Social Security

Growing financial and administrative problems have plagued the Social Security Administration's (SSA) disability programs in recent years. In fiscal year 1992, applications for disability benefits reached an all-time high, as did the time it took SSA to process them. To keep up with the surge in claims, SSA has shifted resources from its continuing disability reviews, which ensure that people receiving government disability benefits are still eligible. GAO remains concerned that SSA has not been doing all the continuing disability reviews required by law. Although SSA is developing ways to better target continuing disability reviews to make more efficient use of its resources, many individuals who are no longer disabled will continue to receive benefits for years to come unless more continuing disability reviews are done. Even in the current environment of large workloads and tight budgets, SSA should continue to explore ways to refine its continuing disability review process and increase reviews beyond current levels.