SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION
SINGLE AUDIT OF THE
COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA
FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED
JUNE 30, 2005
November 2006 A-77-07-00004
MANAGEMENT ADVISORY REPORT
Mission
We improve SSA programs and operations and protect them against fraud, waste, and abuse by conducting independent and objective audits, evaluations, and investigations. We provide timely, useful, and reliable information and advice to Administration officials, the Congress, and the public.
Authority
The Inspector General Act created independent audit and investigative units, called the Office of Inspector General (OIG). The mission of the OIG, as spelled out in the Act, is to:
Conduct and supervise independent and objective audits and investigations
relating to agency programs and operations.
Promote economy, effectiveness, and efficiency within the agency.
Prevent and detect fraud, waste, and abuse in agency programs and operations.
Review and make recommendations regarding existing and proposed legislation
and regulations relating to agency programs and operations.
Keep the agency head and the Congress fully and currently informed of problems
in agency programs and operations.
To ensure objectivity, the IG Act empowers the IG with:
Independence to determine what reviews to perform.
Access to all information necessary for the reviews.
Authority to publish findings and recommendations based on the reviews.
Vision
By conducting independent and objective audits, investigations, and evaluations,
we are agents of positive change striving for continuous improvement in the
Social Security Administration's programs, operations, and management and in
our own office.
Date: November 22, 2006 Refer To:
To: Candace Skurnik
Director
Audit Management and Liaison Staff
From: Inspector General
Subject: Management Advisory Report: Single Audit of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania for the Fiscal Year Ended June 30, 2005 (A-77-07-00004)
This report presents the Social Security Administration’s (SSA) portion of the single audit of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania for the Fiscal Year ended June 30, 2005. Our objective was to report internal control weaknesses, noncompliance issues, and unallowable costs identified in the single audit to SSA for resolution action.
Ernst and Young, LLP and the Pennsylvania Auditor General jointly performed the audit. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) desk review concluded that the audit met Federal requirements. In reporting the results of the single audit, we relied entirely on the internal control and compliance work performed by Ernst and Young and the Pennsylvania Auditor General, and the reviews performed by HHS. We conducted our review in accordance with the Quality Standards for Inspections issued by the President’s Council on Integrity and Efficiency.
For single audit purposes, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) assigns Federal programs a Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) number. SSA’s Disability Insurance (DI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) programs are identified by CFDA number 96. SSA is responsible for resolving single audit findings reported under this CFDA number.
The Pennsylvania Bureau of Disability Determination (BDD) performs disability
determinations under SSA’s DI and SSI programs in accordance with Federal
regulations. The BDD is reimbursed for 100 percent of allowable
costs. The Department of Labor and Industry is the Pennsylvania BDD’s
parent agency.
The single audit reported that BDD did not maintain documentation required by the OMB Circular A-87 for personnel costs. Specifically, signed semiannual updates to job descriptions and other certification documents were not obtained to support that BDD employees worked solely on SSA’s programs during the audit period (Attachment A, pages 1 and 2). We previously reported this weakness to SSA and recommended that SSA determine whether BDD’s current procedures for documenting employee work activities are sufficient to ensure the accuracy of personnel costs charged to its programs. In response to our recommendation, SSA concluded that BDD’s current procedures satisfy the requirements of OMB Circular A-87 since it certifies personnel-related information quarterly on the SSA-4514, Time Report of Personnel Services. Therefore, we will not make a recommendation.
The single audit also disclosed the following findings that may impact the BDD’s operations although they were not specifically identified to SSA. I am bringing these matters to your attention as they represent potentially serious service delivery and financial control problems for the Agency.
Please send copies of the final Audit Clearance Document to Shannon Agee and
Rona Lawson. If you have questions contact Shannon Agee at (816) 936‑5590.
Patrick P. O’Carroll, Jr.
Attachments
-- ATTACHMENTS / IMAGES OMITTED FROM THIS TEXT-ONLY VERSION --
Overview of the Office of the Inspector General
The Office of the Inspector General (OIG) is comprised of our Office of Investigations
(OI), Office of Audit (OA), Office of the Chief Counsel to the Inspector General
(OCCIG), and Office of Executive Operations (OEO). To ensure compliance with
policies and procedures, internal controls, and professional standards, we also
have a comprehensive Professional Responsibility and Quality Assurance program.
Office of Audit
OA conducts and/or supervises financial and performance audits of the Social
Security Administration's (SSA) programs and operations and makes recommendations
to ensure program objectives are achieved effectively and efficiently. Financial
audits assess whether SSA's financial statements fairly present SSA's financial
position, results of operations, and cash flow. Performance audits review the
economy, efficiency, and effectiveness of SSA's programs and operations. OA
also conducts short-term management and program evaluations and projects on
issues of concern to SSA, Congress, and the general public.
Office of Investigations
OI conducts and coordinates investigative activity related to fraud, waste,
abuse, and mismanagement in SSA programs and operations. This includes wrongdoing
by applicants, beneficiaries, contractors, third parties, or SSA employees performing
their official duties. This office serves as OIG liaison to the Department of
Justice on all matters relating to the investigations of SSA programs and personnel.
OI also conducts joint investigations with other Federal, State, and local law
enforcement agencies.
Office of the Chief Counsel to the Inspector General
OCCIG provides independent legal advice and counsel to the IG on various matters,
including statutes, regulations, legislation, and policy directives. OCCIG also
advises the IG on investigative procedures and techniques, as well as on legal
implications and conclusions to be drawn from audit and investigative material.
Finally, OCCIG administers the Civil Monetary Penalty program.
Office of Executive Operations
OEO supports OIG by providing information resource management and systems security.
OEO also coordinates OIG's budget, procurement, telecommunications, facilities,
and human resources. In addition, OEO is the focal point for OIG's strategic
planning function and the development and implementation of performance measures
required by the Government Performance and Results Act of 1993.