NCJ Number
73839
Date Published
1980
Length
99 pages
Annotation
This report describes undesirable features in the treatment of needy persons receiving improved pension and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits, as well as how the Veterans Administration (VA) and Social Security Administration (SSA) currently coordinate the delivery of benefits to elderly and disabled persons.
Abstract
The General Accounting Office (GAO) compared the improved pension program's eligibility requirements, benefits and their determinations, and other program features with the SSI program. Prior to June 17, 1980, about 35,000 needy veterans receiving SSI benefits had to elect improved veterans pension benefits which went into effect January 1, 1979. It was hoped that this law would enable veterans and their survivors to receive benefits above the poverty level and help them avoid turning to welfare, such as the SSI program provides. However, many veterans have not received higher benefits as a result of the new law and could lose both SSI and Medicaid assistance as a result of electing higher VA benefits. In addition, most veterans receiving both SSI benefits and a VA pension had not elected the improved pension program through October 1979. Thus, SSI-VA recipients residing in States where Medicaid eligibility is not directly related to SSI eligibility should be notified that they must file for VA improved benefits and elect such benefits if they are higher than VA benefits presently received. Also, regulations for the SSI program should be revised so that VA benefits received by a person ineligible for SSI will be counted as income to the veteran's spouse in determining the spouse's eligibility. In addition, better coordination of the VA-SSA delivery of VA pensions, social security, Federal Black Lung, and SSI benefits could reduce inaccurate pension payments by about $14.5 million. Additional recommendations and agency comments are included. A list of abbreviations and some footnotes are provided, and appendixes presented related data and correspondence.