Preserving Public Trust in Social Security

The Social Security Administration recently released its strategic plan for the next five years. This plan entails four strategic goals: 1) Eliminating the hearing backlog and preventing its reoccurrence; 2) Improving the speed and quality of the disability process; 3) Improving its retiree and other core services; and 4) preserving the public's trust in its programs. This article will focus on the last of these goals, and detail how and why this goal is of critical importance in today's economic climate.

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Social Security currently pays 650 billion dollars in benefits to 60 billion Americans. This expenditure equals 20% of all federal spending(1) and 5% of the United State's gross national product. This money primarily comes from individual taxpayers through payroll deductions, self-employment taxes, or income tax.

(1)When Medicare and Medicaid is accounted for, this figure rises to 44% of the federal government's spending.

To maintain public trust in a program that accounts for such a large part of the federal budget, the Administration has set articulated a number of objectives. The first objective is to curb improper payments. One area in particular the Administration feels that improvement can be made is reducing improper payments in the Supplemental Security Income program. This can be accomplished through conducting periodic non-disability redeterminations to review the recipient's circumstances and determine continued eligibility.

Another objective is to protect Social Security programs from waste, fraud and abuse. Fraud is particular damaging to public trust as it often receives widespread notoriety. Thus strong deterrent is needed. To protect against fraud, the Administration has an ongoing partnership with the Office of the Inspector General and vigorously pursues prosecution of individuals who have committed improper acts.

Ensuring privacy and security of personal information is obviously of crucial importance, and in fact was the subject of Social Security's first regulation. To ensure continued confidentiality of information, the Administration will improve its encryption practices, conduct additional trainings for its employees and hold them accountable for safeguarding personally identifiable information, and conduct rigorous annual security reviews of systems and programs.

Finally, the Administration is also making it a point of emphasis to maintain accurate earnings records, simplify and streamline its work processes, and use "green" solutions to improve the environment.

The Administration is confident that by meeting these objectives, it can show the public that, despite the enormous responsibility entrusted the Administration bears, it has the skill and ability to manage the system with the utmost efficiency and care.

Have you been denied or experiencing issues with your disability claim benefits? Contact our social security attorneys for help regarding your disability claim today!

Always consult with an experienced social security disability professional when you need help getting your disability benefits!