SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION

PENDING WORKERS' COMPENSATION:
THE SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION
CAN PREVENT MILLIONS
IN TITLE II DISABILITY
OVERPAYMENTS

June 2003

A-08-02-12064

AUDIT 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.

MEMORANDUM

Date: June 6, 2003

To: The Commissioner

From: Inspector General

Subject: Pending Workers' Compensation: The Social Security Administration Can Prevent Millions in Title II Disability Overpayments (A-08-02-12064)

OBJECTIVE

Our objective was to evaluate the Social Security Administration's (SSA) management of title II disability cases with pending workers' compensation (WC) issues and assess the Agency's efforts to prevent overpayments.

BACKGROUND

WC is a system of compensation for persons injured while working or who suffer occupational diseases. Each State, the District of Columbia, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, require that employers operating in their jurisdictions provide WC insurance for their employees and report work-related injuries to the State or responsible WC agency. The Social Security Act requires that SSA offset disability benefits for individuals who receive Federal, State or locally administered WC benefits in most States.

Developing WC issues is a joint field office (FO) and program service center (PSC) responsibility. When an individual applies for title II disability benefits, FO personnel determine whether WC may be involved. If SSA approves disability benefits and the applicant's WC claim is pending, SSA requires that beneficiaries report receipt of subsequent WC payments. SSA policies and procedures require that personnel follow up on WC issues until resolved. SSA's Modernized Claims System (MCS) generates a one-time diary alert after benefit approval. This diary alert reminds personnel to follow up on pending WC issues. PSC personnel must manually establish additional diaries to continue developing WC issues.

In November 2002, we issued an early alert in which we notified SSA that it improperly paid title II disability beneficiaries because SSA did not have a process in place to ensure it systematically followed up on pending WC cases and encouraged the Agency to implement such a process. This report serves as a follow up to our early alert and recommends corrective actions to improve the Agency's management of pending WC cases and prevent overpayments.

SCOPE AND METHODOLOGY

To accomplish our objective, we interviewed FO and PSC staff responsible for processing title II disability cases with pending WC issues. Additionally, we

reviewed relevant SSA regulations, policies, and procedures;

obtained a data extract of 179,284 title II disability cases that had pending WC issues for 2 or more years as of July 2001; and

reviewed a statistical sample of 100 pending WC cases aged 2 to 19 years and 30 cases aged 20 to 39 years.

See Appendix A for more information on our sample methodology.

Working with SSA FO personnel, we contacted State WC agencies and/or insurance companies for pertinent WC payment information. SSA's Operations Support Branch, Operations Analysis Section at the Southeastern PSC calculated the amount of title II disability benefits that should have been offset because of unreported WC.

The SSA entity reviewed was the Office of the Deputy Commissioner for Operations. We conducted our audit from January through November 2002 in accordance with generally accepted government auditing standards.

RESULTS OF REVIEW

In prior Office of the Inspector General reports, we have highlighted the vulnerabilities in SSA's management of title II disability cases involving WC payments. Based on the results of this review, we are equally concerned about SSA's risk of exposure to improper payments.

Our review disclosed that SSA overpaid title II disability beneficiaries millions of dollars. Of the 178,900 WC cases aged 2 to 19 years, we sampled 100 cases and found that 30 cases (30 percent) had unreported WC payments totaling almost $900,000. Of these 30 cases, 10 (33 percent) resulted in title II disability overpayments totaling over $67,000. As such, we estimated SSA overpaid 17,890 beneficiaries almost $121 million because of unreported WC payments (see Appendix B for our sample appraisal). These may be conservative estimates because some State WC agencies purged older cases, which could have resulted in additional overpayments.

Based on our sample of 100 WC cases aged 2 to 19 years, we estimated the following results to our population of 178,900 cases:

87,661 (49 percent) involved situations in which the State WC agency denied the claim, the beneficiary dropped the claim, or the beneficiary received WC payments outside his/her period of title II eligibility;

35,780 (20 percent) involved unreported WC payments SSA did not identify; however, these did not result in overpayments;

17,890 (10 percent) involved unreported WC payments SSA did not identify, which resulted in title II overpayments;

17,890 (10 percent) involved situations in which SSA personnel had information that WC was not an issue when applicants filed for title II disability benefits;

8,945 (5 percent) were developed and resolved by SSA, but the Agency failed to delete the pending designation;

5,367 (3 percent) were awaiting settlement of the WC claim at the time of our audit (some of these cases could potentially result in overpayments if SSA fails to follow up on them); and

5,367 (3 percent) were purged by a State WC agency because of the age of the case (some of these cases could have resulted in overpayments, but records were not available to make this determination).

Figure 1: Estimated Status of 178,900 WC Cases Pending as of July 2001

Of the 384 cases aged 20 to 39 years, we sampled 30 cases and found that 4 (13 percent) had unreported WC payments, but none of these resulted in overpayments.

SSA Can Prevent Title II Disability Overpayments

These millions of dollars in overpayments could have been prevented had SSA personnel routinely followed up on WC issues, as required by POMS. We recognize that following up on WC issues can be time consuming and require significant resources. However, we believe SSA has a stewardship responsibility to ensure it properly pays beneficiaries, thus avoiding overpayments.

Although SSA's MCS generates a one-time diary alert, PSC personnel must manually establish additional diaries to control future development. However, we found they did not always do so. For example, in one case, SSA personnel failed to adequately control development of the beneficiary's appeal of his WC claim and subsequent award, resulting in a $28,363 overpayment. In another case, SSA personnel failed to adequately follow up on the pending WC claim, resulting in an $8,090 overpayment.

SSA does not have an automated process in place to ensure it systematically and routinely follows up on cases with pending WC issues. This would allow SSA to make timely adjustments to title II benefit payments and avoid overpayments. SSA could generate automated alerts until personnel resolve WC issues. Additionally, SSA could periodically produce a report showing how many WC cases are pending and how long they have been pending. Management would use this report to monitor the status of cases and ensure personnel take appropriate action to resolve WC issues.

FO and PSC personnel agreed that SSA could prevent overpayments by developing and implementing an automated process to ensure it systematically and routinely follows up on cases with pending WC issues. We believe the potential savings that would occur by preventing these overpayments would greatly exceed any costs associated with implementing such a process. Given that SSA's pending WC workload is growing, as shown in Figure 2, we believe SSA should take immediate action to reduce its risk of exposure to improper payments.

Figure 2: Title II Cases with WC Issues Pending for 2 or More Years

SSA Needs Accurate Information To Effectively Manage WC Cases

To effectively manage title II disability cases with pending WC, SSA personnel need to know the correct status of cases. However, we estimated that SSA failed to remove the pending WC designation, as required by POMS, from almost 9,000 title II disability cases after SSA personnel resolved WC issues. We believe this hinders SSA's ability to effectively manage its WC workload.

We also estimated there were about 17,890 cases for which SSA personnel had information that WC was not an issue when applicants filed for title II disability benefits. However, SSA classified the cases as having pending WC issues because MCS automatically designated them as such when claimants stated they had work-related injuries. We found that WC was not an issue in these cases because claimants had received company disability insurance, sick pay, or other benefits that were exempt from WC; were self-employed and not self-insured for WC; or had not filed for WC within the statute of limitations. We believe SSA should consider systems enhancements that detect such situations and exclude them from further review.

Knowing the correct status of title II claims classified as having pending WC issues is important so SSA personnel will not retrieve and analyze cases that no longer require development. SSA personnel agreed that knowing the correct status would assist them in effectively managing the growing WC workload.

CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS

If SSA does not take a proactive role in properly managing its pending WC workload, it will continue to build a significant backlog of pending WC cases and pay millions of dollars in title II disability overpayments. Accordingly, we encourage SSA to expeditiously implement an automated process whereby the Agency can systematically and routinely follow up on cases with pending WC issues.

We recommend that SSA:

1. Initiate actions to recover the 10 title II disability overpayments we identified, where feasible.

2. Take steps to reduce its backlog of title II disability cases having pending WC issues.

3. Develop and implement an automated process to ensure the Agency systematically and routinely follows up on new pending WC cases.

4. Explore systems enhancements that would detect situations in which WC is not applicable to prevent personnel from retrieving and analyzing cases that no longer require development.

AGENCY COMMENTS

SSA generally agreed with our recommendations. Regarding Recommendation 1, SSA stated it began recovery action for the 10 cases prior to issuance of the audit report and has completed 8 of the 10 cases with the remaining cases to be completed by the end of June 2003. Regarding Recommendation 2, SSA stated it started a study on
April 24, 2003 to detect high-risk and high-payoff cases. SSA expects to complete the study by the end of fiscal year 2003, at which time it will use the results to develop a plan for handling categories of cases where additional processing would be cost effective. Regarding Recommendations 3 and 4, SSA stated it will evaluate and consider any programming issues once it completes the study indicated in Recommendation 2.

The full text of SSA's comments is included in Appendix C.

OIG RESPONSE

We believe SSA's response and planned actions adequately address Recommendations 1 and 2. However, we believe SSA's response to Recommendations 3 and 4 does not effectively respond to our goal of preventing title II disability overpayments and effectively managing the WC workload.

Regarding SSA's response to Recommendation 3, we acknowledge SSA's efforts in detecting high-risk and high-payoff WC cases and developing a plan for handling categories of cases where additional processing would be cost effective. While we believe these initiatives are useful, they only address the Agency's existing pending WC workload. It is unclear how the study results will address the preventive nature of our recommendation. The intent of Recommendation 3 is to encourage the Agency to systematically and routinely follow up on new pending WC cases so that it can make timely adjustments to benefits and avoid overpayments. Accordingly, we ask SSA to commit the necessary resources to expeditiously develop and implement an automated process to address this issue.

Regarding SSA's response to Recommendation 4, we acknowledge SSA's efforts to study its pending WC workload. However, it is unclear how the study results will assist SSA in managing its pending WC workload by detecting situations in which WC is not applicable. As discussed in this report, not knowing the correct status of cases with pending WC issues hinders SSA's ability to effectively manage its WC workload. Knowing the correct status of pending WC cases is important so SSA personnel will not retrieve and analyze cases that no longer require development. Accordingly, we encourage SSA to commit the necessary resources to identify systems enhancements that would detect situations in which WC is not applicable.

James G. Huse, Jr.

Appendices

APPENDIX A - Sample Methodology

APPENDIX B - Sample Appraisal

APPENDIX C - Agency Comments

APPENDIX D - OIG Contacts and Staff Acknowledgments

Appendix A
Sample Methodology

We obtained a data extract of 179,284 title II disability cases with pending workers' compensation (WC) issues as of July 2001. From this extract, we reviewed a statistical sample of 100 pending WC cases aged 2 to 19 years and 30 cases aged 20 to 39 years. We found that 10 of the 100 sampled cases resulted in title II disability overpayments. None of the 30 sampled cases resulted in overpayments. See Appendix B for our sample appraisal.

Aging (years) Year of
Application Number of
Title II
Cases Number of Title II Cases Reviewed
by the Office of the Inspector General Number of Cases
with Title II Overpayments
02 1999 15,012 8 0
03 1998 13,898 8 2
04 1997 13,173 7 2
05 1996 12,833 7 1
06 1995 12,826 7 0
07 1994 16,767 9 0
08 1993 16,033 9 1
09 1992 15,364 9 0
10 1991 13,471 8 1
11 1990 11,258 6 1
12 1989 8,320 5 0
13 1988 6,232 3 1
14 1987 6,031 3 1
15 1986 5,751 3 0
16 1985 4,781 3 0
17 1984 3,815 2 0
18 1983 2,850 2 0
19 1982 485 1 0
Subtotals 178,900 100 10
20 - 39 1962-1981 384 30 0
Totals 179,284 130 10

Appendix B
Sample Appraisal

Results and Projections

Population size in items 178,900
Sample size in items 100
Attribute Projections
Sample cases - Number of title II beneficiaries overpaid because of unreported Workers' Compensation (WC) payments 10
Projection - Number of title II beneficiaries overpaid because of unreported WC payments 17,890
Projection lower limit 9,888
Projection upper limit 29,286
Variable Projections
Sample cases - Title II overpayments resulting from unreported WC payments $67,537
Projection - Title II overpayments resulting from unreported WC payments $ 120,823,693
Projection lower limit $ 24,508,353
Projection upper limit $ 217,139,033

We made all projections at the 90-percent confidence level.

Appendix C
Agency Comments

SOCIAL SECURITY

MEMORANDUM

Date: May 19, 2003

To: James G. Huse, Jr.
Inspector General

From: Larry W. Dye
Chief of Staff

Subject: Office of the Inspector General Draft Report, "Pending Workers' Compensation: The Social Security Administration Can Prevent Millions in Title II Disability Overpayments" (A-08-02-12064)-INFORMATION

We appreciate OIG's efforts in conducting this review. Our comments on the recommendations are attached.

Please let us know if we can be of further assistance. Staff questions can be referred to Janet Carbonara at extension 53568.

SSA Response

COMMENTS ON THE OFFICE OF THE INSPECTOR GENERAL (OIG) DRAFT REPORT, "PENDING WORKERS' COMPENSATION: THE SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION (SSA) CAN PREVENT MILLIONS IN TITLE II DISABILITY OVERPAYMENTS" A-08-02-12064

We appreciate the opportunity to comment on this draft report.

Recommendation 1

Initiate actions to recover the 10 title II disability overpayments that were identified, where feasible.

Comment

SSA began the recovery action for the 10 cases prior to the audit report being issued. Currently 8 of the 10 cases have been completed with the remaining cases to be completed by the end of June 2003.

Recommendation 2

Take steps to reduce its backlog of title II disability cases having pending workers' compensation (WC) issues.

Comment

SSA started a study on April 24, 2003 to detect high-risk and high-payoff cases. The study will require an estimated 5 months to complete because some of the cases will require extensive development to obtain up-to-date workers' compensation information. The study is expected to be completed by the end of fiscal year 2003, at which time we will use the results to develop a plan for handling categories of cases where additional processing would be cost effective.

Recommendation 3

Develop and implement an automated process to ensure the Agency systematically and routinely follows up on new pending WC cases.

Comment

Once the study indicated in recommendation 2 is complete, we will evaluate and consider any programming issues.

Recommendation 4

Explore systems enhancements that would detect situations in which WC is not applicable to prevent personnel from retrieving and analyzing cases that no longer require development.

Comment

Once the study indicated in recommendation 2 is complete, we will evaluate and consider any programming issues.

Appendix D
OIG Contacts and Staff Acknowledgments

OIG Contacts
Walter Bayer, Director, (215) 597-4080
Jeff Pounds, Deputy Director, (205) 801-1606

Acknowledgments

In addition to the persons named above:

Charles Lober, Senior Auditor
Susan Phillips, Auditor
Kimberly Beauchamp, Writer-Editor

For additional copies of this report, please visit our web site at www.ssa.gov/oig or contact the Office of the Inspector General's Public Affairs Specialist at (410) 966-1375. Refer to Common Identification Number A-08-02-12064.

Overview of the Office of the Inspector General

Office of Audit

The Office of Audit (OA) conducts comprehensive financial and performance audits of the Social Security Administration's (SSA) programs and makes recommendations to ensure that program objectives are achieved effectively and efficiently. Financial audits, required by the Chief Financial Officers' Act of 1990, assess whether SSA's financial statements fairly present the Agency's financial position, results of operations and cash flow. Performance audits review the economy, efficiency and effectiveness of SSA's programs. OA also conducts short-term management and program evaluations focused on issues of concern to SSA, Congress and the general public. Evaluations often focus on identifying and recommending ways to prevent and minimize program fraud and inefficiency, rather than detecting problems after they occur.

Office of Executive Operations

The Office of Executive Operations (OEO) supports the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) by providing information resource management; systems security; and the coordination of budget, procurement, telecommunications, facilities and equipment, and human resources. In addition, this office is the focal point for the OIG's strategic planning function and the development and implementation of performance measures required by the Government Performance and Results Act. OEO is also responsible for performing internal reviews to ensure that OIG offices nationwide hold themselves to the same rigorous standards that we expect from SSA, as well as conducting investigations of OIG employees, when necessary. Finally, OEO administers OIG's public affairs, media, and interagency activities, coordinates responses to Congressional requests for information, and also communicates OIG's planned and current activities and their results to the Commissioner and Congress.

Office of Investigations

The Office of Investigations (OI) conducts and coordinates investigative activity related to fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement of SSA programs and operations. This includes wrongdoing by applicants, beneficiaries, contractors, physicians, interpreters, representative payees, third parties, and by SSA employees in the performance of their duties. OI also conducts joint investigations with other Federal, State, and local law enforcement agencies.

Counsel to the Inspector General

The Counsel to the Inspector General provides legal advice and counsel to the Inspector General on various matters, including: 1) statutes, regulations, legislation, and policy directives governing the administration of SSA's programs; 2) investigative procedures and techniques; and 3) legal implications and conclusions to be drawn from audit and investigative material produced by the OIG. The Counsel's office also administers the civil monetary penalty program.