Better technology will keep benefits out of fugitives' hands, GAO says

Technology and leadership problems are hindering a program aimed at preventing fugitives from getting federal benefits, according to a new report from the General Accounting Office.

The Social Security Administration's fugitive felon program has helped ferret out more than 45,000 fugitives who have received nearly $82 million in Social Security benefits over the past six years, GAO found. But poor information sharing with law enforcement agencies and a lack of leadership from SSA threaten the program, the report concluded. "Most of the essential tasks of sharing and verifying information are performed manually," the report said. "SSA currently lacks the capability to accept warrant information from law enforcement agencies online." SSA matches warrant information from the FBI, the Marshals Service and state and local law enforcement agencies against its records to keep fugitives from getting Social Security benefits.

As a result, SSA's partners must download information from their systems and mail or hand-deliver the information to the agency. The SSA's computer systems are also not compatible with the FBI's, which makes exchanging information even harder.

"Collectively, the manual activities in processing warrant information have resulted in an inefficient and time-consuming operation that, based on our analysis of the process used, can take up to 165 days to complete," according to the report.

Some state law enforcement agencies are hesitant to form partnerships with SSA because they do not have the extra resources needed to compile and send the information to the agency. Consequently, SSA has also not been able to gather comprehensive felony warrant information from all 50 states.

Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, who held a hearing on the issue last year, called on SSA to quickly iron out the program's wrinkles. "The taxpayers are ripped off when fugitives collect payments they don't deserve," he said. "Fugitives from justice don't need a government subsidy to enjoy life on the lam."

For long-term success, GAO recommended that Social Security Commissioner Jo Anne Barnhart designate a program management office and program manager to oversee and direct the fugitive felon program.

GAO also suggested that SSA conduct a detailed assessment of the program's operations and performance, examining the program's information flow, time frame, costs, workload and benefits. The report also recommended that the agency move ahead with automating the program.

"The bottom line is, this program has to work to protect taxpayers," Grassley said. "I'm hopeful SSA will give these recommendations every consideration."

But Barnhart was disappointed in the report's findings and disagreed with most of GAO's recommendations.

"We wish to express our disappointment in the report, as it implied that neither SSA nor the Office of Inspector General has a vision for this program," the commissioner said in a written response to the report. "SSA works diligently to make this program a success."