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Committee on Ways and Means
 Subcommittee on Human Resources

For Immediate Release
Contact: Press Office 202-225-8933
July 22, 2002

WASHINGTON-This week, the Subcommittee on Human Resources will hold a hearing to investigate fraud and abuse within the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Program.

Welfare reform and related legislation in recent years made numerous changes designed to prevent fraud and abuse in the SSI Program. For example, eligibility was narrowed to ensure that prisoners, fugitives, and drug addicts, among others, did not receive monthly "disability" checks. Despite these improvements, a January 2001 General Accounting Office (GAO) report continued to list SSI as a program with high risk of waste, fraud, abuse, and mismanagement.

“We have worked hard in recent years to combat fraud and abuse in SSI, saving taxpayers billions of dollars in the process,” Chairman Herger said. “This hearing will review changes already made to improve the integrity of the SSI program and, more importantly, what remains to be done. Especially when SSI remains at high risk of fraud and abuse, our Subcommittee should explore every way to tighten the program to reassure recipients and taxpayers alike that benefits are going to intended recipients.”