Reports

Department of Justice OIG

Audit of the Office of Justice Programs Coronavirus Emergency Supplemental Funding Grant Awarded to the City of Tucson, Tucson, Arizona

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 Policy104-009-18 (Interim Policy) provided an adequate and effectiveframework during the COVID-19 pandemic. Specifically, theInterim Policy waived the existing pre-approval requirement,allowing for faster and increased NCS implementation tosegregate individuals and families and limit spread of thedisease. The Interim Policy also included program details andrequirements for determining eligible work and costs for NCS inresponse to federally declared disasters during the COVID-19pandemic.

Full Details: Oversight.gov Report Page

Social Security Administration OIG

Controls over the Social Security Administration’s National 800-number Service During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Objective: To determine whether the Social Security Administration had and used management controls over the service its 800 number employees provided callers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Full Details: Oversight.gov Report Page

Audit | 8/29/2023

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 Homeland Security OIG

FEMA Did Not Effectively Manage the Distribution of COVID-19 Medical Supplies and Equipment

Although the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) worked with its strategic partners to deliver critical medical supplies and equipment in response to COVID-19, FEMA did not effectively manage the distribution process. Specifically, FEMA did not use the Logistics Supply Chain Management System (LSCMS), its system of record for managing the distribution process, to track about 30 percent of the critical medical resources shipped, as required.

Full Details: Oversight.gov Report Page

Audit | 7/20/2023

1 - Closed

We recommend the FEMA Administrator clarify existing guidance and ensure FEMA personnel use the Logistics Supply Chain Management System or an alternative integrated solution as the system of record during disaster response operations to manage the distribution of FEMA-owned commodities, supplies, and equipment as well as those sourced by FEMA from partners across the Federal Government, non-governmental organizations, and the private sector to fulfill state, local, tribal, and territorial requests.

2 - Open

We recommend the FEMA Administrator take action to develop and improve the Logistics Management Directorate’s internal controls, guidance, and system integration to obtain more accurate information that enhances logistics decision making regarding the fulfillment of commodity requests during disaster response operations. At a minimum, FEMA should: a. develop internal controls to ensure appropriate information related to facility types, intermediate locations, and transportation-only orders is accurately reported in the Logistics Supply Chain Management System or an alternative integrated solution; b. update guidance and deliver training to ensure there is a clear audit trail when aggregating distribution data on FEMA-owned commodities, supplies, and equipment as well as those sourced by FEMA from partners across the Federal Government, non-governmental organizations, and the private sector to fulfill state, local, tribal, and territorial requests; and c. improve integration between the Logistics Supply Chain Management System and the Web Emergency Operations Center Crisis Management System to ensure the systems are, to the extent practicable, compatible and share information as required by the Post-Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act of 2006.

3 - Open

We recommend the FEMA Administrator issue guidance and ensure a standardized process for collecting and maintaining documentation to confirm delivery and receipt of FEMA-owned commodities, supplies, and equipment, as well as those sourced by FEMA from partners across the Federal Government, non-governmental organizations, and the private sector to fulfill state, local, tribal, and territorial requests. At a minimum, the guidance and standardized process should: a. identify the required types of documentation to confirm delivery and receipt such as signed bills of lading, packing slips, and other forms; b. include controls to ensure the shipment documentation includes item descriptions and the specific quantity of items delivered and received; c. clarify the procedures for executing and documenting the delivery of commodities, supplies, and equipment to locations where no FEMA personnel are present to receive shipments; and d. establish appropriate repositories for delivery and receipt documentation.

Social Security Administration OIG

The COVID-19 Pandemic’s Effect on Disability Determination Services’ Processing of Disability Claims

Objective: To determine how the COVID-19 pandemic affected the disability determination services’ (DDS) processing of disability claims.

Full Details: Oversight.gov Report Page

Department of Justice OIG

Inmate Perceptions of the Federal Bureau of Prisons’ Management of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic

To view the survey, please visit: https://oig.justice.gov/reports/inmate-perceptions-federal-bureau-priso…

Full Details: Oversight.gov Report Page

Department of Justice OIG

Capstone Review of the Federal Bureau of Prisons' Response to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic

Full Details: Oversight.gov Report Page

Review | 3/21/2023

Department of Homeland Security OIG

FEMA Did Not Provide Sufficient Oversight of Project Airbridge

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) did not provide sufficient oversight of Project Airbridge, a COVID-19 initiative. Under unprecedented pressure to mitigate disruptions in global medical supply chains, FEMA established Project Airbridge.

Full Details: Oversight.gov Report Page

Social Security Administration OIG

The Social Security Administration’s Enumeration Services During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Objective: To determine whether the Social Security Administration (SSA) complied with its enumeration policies and procedures and had adequate controls over managing evidentiary documents submitted to support Social Security number (SSN) card applications during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Full Details: Oversight.gov Report Page

Audit | 9/30/2022

1 - Closed

Develop and periodically conduct comprehensive refresher training on topics including but not limited to: - processing original Social Security Number (SSN) cards for individuals aged 12 or older and emphasize requirements and documentation of the in-person interview;- acceptable forms of evidentiary documents, and- processing new (different) and replacement SSN cards when adoption

10 - Open

Complete the privacy assessments for the WorkTrack application.

2 - Open

Update quality control reviews to include comparison of SSNAP inputs to an applicant-submitted Form SS-5 and evidentiary documents, and provide feedback to the technicians who made input errors (such as race and ethnicity) or did not use the appropriate evidentiary documents.

3 - Open

Revise enumeration policy to include clear instructions for when Form SSA-5002 is required and how to properly document the form.

4 - Closed

Update Program Operations Manual System (POMS) to provide current instructions for enumeration notices and archive outdated policy.

5 - Open

Retain enumeration notices in the Online Retrieval System for individuals with assigned SSNs.

6 - Open

Create and implement automated tools to assist staff in navigating through enumeration evidentiary document requirements.

7 - Closed

Take corrective action on all keying errors and cross-referencing errors we identified.

8 - Closed

Require managers to verify that incident reports are submitted through the Personally Identifiable Information (PII) Loss Reporting Tool before they approve reimbursement to customers for replacing lost original documents.

9 - Closed

Update the National Mail Handling Business Process to include standard Agency-wide mitigation steps for misdirected mail including original documents.

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Reports

Audit of the Office of Justice Programs Coronavirus Emergency Supplemental Funding Grant Awarded to the City of Tucson, Tucson, Arizona

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

Controls over the Social Security Administration’s National 800-number Service During the COVID-19 Pandemic

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

FEMA Did Not Effectively Manage the Distribution of COVID-19 Medical Supplies and Equipment

The COVID-19 Pandemic’s Effect on Disability Determination Services’ Processing of Disability Claims

Inmate Perceptions of the Federal Bureau of Prisons’ Management of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic

Capstone Review of the Federal Bureau of Prisons' Response to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic

FEMA Did Not Provide Sufficient Oversight of Project Airbridge

The Social Security Administration’s Enumeration Services During the COVID-19 Pandemic

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