For thousands, Social Security checks aren’t even in the mail

The Social Security Administration’s internal watchdog has bit it, again, for shortchanging beneficiaries, this time as employee and advocacy groups are pushing for the removal of its political appointees.

A report from the agency’s inspector general’s office is replete with complaints about the agency failing to make people whole.

Based on random sampling outlined in its Dec. 11 report, the inspector general estimated that the Social Security Administration (SSA) did not issue payments to 27,724 eligible recipients owed $52.1 million and did not locate 17,772 people eligible for approximately $90.4 million.

In one case, inspectors sampled 71 underpaid beneficiaries in October 2019 and April 2020, but the agency did little to make things right. “As of September 2020,” according to the report, “SSA took action to pay underpayments for six cases. SSA had not taken corrective action for the remaining 65.” A Social Security statement said the agency is reviewing the remaining cases. Its assurance that SSA “will complete corrective actions in accordance with policy” provides nothing now for those with long waits and little savings.