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Social Security IG: 'Supplemental Security Income Recipients' Vehicle Ownership'
WOODLAWN, Maryland, Sept. 28 (TNSLrpt) -- The Social Security Administration Inspector General issued an audit report (No. 022514) on Sept. 15, 2026, entitled "Supplemental Security Income Recipients' Vehicle Ownership."
Here are excerpts:
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AUDIT REPORT
OBJECTIVES
Our objectives were to determine whether (1) Supplemental Security Income (SSI) recipients accurately reported vehicle ownership to the Social Security Administration (SSA) and (2) the Agency properly valued multiple vehicles when recipients reported more than one.
BACKGROUND
SSA administers the SSI program to provide monthly
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WOODLAWN, Maryland, Sept. 28 (TNSLrpt) -- The Social Security Administration Inspector General issued an audit report (No. 022514) on Sept. 15, 2026, entitled "Supplemental Security Income Recipients' Vehicle Ownership."
Here are excerpts:
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AUDIT REPORT
OBJECTIVES
Our objectives were to determine whether (1) Supplemental Security Income (SSI) recipients accurately reported vehicle ownership to the Social Security Administration (SSA) and (2) the Agency properly valued multiple vehicles when recipients reported more than one.
BACKGROUND
SSA administers the SSI program to provide monthlypayments to people who have limited income and resources and are aged, blind, or disabled. 1 In June 2026, the Agency reportedly issued about $5.8 billion in SSI payments to approximately 7 million recipients. 2
Because SSI is a needs-based program, SSA considers recipients' resources at the beginning of each month when it determines their eligibility for SSI payments. 3 Individuals with countable resources valued above $2,000, and couples with countable resources valued above $3,000, are not eligible for SSI payments. 4
SSA policy defines a resource as cash, liquid assets, and real or personal property, including vehicles, recipients could convert to cash to provide for their needs. 5 SSA does not count one vehicle per household as a resource, regardless of value, when an eligible recipient, couple, or a household member uses that vehicle for transportation. 6 SSA generally views additional vehicles as countable resources when it determines SSI eligibility. 7
SSA relies on recipients to report the vehicles they own, and it does not independently verify vehicle ownership or identify additional vehicles that recipients own but do not report. However, if an employee suspects a recipient owns a vehicle they did not report, the employee may verify state vehicle title and registration information from third parties. 8
When recipients report they own multiple vehicles, policy requires that SSA employees verify their fair market values and exclude the vehicle with the highest equity value. 9 Employees may obtain vehicle values from a subscription-based online search tool or, if there is no search available, they may contact a knowledgeable source, such as a vehicle dealership or insurance company. 10
SSA relies on recipients to report changes in their vehicle ownership. 11 If recipients do not report to SSA that they have acquired a vehicle, the total value of their resources may exceed the SSI limit without SSA's knowledge. 12 As a result, they may continue receiving SSI payments even though they are no longer eligible. 13 If this happens, they may have to pay back overpayments, have penalties deducted from their SSI payments, or lose SSI eligibility.
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The report is posted at: https://oig.ssa.gov/~assets/audits/full/022514.pdf
Social Security IG: 'Supplemental Security Income Earnings Alerts'
WOODLAWN, Maryland, Sept. 28 (TNSLrpt) -- The Social Security Administration Inspector General issued an audit report (No. 022310) on Sept. 15, 2026, entitled "Supplemental Security Income Earnings Alerts."
Here are excerpts:
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Objective
To determine whether the Social Security Administration (SSA) resolved earnings alerts for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) recipients that remained pending as of September 2024.
Background
The SSI program provides monthly cash assistance to people who are aged, blind, or disabled and have limited income and resources.
SSA evaluates income monthly.
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WOODLAWN, Maryland, Sept. 28 (TNSLrpt) -- The Social Security Administration Inspector General issued an audit report (No. 022310) on Sept. 15, 2026, entitled "Supplemental Security Income Earnings Alerts."
Here are excerpts:
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Objective
To determine whether the Social Security Administration (SSA) resolved earnings alerts for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) recipients that remained pending as of September 2024.
Background
The SSI program provides monthly cash assistance to people who are aged, blind, or disabled and have limited income and resources.
SSA evaluates income monthly.Generally, as a recipient's income increases, their SSI payment decreases. If a recipient's income exceeds allowable limits in a month, the recipient is not eligible for SSI payments for that month.
To maintain accurate earnings information, SSA uses the earnings alert system to identify discrepancies between a recipient's reported and actual wages. A discrepancy occurs when a recipient's actual earnings differ from the earnings SSA used to calculate the SSI payment.
We identified 417,291 SSI recipients who had at least 1 pending earnings alert on their record as of September 2024. We randomly selected 100 of these recipients to determine whether SSA took appropriate action to resolve the alerts.
Results
SSA employees resolved earnings alerts for 20 of the 100 recipients we reviewed. However, Agency employees did not resolve earnings alerts for 80 recipients who had at least 1 earnings alert pending as of September 2024.
* For 63 recipients, SSA employees did not start reviews of 37 earnings alerts and did not complete their reviews of 26 earnings alerts. As of April 2025, the 63 earnings alerts remained pending.
* For 17 recipients, SSA employees cleared the earnings alerts but did not verify and record all earnings that affected the SSI payment amounts.
The results of our current review indicate actions the Agency took in response to our prior review were not sufficient, as employees still were not taking appropriate actions to resolve earnings alerts.
Based on our sample results, we estimate SSA paid about 333,800 recipients approximately $1 billion that they would not have been eligible to receive had the Agency properly considered and fully developed their unreported earnings when it determined their SSI eligibility and associated payment amounts. Agency employees did not complete, or incorrectly completed, earnings reviews and eligibility determinations, which led SSA to issue these payments. Because of SSA's administrative finality policy, it will be unable to recover approximately $664 million of these payments, absent a determination of fraud or similar fault. SSA should be able to take corrective action on the remaining approximately $344 million.
Recommendations
We made three recommendations for SSA to review and take corrective action on errors our audit identified, identify the factors contributing to employees not diligently pursuing earnings alerts or not accurately resolving them, and implement appropriate corrective action.
SSA agreed to implement our recommendations.
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The report is posted at: https://oig.ssa.gov/~assets/audits/full/022310.pdf
Social Security IG: 'Single Audit of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico Department of the Family for the Fiscal Year Ended June 30, 2024'
WOODLAWN, Maryland, Sept. 28 (TNSLrpt) -- The Social Security Administration Inspector General issued an audit report (No. 772675) on Sept. 11, 2026, entitled "Single Audit of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico Department of the Family for the Fiscal Year Ended June 30, 2024."
Here are excerpts:
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This memorandum presents the Social Security Administration's (SSA) portion of the single audit of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico Department of the Family for the Fiscal Year ended June 30, 2024.
The firm CPA Diaz-Martinez, CSP conducted the audit. Our objective was to report internal control weaknesses,
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WOODLAWN, Maryland, Sept. 28 (TNSLrpt) -- The Social Security Administration Inspector General issued an audit report (No. 772675) on Sept. 11, 2026, entitled "Single Audit of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico Department of the Family for the Fiscal Year Ended June 30, 2024."
Here are excerpts:
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This memorandum presents the Social Security Administration's (SSA) portion of the single audit of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico Department of the Family for the Fiscal Year ended June 30, 2024.
The firm CPA Diaz-Martinez, CSP conducted the audit. Our objective was to report internal control weaknesses,noncompliance issues, and unallowable costs identified in the single audit to SSA for resolution.
BACKGROUND
A single audit is an organization-wide financial statement and Federal awards audit of a non-Federal entity that expends $1 million or more in Federal funds in 1 year. It is intended to assure the Government that the non-Federal entity has adequate internal controls in place and is generally in compliance with program requirements. Non-Federal entities typically include state and local governments, Indian tribes, universities, and nonprofit organizations.
For single audit purposes, the General Services Administration maintains a list of all Federal programs in the Federal Assistance Listing. SSA's Disability Insurance and Supplemental Security Income programs are identified under listing number 96. SSA is responsible for resolving single audit findings reported under this listing number.
The Puerto Rico Disability Determination Services (DDS) performs disability determinations under SSA's Disability Insurance and Supplemental Security Income programs in accordance with Federal regulations. SSA reimburses the DDS for 100 percent of allowable costs.
The Puerto Rico Department of the Family (PRDF) is the Puerto Rico DDS' parent agency.
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The report is posted at: https://oig.ssa.gov/~assets/audits/full/772675.pdf
Social Security IG: 'Payments to Student Beneficiaries'
WOODLAWN, Maryland, Sept. 28 (TNSLrpt) -- The Social Security Administration Inspector General issued an audit report (No. 022515) on Sept. 23, 2026, entitled "Payments to Student Beneficiaries."
Here are excerpts:
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Objective
To determine whether the Social Security Administration (SSA) accurately paid student benefits to eligible beneficiaries.
Background
The Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance (OASDI) program provides monthly benefits to retired and disabled workers and their dependents as well as the survivors of deceased workers. The minor child of an insured worker may
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WOODLAWN, Maryland, Sept. 28 (TNSLrpt) -- The Social Security Administration Inspector General issued an audit report (No. 022515) on Sept. 23, 2026, entitled "Payments to Student Beneficiaries."
Here are excerpts:
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Objective
To determine whether the Social Security Administration (SSA) accurately paid student benefits to eligible beneficiaries.
Background
The Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance (OASDI) program provides monthly benefits to retired and disabled workers and their dependents as well as the survivors of deceased workers. The minor child of an insured worker mayreceive Social Security benefits until they reach age 18. A child beneficiary may continue receiving benefits after they reach age 18 if they qualify as a student beneficiary.
Before an eligible child beneficiary turns 18 and OASDI benefits terminate, SSA sends the beneficiary a Form SSA-1372, Advance Notice of Termination of Child's Benefits.
The beneficiary must complete the Form and have a school official certify the information. The beneficiary then submits the completed Form and SSA uses the information to determine eligibility for continued benefits.
We identified 521,393 beneficiaries who were entitled to student benefits for 1 or more months from January 2022 through December 2024. We randomly selected 100 of these beneficiaries to determine whether SSA accurately paid student benefits to eligible beneficiaries.
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Results
Of the 100 beneficiaries we reviewed, SSA correctly paid benefits to 71 in accordance with policy. However, SSA did not correctly pay benefits to 17 beneficiaries. In addition, SSA did not retain documentation to support benefit payments to 12 beneficiaries.
SSA did not correctly pay benefits to 17 beneficiaries as follows.
* For nine, beneficiaries and school officials did not provide SSA accurate or current school attendance information that affected eligibility for student benefits, and SSA was unaware the information contained errors.
* For eight, SSA employees did not correctly use available school attendance and graduation information to determine the duration of student benefit eligibility.
In addition, SSA employees did not retain completed Forms SSA-1372 for 12 of the 100 beneficiaries, as required.
Without evidence, we could not determine whether the individuals were entitled to the student benefits SSA paid them. As a result, SSA improperly paid beneficiaries $49,447 and could not support an additional $93,466 in benefit payments.
Based on our sample results, we estimate SSA improperly paid approximately $211 million to about 89,000 beneficiaries.
In addition, we estimate SSA made approximately $342 million in unsupported payments to about 63,000 student beneficiaries.
Recommendations
We made three recommendations for SSA to review and take corrective action on errors our audit identified and identify factors that contribute to (a) beneficiaries and school officials not reporting changes in school attendance or graduation dates that affect eligibility for student benefits, (b) employees not accurately terminating student benefits at the correct time, and (c) employees not retaining completed Forms SSA-1372 in SSA systems, and take appropriate corrective actions. SSA agreed with our recommendations.
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The report is posted at: https://oig.ssa.gov/~assets/audits/full/022515.pdf
SBA IG: 'Small Business Lending Companies' Performance in the 7(a) Loan Program and SBA's Oversight'
WASHINGTON, Sept. 28 (TNSrep) -- The Small Business Administration Inspector General issued the following report (No. 26-14) entitled "Small Business Lending Companies' Performance in the 7(a) Loan Program and SBA's Oversight."
Here are excerpts:
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What OIG Reviewed
A Small Business Lending Company (SBLC) is a non-depository lending institution the Small Business Administration (SBA) licenses and authorizes to make 7 (a) loans. From fiscal years (FY) 2016 to 2023, SBLCs approved and disbursed 11,068 7(a) loans, totaling $9.5 billion.
As of April 5, 2025, there were 16 SBLC licenses. SBA's
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WASHINGTON, Sept. 28 (TNSrep) -- The Small Business Administration Inspector General issued the following report (No. 26-14) entitled "Small Business Lending Companies' Performance in the 7(a) Loan Program and SBA's Oversight."
Here are excerpts:
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What OIG Reviewed
A Small Business Lending Company (SBLC) is a non-depository lending institution the Small Business Administration (SBA) licenses and authorizes to make 7 (a) loans. From fiscal years (FY) 2016 to 2023, SBLCs approved and disbursed 11,068 7(a) loans, totaling $9.5 billion.
As of April 5, 2025, there were 16 SBLC licenses. SBA'sOffice of Credit Risk Management (OCRM) monitors and supervises SBLCs and oversees their performance in the 7(a) loan program by performing lender portal data analysis, riskbased reviews, and safety and soundness exams.
Our objective was to assess SBLCs' performance in the 7(a) loan program and SBA's oversight of SBLCs to ensure program integrity and mitigate financial loss.
What OIG Found
Opportunities exist for SBA to improve SBLCs' 7(a) loan portfolio performance and its oversight of SBLCs. Our analysis of 7(a) loans approved and disbursed from FYs 2016 to 2023 identified that loans made by SBLCs significantly underperformed, related to default rates, compared to loans made by other lender types.
Additionally, early defaults increased substantially for loans made by SBLCs during this same period.
As of March 31, 2025, SBLCs' 7(a) loan portfolio default rate was 14.97 percent compared to 9.79 percent for other lender types (53 percent higher). Similarly, the early default rate for 7(a) loans made by SBLCs was 5.38 percent, more than double the 2.62 percent early default rate for loans made by other lender types.
While OCRM monitored SBLCs' 7(a) loan portfolio performance, it did not sufficiently assess the root cause of the SBLCs' loan portfolio underperformance, related to default rates, to mitigate the risk of loans made by SBLCs continuing to underperform.
In addition, although OCRM reviewed SBLCs' compliance with program requirements, our evaluation found that the two SBLCs accounting for more than 80 percent of SBLCs' defaults and early defaults continued to have repeated categories of deficiencies across multiple years.
OCRM's monitoring procedures were not sufficient to ensure SBLCs implemented appropriate corrective actions to mitigate the risk of similar future loan deficiencies and financial loss. Lastly, we noted that OCRM has not conducted safety and soundness examinations of SBLCs since April 4, 2023, due to contractual issues.
Insufficient oversight of SBLCs increases the risk of financial loss and could negatively impact program integrity.
What OIG Recommended
We made three recommendations to improve SBLCs' 7(a) loan portfolio performance and SBA's oversight of SBLCs.
Agency Response
SBA management agreed with Recommendations 1 and 3 and partially agreed with Recommendation 2. Management's planned actions satisfy the intent of Recommendations 1, 2, and 3.
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The report is posted at: https://legacy.sba.gov/sites/default/files/2026-09/SBA%20OIG%20Report%2026-14%20-%20Small%20Business%20Lending%20Companies%E2%80%99%20Performance%20in%20the%207%28a%29%20Loan%20Program%20and%20SBA%E2%80%99s%20Oversight.pdf
[Category: IGIGRep]
SBA IG: 'Analysis of SBA's Fiscal Year 2025 Disaster Assistance Program Data'
WASHINGTON, Sept. 28 (TNSrep) -- The Small Business Administration Inspector General issued the following report (No. 26-13) entitled "Analysis of SBA's Fiscal Year 2025 Disaster Assistance Program Data."
Here are excerpts:
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What OIG Reviewed
This report presents the results of our analysis of U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) disaster loan program data for disasters declared in fiscal year (FY) 2025. Our objective was to examine disaster assistance response data for FY 2025, across the 10 SBA regions, focusing on the types of declarations and disasters, volume of disaster loan
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Sept. 28 (TNSrep) -- The Small Business Administration Inspector General issued the following report (No. 26-13) entitled "Analysis of SBA's Fiscal Year 2025 Disaster Assistance Program Data."
Here are excerpts:
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What OIG Reviewed
This report presents the results of our analysis of U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) disaster loan program data for disasters declared in fiscal year (FY) 2025. Our objective was to examine disaster assistance response data for FY 2025, across the 10 SBA regions, focusing on the types of declarations and disasters, volume of disaster loanapplications, timeliness of disaster loan application processing, and the disbursement of disaster loans.
Our intent was to provide a high-level review of disasters nationwide and to identify any data anomalies for potential future work.
To achieve our objective, we extracted and analyzed data from the Unified Lending Platform to assess loan application volume and disaster loan processing activity. We also interviewed SBA officials and reviewed applicable laws, regulations, standard operating procedures, and other SBA policies and guidance governing SBA's disaster assistance loan program.
What OIG Found
We found that SBA administered the disaster assistance loan program consistently across the nation. Specifically, there were 476 disaster declarations issued nationwide in FY 2025.
As a result, we determined SBA received
132,966 original disaster loan applications and approved 30,080 disaster loans totaling $3.6 billion. As of January 13, 2026, SBA had disbursed $1.7 billion of those approved loans.
To assess timeliness, we calculated the processing time from submission to action or decision because that reflects the full period a disaster survivor waits to learn whether their loan is approved. In contrast, the agency calculates the processing time from application acceptance to action or decision. The period between submission and acceptance includes confirming identity, fraud checks, and waiting for the applicant to provide documentation.
Using the Office of Inspector General's methodology, we determined that the overall processing time for disaster loan applications received for disasters declared in FY 2025 averaged only 15 days, and SBA processed 88 percent of the applications in our scope in 31 days or less.
Finally, while conducting our analysis, we noted that a high percentage of disaster loan applications were withdrawn in FY 2025.
SBA may withdraw an application for many reasons -- for example, when an applicant's identity cannot be verified or the agency is waiting for the applicant to provide further information. We also identified a high rate of loan withdrawals in our prior work and plan to evaluate the agency's withdrawal process in a separate review.
What OIG Recommended
We did not make any recommendations.
Agency Response
This report contains no recommendations, and the agency did not provide official comments.
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The report is posted at: https://legacy.sba.gov/sites/default/files/2026-09/SBA%20OIG%20Report%2026-13%20-%20Analysis%20of%20SBA%27s%20Fiscal%20Year%202025%20Disaster%20Assistance%20Program%20Data.pdf
[Category: IGIGRep]
Federal Housing Finance Agency IG: 'Assessment of DBR's Oversight of the FHLBank System Corporate Governance'
WASHINGTON, Sept. 28 (TNSrep) -- The Federal Housing Finance Agency Inspector General issued the following audit report (No. AUD-2026-005) entitled "Assessment of DBR's Oversight of the FHLBank System Corporate Governance".
Here are excerpts:
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PURPOSE
Each Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLBank) and the Office of Finance, collectively, the FHLBank System, have a board of directors responsible for the strategic direction of the entity and senior management responsible for implementing it. FHFA has established requirements for the boards of directors and senior management's corporate governance
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Sept. 28 (TNSrep) -- The Federal Housing Finance Agency Inspector General issued the following audit report (No. AUD-2026-005) entitled "Assessment of DBR's Oversight of the FHLBank System Corporate Governance".
Here are excerpts:
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PURPOSE
Each Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLBank) and the Office of Finance, collectively, the FHLBank System, have a board of directors responsible for the strategic direction of the entity and senior management responsible for implementing it. FHFA has established requirements for the boards of directors and senior management's corporate governanceactivities in regulation.
As part of our ongoing oversight of Division of Federal Home Loan Bank Regulation's (DBR) supervision of the FHLBank System, we performed this audit to determine whether DBR provided sufficient oversight of FHLBanks' and the Office of Finance's corporate governance from January 1, 2025, through December 31, 2025 (audit scope). FHFA's oversight of the compensation arrangements of the FHLBanks' and the Office of Finance's board of directors and senior management, while part of FHFA's oversight of corporate governance, is not included in the scope of this report. We will present our conclusions on such arrangements in a separate audit report.
RESULTS
We determined that DBR provided sufficient oversight of the FHLBank System's corporate governance during the audit scope. With exception to compensation arrangements to be reported on separately, we found that DBR's examination guidance defined needed processes and controls consistent with FHFA's corporate governance regulations and provided examiners with worksteps needed to evaluate the risks associated with the FHLBank System's corporate governance. DBR's supervisory activities during the audit scope met minimum frequency requirements. For the four examinations that we sampled, DBR: provided risk-based coverage of the FHLBank System's corporate governance; sufficiently documented independent examiner analysis to support their supervisory conclusions in accordance with its workpaper standards; identified corporate governance deficiencies which resulted in the appropriate adverse examination findings; and, fully supported the Management component rating representing the overall performance of the board of directors and senior management assigned to each sampled examination.
We made no recommendations in this report.
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The report is posted at: https://www.fhfaoig.gov/sites/default/files/AUD-2026-005.pdf
