zimmytws | iStock | Getty ImagesThe Social Security Administration faces a "record-breaking backlog" of open cases, leading to approximately $1.1 billion in projected improper payments to beneficiaries, according to a new report from the Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General.
Of those that were improper payment cases, the average processing time was 698 days, according to a sample evaluated by SSA OIG.
Improper payment includes overpayments, where beneficiaries are paid more than they should be, as well as underpayments, where payments to beneficiaries may be erroneously reduced.
watch nowIf the pending cases had been resolved immediately, about 528,000 beneficiaries would have been improperly paid about $534 million, the report estimated.
After 12 months, that improper payment amount for those beneficiaries rose to about $756 million.
Persons:
Paul Van de Water, Van, Water
Organizations:
iStock, Social Security Administration, Social Security Administration Office, SSA, Budget