June Hearings on The Social Security Administration (SSA)

In June of 2013, Congress held several hearings on Social Security-related issues. Here’s a brief look at three of them:

On June 5th, The House Ways and Means Social Security Subcommittee held a hearing on the general difficulties inherent in administrating the Social Security Administration’s (SSA) representative payee system (when an authorized representative collects and manages benefits on a recipient’s behalf) and on the specific pressures facing the representative payee system in the face of an aging baby boomer population.

On June 19th, same House subcommittee held a hearing on developing and improving return-to-work programs within the Social Security Administration (SSA). The Subcommittee heard testimony from a variety of witnesses including economists and disability benefit recipients, and explored ways to help citizens receiving disability benefits find ways to remain in, or return to the workforce as a means of improving quality of life.

Also on June 19th, the Senate Special Committee on Aging held a hearing on the rising incidence of fraud – via identity theft – in the electronic payment of benefits. The Committee heard from a number of witnesses including victims of electronic payment fraud, representatives from the SSA and the Treasury, public policy experts, and claimant representatives. The Committee explored the steps the SSA is taking to assist victims of fraud, and to reduce, and ultimately prevent fraudulent electronic payments in the future.