Summary: In response to a congressional request, GAO reviewed the Social Security Administration's (SSA) Information Technology Systems budget request for fiscal year (FY) 1989.
GAO found that: (1) the systems account was comprised of funds for automatic data processing (ADP) acquisitions, ongoing ADP operations and maintenance, telephone equipment purchases, and telephone operations and maintenance; (2) although the expenditures for the overall account only increased from $196 million in FY 1985 to $221 million for FY 1989, the percent of funds to individual components changed significantly; (3) telephone systems expenditures increased from 34 percent to 47 percent of the systems account, while ADP expenditures decreased from 66 percent to about 53 percent; (4) because the SSA carryover authority reached a high of $220 million at the start of FY 1988, Congress reduced FY 1988 SSA budget authority to $53 million; (5) SSA determined that the $220 million was sufficient to fund information technology systems activities and the $53 million would fund activities under the administrative expenses appropriation; and (6) SSA estimates that it will not have funds to carry over into FY 1989.
