Computer Operations: Improvements Needed in Social Security's Capacity Management Program

Abstract

The Social Security Administration (SSA) depends heavily on computers to perform its mission, which includes maintaining records on over 300 million people and paying in excess of $230 billion annually in benefits to over 40 million people. Since 1982, the agency has estimated it has spent approximately $643 million for its computer systems and is planning to spend about $170 million in fiscal year 1989 to maintain and further modernize its systems. Because of the considerable investment in the agency's computer systems and their importance to the agency's mission, GAO reviewed SSA'S computer capacity management activities to evaluate the effectiveness of SSA'S activities for managing existing computer resources and planning for future resource needs. This report discusses GAO'S review of the Social Security Administration's computer capacity management program. GAO reviewed this program under its basic legislative authority to evaluate federal agencies and programs. This review assessed the Social Security Administration's activities for managing existing computer resources and planning for future resource needs.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jan 18, 1989
Accession Number
ADA203618

Entities

Organizations

  • United States Government Accountability Office

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Biomedical

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Accounting
  • Accuracy
  • Acquisition
  • Application Software
  • Computers
  • Contractors
  • Control Systems
  • Data Processing
  • Data Storage Systems
  • Digital Communications
  • Mainframe Computers
  • Procurement
  • Reliability
  • Social Security
  • Software Development
  • Standards
  • Test And Evaluation

Fields of Study

  • Computer science

Readers

  • Computer Science.
  • Defense Acquisition Program Management
  • Government and Public Administration Law.