Information Technology: SSA Has Taken Key Steps for Managing Its Investments, but Needs to Strengthen Oversight and Fully Define Policies and Procedures

A letter report issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "The Social Security Administration (SSA) spends about $1 billion annually to support its information technology (IT) needs. Given the size and significance of the agency's ongoing and future investments in IT, it is crucial that the agency manages these investments wisely. Accordingly, GAO was requested to determine whether SSA's investment management approach is consistent with leading investment management best practices. To accomplish this, GAO used its IT investment management framework and associated methodology, with a focus on the framework's Stages 2 and 3, which are based on the investment management provisions of the Clinger-Cohen Act of 1996.