Social Security Administration's Progress in Modernizing Its Computer Operations

Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO reported on the Social Security Administration's (SSA) computer system's flexibility to handle legislative changes promptly and efficiently and its security. There were also concerns about: (1) a shift in emphasis and direction in the SSA Systems Modernization Plan (SMP); (2) whether the existing system was adequately documented to permit development of an improved new system; and (3) SSA failure to assign personal identification numbers to trace particular transactions. In addition, GAO investigated SSA implementation of the 1099 reporting requirement, which requires issuance of reports to beneficiaries and to the Internal Revenue Service on SSA payments to beneficiaries, as a test of the system's legislative flexibility.

GAO found that: (1) SSA has made significant progress in improving its hardware deficiencies through its acquisition of new computers and the conversion of its data files from tape to disk; (2) the goals of modernizing data communications and database management have been delayed; (3) SSA has not made sufficient progress in improving its software; (4) the 1099 implementation, although completed on time, required SSA to create a new system and only partially demonstrated improvement in its capability to respond to legislative changes requiring modifications to existing systems; and (5) SSA automated systems remained vulnerable to fraud, even though improvements were made. GAO also found that there was a significant redirection in the SSA approach to software improvement because: (1) it initiated system redesign efforts before completing software standards and improvements; and (2) it decided not to fully document all existing software programs because of resource limitations and other higher priority work. GAO believes that this approach could be risky and could result in continued inadequate responses to legislative changes. GAO also believes that SSA will not achieve the desired legislative flexibility until effective implementation of the software program is completed.

Recommendations

Our recommendations from this work are listed below with a Contact for more information. Status will change from "In process" to "Open," "Closed - implemented," or "Closed - not implemented" based on our follow up work.

Director: Melroy D. Quasney Team: General Accounting Office: Information Management and Technology Division Phone: (202) 275-4659