Social Security Faces $1.1 Billion in Improper Payments Due to Record Backlog
A backlog of 5.2 million cases has led to significant overpayments and underpayments, impacting hundreds of thousands of beneficiaries.
- The Social Security Administration's backlog has reached an all-time high, with 5.2 million pending actions.
- Improper payments, both overpayments and underpayments, have totaled $1.1 billion between 2018 and 2023.
- Staff shortages, increased workloads, and insufficient overtime funding have exacerbated processing delays.
- Beneficiaries often face financial hardship due to delayed corrections of payment errors.
- The SSA is implementing new policies to address overpayment recovery and improve processing times.
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