants (after 5 years) earned an estimated $2,451 more per year and were slightly more likely to leave the disability rolls than similar nonparticipants From 2002 through 2015, program costs exceeded the savings in benefits by about $806 million Overpayments (which can...
      **Released on   Sep 30, 2021**
          COVID-19: Selected Agencies Overcame Technology Challenges to Support Telework but Need to Fully Assess Security Controls
    GAO-21-583
      Published:   Sep 30, 2021
. 
        Publicly Released:   Sep 30, 2021
.
    Telework is essential to the continuity of federal operations in emergencies—but it also brings added cybersecurity risks. We examined federal agencies' preparedness to support expanded telework during the COVID-19 pandemic. We looked at 12 agencies and found that they all had the technology to support remote access for telework. But not all agencies had fully addressed relevant guidance for securing their remote access systems. For...
      **Released on   Sep 21, 2021**
          Supplemental Security Income: SSA Faces Ongoing Challenges with Work Incentives and Improper Payments
    GAO-21-105419
      Published:   Sep 21, 2021
. 
        Publicly Released:   Sep 21, 2021
.
    The Social Security Administration is trying to encourage people with disabilities who get Supplemental Security Income benefits to work if they can. But we testified that working beneficiaries are at a higher risk of benefit overpayments. Beneficiaries who can work may choose not to because they're afraid of being stuck with overpaid benefits that they have to repay. SSA hasn't resolved its lags in processing...
      **Released on   Jun 17, 2021**
          Social Security Disability: Process Needed to Review Productivity Expectations for Administrative Law Judges
    GAO-21-341
      Published:   Jun 17, 2021
. 
        Publicly Released:   Jun 17, 2021
.
    If people disagree with how their Social Security disability benefits claims were decided, they can request a hearing from an administrative law judge. These judges adjudicate hundreds of thousands of cases each year. In 2007, the Social Security Administration set expectations for their judges to issue between 500-700 decisions or dismissals each year. This expectation has remained the same despite changes that affected judges' workloads...
      **Released on   Jun 10, 2021**
          Priority Open Recommendations: Social Security Administration
    GAO-21-430PR
      Published:   Jun 3, 2021
. 
        Publicly Released:   Jun 10, 2021
.
    Each year, we make more than 1,000 recommendations to help improve the federal government. We alert department heads to where they can save the most money, address issues on our High Risk List , or significantly improve government operations. This report outlines our 4 priority open recommendations for the Social Security Administration as of May 2021. For example, we recommended improving oversight of the "representative...
      **Released on   Jun 3, 2021**
          Social Security Administration: New Data Exchanges with Some States Provide Limited Information on Foster Care Beneficiaries
    GAO-21-441R
      Published:   Jun 3, 2021
. 
        Publicly Released:   Jun 3, 2021
.
    Some children in foster care are eligible for funds from the Social Security Administration. Typically, SSA appoints a representative payee to manage these funds. Legislation in 2018 called for more information sharing between SSA and states on SSA beneficiaries in foster care and their payees. The legislation didn't explicitly require state child welfare agencies to enter into data exchange agreements, according to SSA, but 31...
    
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