Reports

Department of Homeland Security OIG

FEMA's Emergency Non-Congregate Sheltering Interim Policy Provided Greater Flexibility for Emergency Sheltering During the COVID-19 Pandemic

The Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Emergency Non-Congregate Sheltering (NCS) Interim Policy 104-009-18 (Interim Policy) provided an adequate and effective framework during the COVID-19 pandemic. Specifically, the Interim Policy waived the existing pre-approval requirement, allowing for faster and increased NCS implementation to segregate individuals and families and limit spread of the disease. The Interim Policy also included program details and requirements for determining eligible work and costs for NCS in response to federally declared disasters during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Full Details: Oversight.gov Report Page

Department of Defense OIG

Audit of DoD Health Care Personnel Shortages During the Coronavirus Disease–2019 Pandemic

Full Details: Oversight.gov Report Page

Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration

The IRS Continues to Reduce Backlog Inventories in the Tax Processing Centers

Full Details: Oversight.gov Report Page

Audit | 3/18/2024

Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration

Action Is Being Taken to Address the System Limitation That Contributed to the Destruction of Tax Year 2019 Paper‑Filed Information Returns

Full Details: Oversight.gov Report Page

Department of the Interior OIG

Summary: NPS Employee Wrongfully Obtained Unemployment Insurance/Pandemic Unemployment Compensation

We found that a full-time NPS employee wrongfully obtained State unemployment insurance and Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation.

Full Details: Oversight.gov Report Page

Federal Reserve Board & CFPB OIG

FRB Boston Followed Its Processes for Monitoring the Credit Quality of Main Street Lending Program Loans

Full Details: Oversight.gov Report Page

Department of Defense OIG

Management Advisory: DoD Office of Inspector General Review of Other Transaction Agreement W912CG-21-9-0001

Full Details: Oversight.gov Report Page

Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration

Processing of Recovery Rebate Credit Claims During the 2022 Filing Season

Full Details: Oversight.gov Report Page

Audit | 8/24/2023

1 - Closed

On March 14, 2022, we notified the Director, Submission Processing, Wage and Investment Division, of our concerns regarding the accuracy of COVID Tax Tip 2022-29 regarding Internal Revenue Code §§ 6428B(f) and 6428B(h). Specifically, the guidance states incorrectly that taxpayers can claim the RRC for a shared dependent even if the IRS has already made an advance payment for the dependent. We recommended that the IRS revise the Tax Tip and related Frequently Asked Questions, etc., to state that taxpayers who share qualifying dependents are required to reduce the amount of the RRC claimed by the advance payment issued to either parent on behalf of the dependent.

2 - Closed

The Commissioner, Wage and Investment Division, should review the 274,865 individuals identified where the IRS issued an RRC to potentially ineligible dependents and nonresidents and take the actions needed to recover payments that are determined to be erroneous.

3 - Closed

Continue to periodically issue information on the availability of the RRC and how to claim it through Frequently Asked Questions on IRS.gov, communications with tax return preparers, annual unclaimed refund announcements, etc. until the statutory period for taxpayers to file a Tax Year 2020 and 2021 tax return to claim the RRC has expired.

4 - Closed

Send a letter to the nearly 3 million individuals we identified where the tax return data show the individual is potentially eligible for the RRC encouraging the individuals to amend their Tax Year 2021 return and claim the credit if eligible. The letter should clearly state the eligibility requirements for claiming the RRC in simple terms and direct the individuals to additional resources if needed to assist them in determining whether they are eligible.

Department of Homeland Security OIG

Ineffective Controls Over COVID-19 Funeral Assistance Leave the Program Susceptible to Waste and Abuse

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) did not always implement effective internal controls to provide oversight of COVID-19 Funeral Assistance. FEMA’s funeral assistance program greatly expanded the universe of reimbursable expenses for deaths related to COVID-19, even beyond those specifically identified as ineligible under established FEMA policy, without establishing guardrails to ensure relief was limited to necessary expenses and serious needs as required by statute.

Full Details: Oversight.gov Report Page

Audit | 8/24/2023

1 - Open

We recommend that the FEMA Administrator resolve questioned costs totaling an estimated $24,438,662 for expenses deemed ineligible by FEMA’s Individual Assistance Program and Policy Guide and determine the amount of any debts owed by recipients for erroneous payments.

2 - Closed

We recommend that the FEMA Administrator resolve other questioned costs included in our report and determine the amount of any debts owed by recipients for erroneous payments. Other questioned costs requiring resolution include: a) $1,348,546 for awards issued to multiple applicants for the same decedents; b) $554,653 for awards issued for applications that exceeded the $9,000 per decedent award limit; and c) $591,805 for 93 applications for which FEMA did not adequately review eligibility criteria of the applications.

3 - Open

We recommend that the FEMA Administrator ensure that future iterations of the Individual Assistance Program and Policy Guide and supporting procedures (a) provide consistent guidance on eligibility of funeral expenses for all future disaster declarations; and (b) allow for reimbursement of only necessary expenses and serious needs, consistent with the law.

4 - Closed

We recommend that the FEMA Administrator strengthen and monitor improvement of FEMA’s COVID-19 Funeral Assistance training practices with particular focus on: a) distinguishing legitimate sources of potential duplication such as decedent’s name and social security number from potential duplications that arise due to FEMA using a repurposed Individual Assistance processing system, with a data field such as damaged dwelling address; b) preventing FEMA from reimbursing expenses exceeding the maximum $9,000 per decedent; and c) deducting financial assistance received from outside sources such as pre-need funeral arrangements, burial insurance, and assistance from other voluntary or government agencies.

5 - Open

We recommend that the FEMA Administrator ensure that FEMA provides its COVID-19 Funeral Assistance call center contractor the guidance and training necessary to meet the quality control and production monitoring metrics as prescribed by its agreement with the contractor.

Department of the Interior OIG

USBR Employee Wrongfully Obtained Unemployment Insurance/Pandemic Unemployment Assistance

We found that a USBR employee wrongfully obtained $28,524 in combined Unemployment Insurance and Pandemic Unemployment Assistance.

Full Details: Oversight.gov Report Page

Date Range

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Report Category

Submitting Agency

State/Local Agency

State (State and Local Reports)

Fraud Type

Agency Reviewed

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Management Challenges

Any Recommendations

Any Open Recommendations

Reports

FEMA's Emergency Non-Congregate Sheltering Interim Policy Provided Greater Flexibility for Emergency Sheltering During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Audit of DoD Health Care Personnel Shortages During the Coronavirus Disease–2019 Pandemic

The IRS Continues to Reduce Backlog Inventories in the Tax Processing Centers

Action Is Being Taken to Address the System Limitation That Contributed to the Destruction of Tax Year 2019 Paper‑Filed Information Returns

Summary: NPS Employee Wrongfully Obtained Unemployment Insurance/Pandemic Unemployment Compensation

FRB Boston Followed Its Processes for Monitoring the Credit Quality of Main Street Lending Program Loans

Management Advisory: DoD Office of Inspector General Review of Other Transaction Agreement W912CG-21-9-0001

Processing of Recovery Rebate Credit Claims During the 2022 Filing Season

Ineffective Controls Over COVID-19 Funeral Assistance Leave the Program Susceptible to Waste and Abuse

USBR Employee Wrongfully Obtained Unemployment Insurance/Pandemic Unemployment Assistance

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