Half of Benefit Suspensions by Social Security in Error

Government benefits to elderly and disabled poor people were incorrectly cut off in more than half the suspension cases reviewed by the Social Security Administration, the agency reported today.

A study found that agency workers were cutting off Supplemental Security Income welfare benefits without giving recipients adequate time and assistance to prove their ongoing eligibility for the program.

SSI provides a minimum income floor to 4.5 million low-income aged, blind and disabled people. Maximum monthly benefits are $368 for an individual and $553 for a couple. They will rise to $386 for an individual and $579 for a couple Jan. 1.

The study found that the number of SSI beneficiaries whose benefits were suspended for failure to cooperate with the agency’s efforts to monitor eligibility rose from 80,000 in 1987 to 105,000 in 1988.

“I am appalled to learn that thousands of frail elderly, blind or disabled Americans were thrown off the rolls for no good reason,” said Sen. David Pryor (D-Ark.), chairman of the Senate Special Committee on Aging. “When an SSI recipient is cut off, it can lead to homelessness, starvation or exploitation.”

An internal review of 1,293 suspension cases found that benefits were incorrectly cut off in 54% of the cases and that the suspensions were justified but incorrectly recorded in an additional 30% of the cases.

Social Security spokesman Phil Gambino said the agency is “extremely concerned about the findings . . . because they do show we’re suspending SSI payments which go to some of the most vulnerable people, the elderly and disabled.”

“This can cause very serious problems for these people who are living on very limited incomes,” Gambino said.

In response to the report, the Social Security Administration in late November issued a directive to field offices cautioning that workers “must be careful to make sure that SSI benefits are not improperly suspended for failure to provide information.”

“Failure to follow these instructions can result in serious problems for the individuals served by the SSI program,” the memo said.

Employees were reminded that recipients must be given 30 days to respond to requests for information about their financial status and that an extension can be granted to those who have difficulty providing requested information.

In addition, the memo said, recipients who have difficulty complying with the requests because of advanced age, disability or homelessness should receive a follow-up contact by telephone or in person before benefits are suspended.