Another Government Department Bumbles Billions

Social Security made improper payments in 2009 to the tune of $8 billion

Social Security made $8 billion in improper payments in 2009. The administration forked over $6.5 billion in over-payments while underpaying some recipients to the tune of $1.5 billion, a government investigator told Congress on Tuesday. 

Of the over payments, $4 billion were under a supplemental income program for the very poor, Patrick P. O’Carroll Jr., the inspector general for the Social Security Administration, told a congressional panel.

"By any standard, the scope of these problems is considerable,"  Rep. Charles Boustany (R-La.), chairman of the House Ways and Means Oversight subcommittee said, according to the Associated Press.

"Regardless of whether a payment occurs because of simple error or outright fraud, improper payments harm Social Security programs in the long term, jeopardizing benefits for those who may need them in the future. They also cost taxpayers billions of dollars each year," Boustany said.

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washington/2011/06/social-security-payments.html