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Sociul Security Tightening

Click to see original imageThe drive to reduce waste, fraud and abuse within the federal government has turned up disclosures that Social Security benefits have been sent to many “deceased recipients.” This has prompted social security to redouble its efforts to keep records current, but it also puts a finger on another problem: Lack of moral responsibility on the part of individuals who apparently fail to report a death promptly and appropriate the checks to their own use. Congress, in December action ordering the $122 minimum Social Security benefit restored, called for a report within 90 days on the effort to prevent S.S. payments from being sent to people now deceased. Meantime, Rep. Robert L. Livingston, R-La., has sponsored a bill (H. R. ’50’16) which would coordinate federal and state efforts to improve the checking system. Rep. Lynn Martin, R-111.. a co-sponsor of the bill. estimated in a Congressional Record statement that “these continuing benefit payments are running up a national tab of $60 million annually to the Social Security system.” Mrs. Martin said that in her state, an examination of 500 suspect cases indicated that almost 300 recipients were proven to have been deceased “anywhere from six months to nine years.” A Social Security source conceded that with more than 35 million people receiving benefits, possibilities exist for error. but claimed that in many suspect cases the problem involves name mix-ups people with the same names. etc. – rather than fraud or abuse. The system checks a variety of reports, including medicare records and death certificates. When it is discovered payment hasn’t been stopped promptly with the death of a recipient, steps for restitution are taken, which often can be accomplished by withholding other benefits going to the same family. Social Security had a 1981 budget of about $189 billion second only to defense, Mrs. Martin said. The massive system needs to plug every loophole for abuse to operate efficiently and economically. But the people throughout America have a responsibility. too. To fail to report a change in status e such as a death – and then wrongfully accept a benefit amounts to a flagrant violation that deserves stern measures.