text:
14. 1 . 75 De Europæiske Fællesskabers Tidende Nr. L 9 /21
 AFTALE
 mellem Det europæiske økonomiske Fællesskab og republikken Indien om leve
 ring af skummetmælkspulver som fødevarehjælp
 RÅDET FOR DE EUROPÆISKE FÆLLESSKABER
 på den ene side,
 REGERINGEN FOR REPUBLIKKEN INDIEN
 på den anden side,
 HAR VEDTAGET at indgå denne aftale og har med henblik herpå som befuldmægtigede udpeget :
 RÅDET FOR DE EUROPÆISKE FÆLLESSKABER :
 REGERINGEN FOR REPUBLIKKEN INDIEN :
 SOM ER BLEVET ENIGE OM FØLGENDE BESTEMMELSER :
 Artikel I varerne pa sit marked at anvende de priser, som nor
 malt noteres på dette marked for varer af tilsvarende
 Det europæiske økonomiske Fællesskab, herefter be kvalitet .
 nævnt » Fællesskabet «, leverer som gave til republik
 ken Indien , herefter benævnt » bestemmelseslandet «,
 en mængde på 2 750 tons skummetmælkspulver ; va Udbyttet fra dette salg, skønsmæssigt anslaet ved aftale
 rens kvalitet og betingelserne for emballage fastsættes mellem Fællesskabet og bestemmelseslandet, opføres
 i bilag I , som udgør en integrerende del af denne af som indtægt på centralregeringens budget i dette land
 tale . og anvendes til finansiering af udviklingsplaner, hvo
 rom der gives meddelelse af bestemmelseslandet, og
 som ikke giver anledning til bemærkninger fra Fælles
 Artikel II skabets side .
 Leverancerne foretages efter bestemmelserne i bilag II.
 som er integrerende del af denne aftale .
 Artikel V
 Artike III
 Bestemmelseslandet forpligter sig til at træffe alle nød De kontraherende parter forpligter sig . til at gennem
 vendige foranstaltninger med henblik på transport og føre denne aftale, således at den nationale produktions
 forsikring af varerne fra leveringsstedet til bestemmel og den internationale handels normale struktur ikke
 sesstederne . berøres . Med henblik herpå træffer de de nødvendige
 foranstaltninger for at sikre, at leverancerne i form af
 Det forpligter sig til med største omhu at sørge for, at fødevarehjælp ikke erstatter, men supplerer de handels
 licitationen om søtransport ikke ubilligt foregriber transaktioner, der med rimelighed kunne forventes i
 konkurrencens frie spil . Spørgsmål som måtte opstå i mangel af sådanne leverancer.
 denne forbindelse , vil blive gjort til genstand for kon
 sultationer i henhold til artikel VIII .
 Artikel VI
 Artikel IV
 Bestemmelseslandet forpligter sig til at anvende de Bestemmelseslandet træffer alle egnede foranstaltnin
 som hjælp modtagne varer til konsum , og ved salget af ger for at forhindre :
 ---pagebreak--- Nr. L 9/22 De Europæiske Fællesskabers Tidende 14. 1 . 75
 — genudførsel såvel af de varer, der er modtaget som 2. hver 3 . måned, indtil de som hjælp modtagne
 fødevarehjælp, som af produkter, der er fremstillet mængder er fuldstændig opbrugt : solgte mængder,
 deraf ; afsætningsform, anvendt salgspris ; normale afsæt
 — handelsmæssig og ikke-handelsmæssig udførsel ningsomkostninger på bestemmelseslandets mar
 inden for 6 måneder efter den seneste levering så ked ; omkostninger ved forsikring og i givet fald
 vel af de lokalt fremstillede produkter, som måtte ved transport fra lossehavnen til bestemmelsesste
 være af samme art som dem , der er modtaget som derne ;
 fødevarehjælp, som af de produkter, der er fremstil 3 . den 15. januar hvert år indtil udviklingsplanernes
 let deraf.
 fuldførelse : gennemførelsesstadiet for planerne
 med angivelse af den samlede finansiering, der er
 Artikel VII foretaget på dette stadium .
 Bestemmelseslandet forpligter sig til at underrette Fæl Artikel VIII
 lesskabet om gennemførelsesbetingelserne for denne
 aftale. Med henblik herpå meddeler det Kommissio På begæring af en af de kontraherende parter rådfører
 nen for De europæiske Fællesskaber følgende : disse sig med hinanden om alle spørgsmål vedrørende
 anvendelsen af denne aftale .
 1 . straks efter losningen af hver ladning : havne og da
 toer for skibets ankomst, den lossede vares art og Artikel IX
 mængde, samt eventuelle bemærkninger om varens
 kvalitet ; den dato, på hvilken losningen er afslut Denne aftale er affattet i to eksemplarer på dansk, en
 tet ; de hermed forbudne udgifter til søtransport og gelsk, fransk, italiensk, nederlandsk og tysk, hvilke tek
 forsikring ; ster alle har samme gyldighed.
 ---pagebreak--- 14. 1 . 75 De Europæiske Fællesskabers Tidende Nr. L 9/23
 BILAG I
 SKUMMETMÆLKSPULVER
 KVALITET OG BETINGELSERNE FOR EMBALLAGE
 I. Krav med hensyn til kvalitet
 a) indhold af mælkefedt : højst 1 ,5 %
 b) indhold af vand : højst 4,0 %
 c) samlet syreindhold udtrykt i mælkesyre : højst 0,15 % ( 18° Dornic)
 d) neutraliseringsmiddel : påvisning negativ
 e) tilladte tilsætninger : ingen
 f) phosphatase : påvisning negativ
 g) opløselighed : højst 0,5 ml (mindst 99 % )
 h) renhedsgrad : mindst filterprøve B ( 15,0 mg)
 i) indhold af kim : højst 50 000 pr. g
 k) påvisning af kolibakterier : negativ i 0,1 g
 1) smag og lugt : ren
 m) udseende : hvid eller let gullig farve, ingen urenheder og
 farvede partikler
 II . Krav til emballagen
 a) bestemt til en nettovægt af 25 kilogram ;
 b) sammensætning :
 aa) 4 papirsække »Kraft«, med en papirtykkelse, der svarer til en vægt på mindst 70 g pr. m 2 ;
 1 papirsæk af tjærepapir som mellemlag, med en papirtykkelse, der svarer til en vægt på
 mindst 140 g pr. m 2 ;
 1 polyethylen indersæk, mindst 0,06 mm tyk, som er svejset eller med dobbelt binding ;
 eller
 bb) 1 sæk af »clupak-poly-duplopapir«, med en papirtykkelse, der svarer til en vægt på mindst
 50/20/ 50 g pr. m 2 ;
 2 papirsække »Kraft«, med en papirtykkelse, der svarer til en vægt på mindst 70/75 g pr.
 m2 ;
 1 polyethylenindersæk, mindst 0,10 mm tyk, som er svejset eller med dobbelt binding ;
 eller
 cc) 1 papirsæk »Kraft«, med en papirtykkelse, der svarer til en vægt på mindst 70 g pr. m 2 ;
 1 papirsæk » Kraft« med polyethylenlag med en tykkelse, der svarer til en vægt på mindst
 80 g + 15 g pr. m 2 ;
 3 papirsække »Kraft« med en papirtykkelse, der svarer til en vægt på mindst 70 g pr. m 2 ;
 1 polyethylenindersæk, mindst 0,06 mm tyk, som er svejset eller med dobbelt binding ;
 c) påskrift på emballagen (på engelsk)
 SKIMMED MILK POWDER — GIFT OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITY TO THE RE
 PUBLIC OF INDIA .
 ---pagebreak--- Nr. L 9/24 De Europæiske Fællesskabers Tidende 14. 1 . 75
 BILAG II
 NÆRMERE BESTEMMELSER FOR LEVERING
 KAPITEL I og bestemmelseslandets befuldmægtigede med forbehold af
 artikel 4, aftale en ny dato og en ny frist til levering.
 Almindelige bestemmelser
 Artikel 1 KAPITEL III
 Levering har fundet sted, og risikoen overgår fra Fællesska
 bet, til bestemmelseslandet i det øjeblik, hvor varen er leveret
 Bestemmelseslandets forpligtelser
 på det af Kommissionen for De europæiske Fællesskaber an
 givne udførselssted, på den plads der udpeges af bestemmel
 seslandet eller af dets i artikel 2 nævnte befuldmægtigede og Artikel 6
 på de i dette bilag omhandlede vilkår. Med forbehold af arti
 kel 7 og 8 afholdes udgifterne indtil levering har fundet sted
 af Fællesskabet, og derefter af bestemmelseslandet. Efter at have underrettet Fællesskabet, skaffer bestemmelses
 landet et eller flere skibe til transport af varerne . Skibenes
 størrelse skal svare til lastehavnens normale kapacitet, og de
 Artikel 2 skal være klar til lastning på en dato inden for den i artikel 3
 nævnte periode .
 Med henblik på gennemførelsen af bestemmelserne i dette
 bilag udpeger Fællesskabet — eventuelt for hvert vareparti — Bestemmelseslandets befuldmægtigede meddeler Fællesska
 en befuldmægtiget, hvis navn og adresse meddeles bestem bet denne dato og datoen for påbegyndelsen af leveringen , så
 melseslandet umiddelbart efter udpegningen . Bestemmelses snart han kender disse, om muligt 20 dage og under alle om
 landet udpeger for hver lastehavn en befuldmægtiget, hvis stændigheder 10 hele dage før datoen for leveringens påbe
 navn og adresse meddeles Fællesskabet hurtigst muligt og gyndelse .
 om muligt før udnævnelsen af Fællesskabets befuld
 mægtigede.
 Han fastsætter sammen med Fællesskabets befuldmægtigede
 leveringsrytmen .
 Artikel 3
 Forud for proceduren for udpegning af den i artikel 2 om Artikel 7
 handlede befuldmægtigede for Fællesskabet, fastsætter Kom
 missionen for De europæiske Fællesskaber og bestemmelses
 Hvis bestemmelseslandet ikke kan påbegynde lastningen på
 landet i fællesskab den periode , i løbet af hvilken leveringen den i artikel 6, første stykke, fastsatte dato, skal bestemmelses
 skal begynde .
 landets befuldmægtigede straks underrette Fællesskabets be
 fuldmægtigede herom .
 KAPITEL II
 I så fald kan en ny dato for påbegyndelsen af leveringen, og i
 givet fald en ny leveringsrytme straks aftales mellem Fælles
 Fællesskabets forpligtelser skabets og bestemmelseslandets befuldmægtigede . Bortset fra
 tilfælde af force majeure påhviler omkostningerne i forbin
 delse med lastningens forsinkelse bestemmelseslandet.
 Artikel 4
 Såfremt den nye dato falder senere end 30 hele dage efter
 Hvis Fællesskabet ikke kan foretage leveringen på den dato den i artikel 6, første stykke, fastsatte dato for lastningen , kan
 og i givet fald i det tempo, der er fastsat i artikel 6, afholder Fællesskabet afhænde varen med forbehold af den i aftalens
 Fællesskabet alle eventuelle udgifter, som herved påføres be artikel I , fastsatte forpligtelse .
 stemmelseslandet, særlig overliggepenge, fautfragt og død
 fragt .
 Størrelsen af overliggebeløbet og de nærmere bestemmelser, Artikel 8
 der skal fastsættes herom i kontrakterne, mellem bestemmel
 seslandet og fragtføreren , skal forinden være aftalt mellem Dersom skibet ikke kan rumme hele den fastsatte mængde,
 bestemmelseslandet og Fællesskabets befuldmægtigede . meddeler bestemmelseslandet så hurtigt som muligt og se
 nest 15 hele dage , efter at lastningen er afsluttet, om det vil
 De øvrige udgifter, jfr. første stykke , godtgøres ikke af Fælles modtage den resterende mængde eller give afkald herpå.
 skabet, medmindre de er blevet betalt af bestemmelseslandet
 med dettes samtykke . I det første tilfælde finder artikel 7, andet og tredje stykke ,
 anvendelse på restmængden , hvis leveringen heraf endnu
 A rtikel 5 ikke har fundet sted .
 Hvis Fællesskabet ikke kan levere varen på den dato og in I det andet tilfælde anses Fællesskabet for at have opfyldt de
 den for de frister, der er fastsat i artikel 6, kan Fællesskabets i aftalens artikel I fastsatte forpligtelser over for bestemmelses
 ---pagebreak--- 14. 1 . 75 De Europæiske Fællesskabers Tidende Nr. L 9 /25
 landet, og Fællesskabet bærer de udgifter der følger af afkal Artikel 9
 det .
 Ved varens levering udleverer bestemmelseslandet et overta
 Under alle omstændigheder anses afkaldet for definitivt, der gelsescertifikat til Fællesskabets befuldmægtigede med angi
 som fristen på 15 hele dage er overskredet, uden at bestem velse af lastehavnen og datoen for lastningen, varens art, og
 melseslandet har givet meddelelse. mængde, samt eventuelle bemærkninger om varens kvalitet.
 Meddelelse vedrørende undertegnelse af aftalen om levering af fødevarehjælp
 mellem Det europæiske økonomiske Fællesskab og republikken Indien
 Aftalen mellem Det europæiske økonomiske Fællesskab og republikken Indien om leve
 ring af skummetmælkspulver som fødevrarehjælp, som Rådet har besluttet at indgå den
 21 . oktober 1974,
 er blevet undertegnet i Bruxelles den 24. oktober 1974,
 for Rådet for De europæiske Fællesskaber af Étienne Burin des Roziers, overordentlig og
 befuldmægtiget ambassadør, formand for De faste repræsentanters Komité, samt Hans-
 Broder Krohn , generaldirektør for Udvikling og Samarbejde i Kommissionen for de euro
 pæiske Fællesskaber,
 for regeringen for republikken Indien af Krishen Behari Lall , overordentlig og befuldmæg
 tiget ambassadør, leder af Indiens repræsentation ved Det europæiske økonomiske Fælles
 skab .


type: wikipedia

text:
Earth Angel ist ein Song der Penguins aus dem Jahr 1954. Die Aufnahme gilt als eine der ersten Crossover des Rhythm & Blues von einem Independent-Plattenlabel, das die Pop-Hitparade erreichte. Das Stück ist einer der erfolgreichsten Doo-Wop-Titel aller Zeiten.
 Entstehungsgeschichte
 Entdeckt durch den späteren Platters-Manager Buck Ram begannen die Penguins mit Probeaufnahmen im Sommer 1954 für das kleine Independent-Plattenlabel Dootone Records. Ted Brinson, der Onkel des Bandmitglieds Cleveland „Cleve“ Duncan, besaß ein selbstgebasteltes Tonstudio, das sich in einer Garage hinter seinem Haus im südlichen Los Angeles befand. Aufgenommen mit einer einspurigen Ampex-Tonbandmaschine entstanden unter Produktionsleitung des Labelchefs Williams einige Demonstrationsaufnahmen, darunter auch Earth Angel.
 Im September 1954 entschloss man sich, Hey Senorita / Earth Angel (Will You Be Mine) (Dootone #348) auf den Markt zu bringen. Bei Earth Angel sangen Cleve Duncan (Tenor) Leadstimme und Dexter Tisby (zweiter Tenor) bei der zweiten Bridge; die Piano-Akkorde stammen von Curtis Williams. Der Song basiert auf Akkordwechseln, wie sie in der Richard Rodgers & Lorenz-Hart-Komposition Blue Moon zu hören sind. Es entstanden sieben oder acht Takes, weil die Aufnahme immer wieder wegen störender Außengeräusche unterbrochen werden musste.
 Nach Veröffentlichung erhielt die A-Seite das meiste Airplay. Ab Oktober 1954 konzentrierten sich die Radiostationen auf die B-Seite Earth Angel und lösten eine Kaufwelle aus. Dootone Records konnte mit der Plattenproduktion im Presswerk die steigende Nachfrage kaum erfüllen. Als bei der massenhaften Pressung die Druckgrundlage für das rote Label ausging, wurde in Blau weitergepresst.
 Erfolg
 Im Dezember 1954 notierte die Platte erstmals in der Rhythm-and-Blues-Hitparade, wo sie im Januar 1955 für drei Wochen den ersten Platz erreichte. Ebenfalls im Dezember 1954 gelangte der Song auch in die Pop-Charts, in denen er bis zum achten Rang vordringen konnte.
 Bis 1957 setzte der Song fast vier Millionen Exemplare um. Der großartige Erfolg der Single war vom kleinen Label kaum zu bewältigen und hätte es beinahe in den Ruin getrieben. Die Plattenfirma musste für stetigen Plattennachschub aus dem Presswerk sorgen, während der Plattengroßhandel nicht sofort bezahlte. Bis zum Jahre 1983 soll ein angeblicher Umsatz von zehn Millionen Exemplaren weltweit erzielt worden sein. Trotz des enormen Verkaufserfolgs weigerte sich Dootone Records, den Penguins die ihnen zustehenden Tantiemen auszuzahlen. Die ständigen Streitigkeiten hierüber veranlassten die Gruppe schließlich, zu Mercury Records zu wechseln.
 Urheberrechtsstreit
 Die Urheberschaft von Earth Angel war lange Zeit umstritten. Zunächst wurde als Komponist der Leadsänger der Gruppe, Curtis Williams, bei der Erstveröffentlichung des Songs angegeben. Als dann im Mai 1955 Jesse Belvin und Carl Green im Urheberrechtsprozess behaupteten, die Komponisten von Earth Angel zu sein, wurden Gaynel Hodge/Jesse Belvin/Curtis Williams bei BMI registriert.
 Mittlerweile bestand Einigkeit in Fachkreisen, dass Teile des Songs von Jesse Belvins Dream Girl (Specialty #447, aufgenommen am 12. November 1952) herrührten, weil die Akkord-Wechsel bei beiden Songs sehr ähnlich sind. Dieser Song erreichte den zweiten Rang der R&B-Hitparade. Die endgültige Klärung kam erst im Mai 1957. Das Gericht entschied, dass die Veröffentlichungsrechte bei Dootone Records verbleiben und dass Jesse Belvin als alleiniger Autor des Songs gilt.
 Coverversionen
 Kaum waren die Penguins in den Charts auf Erfolgskurs, erschien im Januar 1955 bei Mercury Records die erste Coverversion von den weißen Crew Cuts, die Rang drei der Pop-Hitparade schaffte. Im selben Monat kam auch noch eine Fassung von Gloria Mann heraus, die an Rang 18 der Pop-Charts notiert wurde. Über Jahre hinweg erschienen immer wieder Versionen, so etwa durch Johnny Tillotson (April 1960), The Vogues (April 1969) oder The New Edition (August 1986); auch wegen der vielen Fassungen über die Jahre hinweg gilt Earth Angel als einer der konstantesten Klassiker der gesamten Popmusik. Insgesamt werden 26 Coverversionen gezählt.
 Rezeption
 Der Titel belegt Platz 152 in der Rolling-Stone-Liste der „500 Greatest Songs of All Time“. Im März 2004 wurde der Song als eine von jährlich 50 Aufnahmen ausgesucht, die zum National Recording Registry des Library of Congress zugeordnet wurden. In diesem Archiv werden bedeutsame Aufnahmen gesammelt, die das Leben in den USA reflektieren. Earth Angel erhielt einen BMI Award.
 Einzelnachweise
 R&B-Song
 Lied 1954
 Doo-Wop-Song


type: caselaw

jurisdiction: EU

text:
 14.4.2014
 HR
 Službeni list Europske unije
 C 112/12
 Presuda Suda (sedmo vijeće) od 27. veljače 2014. – Ningbo Yonghong Fasteners Co. Ltd protiv Vijeća Europske unije, Europske komisije, European Industrial Fasteners Institute AISBL (EIFI)
 (Predmet C-601/12 P) (1)
 ((Žalba - Damping - Uredba (EZ) br. 384/96 - Članak 2. stavak 7. točka (c) druga alineja - Uvoz određenih željeznih ili čeličnih elemenata za pričvršćivanje podrijetlom iz Kine - Tretman tržišnog gospodarstva - Prekoračenje roka za donošenje odluke o tom tretmanu - Učinak))
 2014/C 112/13
 Jezik postupka: engleski
 Stranke
 Žalitelj: Ningbo Yonghong Fasteners Co. Ltd (zastupnici: F. Graafsma i J. Cornelis, advocaten)
 Druge stranke u postupku: Vijeće Europske unije (zastupnici: J.-P. Hix i S. Boelaert, agenti, uz asistenciju G. Berrischa, Rechtsanwalt), Europska komisija (zastupnici: M. França i T. Maxian Rusche, agenti), European Industrial Fasteners Institute AISBL (EIFI) (zastupnik: J. Bourgeois, avocat)
 Predmet
 Žalba protiv presude Općeg suda od 10. listopada 2012. (sedmo vijeće) u predmetu T-150/09, Ningbo Yonghong Fasteners Co. Ltd/Vijeće, kojom je Opći sud odbio tužbu za djelomično poništenje Uredbe Vijeća (EZ) br. 91/2009 od 26. siječnja 2009. o uvođenju konačne antidampinške pristojbe na uvoz određenih željeznih ili čeličnih elemenata za pričvršćivanje podrijetlom iz Narodne Republike Kine (SL L 29, str. 1.) (SL, posebno izdanje na hrvatskom jeziku, poglavlje 11., svezak 82., str. 72.).
 Izreka
 1.
 Žalba se odbija.
 2.
 Nalaže se Ningbo Yonghong Fasteners Co. Ltd snošenje troškova Vijeća Europske unije u okviru ovog postupka.
 3.
 Europska komisija i European Industrial Fasteners Institute AISBL (EIFI) snosit će vlastite troškove.
 (1) SL C 71, 9.3.2013.


text:
 12.4.2008
 SK
 Úradný vestník Európskej únie
 C 92/40
 Žaloba podaná 6. februára 2008 – Cementir Italia/Komisia
 (Vec T-63/08)
 (2008/C 92/80)
 Jazyk konania: taliančina
 Účastníci konania
 Žalobca: Cementir Italia Srl (Rím, Taliansko) (v zastúpení: T. Salonico, G. Pellegrino, G. Pellegrino, G. Barone, avvocati)
 Žalovaná: Komisia Európskych spoločenstiev
 Návrhy žalobcu
 —
 určiť, že napadnuté rozhodnutie je nezákonné, a zrušiť ho v celom rozsahu vzhľadom na to, že považuje napadnuté opatrenie za štátnu pomoc, ktorá je v skutočnosti legitímnym pokračovaním opatrenia spočívajúceho v kompenzácii, ktorú Taliansko poskytlo v prospech Terni (a ich právnych nástupkýň) za vyvlastnenie elektrární, ktoré sa uskutočnilo v rokoch 1962 – 1963,
 —
 uložiť žalovanej povinnosť nahradiť trovy konania,
 —
 subsidiárne zrušiť rozhodnutie v časti, v ktorej:
 a)
 stanovuje, že Taliansko nezákonne vyplatilo štátnu pomoc v prospech ThyssenKrupp, Cementir a Nuova Terni Industrie Chimiche v rozpore s článkom 88 ods. 3 Zmluvy ES;
 b)
 stanovuje vrátenie súm zo strany ThyssenKrupp, Cementir a Nuova Terni Industrie Chimiche a v dôsledku toho
 c)
 ukladá Taliansku povinnosť požadovať bezodkladne vrátenie týchto súm spolu s úrokmi,
 —
 subsidiárne zrušiť napadnuté rozhodnutie v časti, v ktorej ukladá Taliansku povinnosť požadovať bezodkladne vrátenie pomoci spolu s úrokmi, keďže toto vrátenie porušuje všeobecnú zásadu legitímnej dôvery.
 Žalobné dôvody a hlavné tvrdenia
 Žalobné dôvody a hlavné tvrdenia sú totožné so žalobnými dôvodmi a hlavnými tvrdeniami uvedenými vo veci T-62/08, ThyssenKrupp/Komisia.


text:
Amhrán na bhFiann (irski izgovor – ) je državna himna Republike Irske. Glazbu su skladali Peadar Kearney i Patrick Heeney, a izvorne je engleske stihove potpisao (kao "A Soldiers' Song", Vojnikovu pjesmu) Kearney. Obično se pjeva prijevod na irski koji je načinio Liam Ó Rinn. Pjesma ima tri kitice, ali se himna sastoji samo od pripjeva.
 Vanjske poveznice
 Amhrán na bhFiann
 Državni simboli Irske
 Državne himne


text:
 16.9.2006
 ES
 Diario Oficial de la Unión Europea
 C 224/43
 Auto del Tribunal de Primera Instancia de 7 de julio de 2006 — Juchen y otros/Parlamento y Consejo
 (Asunto T-321/03) (1)
 (Recurso de indemnización - Responsabilidad extracontractual - Comercialización de piensos compuestos - Realidad del perjuicio)
 (2006/C 224/92)
 Lengua de procedimiento: francés
 Partes
 Demandantes: Juchen GmbH (Eppelborn, Alemania) y otros 223 demandantes cuyos nombres figuran en anexo al auto (representantes: D. Waelbroeck y N.Rampal, abogados)
 Demandados: Parlamento Europeo (representantes: E. Waldherr y M. Moore, agentes) y Consejo de la Unión Europea (representantes: inicialmente M. Balta y F. Ruggeri Laderchi, y posteriormente M. Balta y Z. Kupčová, agentes)
 Partes coadyuvantes en apoyo de los demandados: República Federal de Alemania (representantes: W.-D Plessing y M. Lumma, agentes) y Comisión de las Comunidades Europeas (representantes: A. Bordes y B. Doherty, agentes)
 Objeto
 Pretensión de reparación del perjuicio que los demandantes alegan haber sufrido como consecuencia de la Directiva 2002/2/CE del Parlamento Europeo y del Consejo, de 28 de enero de 2002, por la que se modifica la Directiva 79/373/CEE del Consejo relativa a la circulación de los piensos compuestos y por la que se deroga la Directiva 91/357/CEE de la Comisión (DO L 63, p. 23)
 Fallo
 1)
 Desestimar el recurso.
 2)
 Las demandantes, así como el Parlamento y el Consejo, cargarán con sus propias costas.
 3)
 La República Federal de Alemania y la Comisión cargarán con sus propias costas.
 (1) DO C 275 de 15.11.2003


text:
 Narození
 ? – Eudoxos z Knidu, řecký astronom, matematik a filozof († 355 př. n. l.)
 Hlava státu
 Perská říše – Dareios II. (423 – 404 př. n. l.)
 Egypt – Dareios II. (423 – 404 př. n. l.)
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 Externí odkazy
 08


type: other

jurisdiction: US

text: b" SOCIAL SECURITY\nMEMORANDUM\n\nDate: July 23, 2009 Refer To:\n\nTo: The Commissioner\n\nFrom: Inspector General\n\nSubject: Quick Response Evaluation: Improper Payments Report (A-15-09-29125)\n\n\n The attached final quick response evaluation presents the results of our review. Our\n objective was to determine whether the Agency accurately reported improper payment\n information in the Debt Management Tables and the Improper Payments Information\n Act of 2002 Detailed Report published in the Fiscal Year 2008 Performance and\n Accountability Report.\n\n If you wish to discuss the final report, please call me or have your staff contact\n Steven L. Schaeffer, Assistant Inspector General for Audit, at (410) 965-9700.\n\n\n\n\n Patrick P. O\xe2\x80\x99Carroll, Jr.\n\n Attachment\n\x0cQUICK RESPONSE\n EVALUATION\nImproper Payments Report\n A-15-09-29125\n\n\n\n\n July 2009\n\x0c Mis s io n\nBy c o n d u c tin g in d e p e n d e n t a n d o b je c tive a u d its , e va lu a tio n s a n d in ve s tig a tio n s ,\nwe in s p ire p u b lic c o nfid e n c e in th e in te g rity a n d s e c u rity o f S S A\xe2\x80\x99s p ro g ra m s a n d\no p e ra tio n s a n d p ro te c t th e m a g a ins t fra u d, wa s te a n d a b us e . We p ro vid e tim e ly,\nu s e fu l a n d re lia b le info rm a tio n a n d a d vic e to Ad m in is tra tio n o ffic ia ls , Co n g re s s\na n d th e p u b lic .\n\n Au th o rity\nTh e In s p e c to r Ge n e ra l Ac t c re a te d in d e p e n d e n t a u d it a n d in ve s tig a tive u n its ,\nc a lle d th e Offic e o f Ins p e c to r Ge n e ra l (OIG). Th e m is s io n o f th e OIG, a s s p e lle d\no u t in th e Ac t, is to :\n\n \xef\x81\xad Co n d u c t a n d s u p e rvis e in d e pe n d e n t a n d o b je c tive a u d its a n d\n in ve s tig a tio n s re la ting to a g e n c y p ro g ra m s a n d o p e ra tio n s .\n \xef\x81\xad P ro m o te e c o n o m y, e ffe c tive n e s s , a n d e ffic ie n c y with in th e a ge nc y.\n \xef\x81\xad P re ve n t a n d d e te c t fra u d , wa s te , a n d a b u s e in a ge n c y p ro g ra m s a n d\n o p e ra tio n s .\n \xef\x81\xad Re vie w a n d m a ke re c o m m e n d a tio n s re ga rd in g e xis tin g a n d p rop o s e d\n le g is la tio n a n d re g u la tio n s re la tin g to a g e n c y p ro g ra m s a n d o p e ra tio n s .\n \xef\x81\xad Ke e p th e a ge n c y h e a d a n d th e Co n g re s s fu lly a n d c u rre n tly in fo rm e d o f\n p ro b le m s in a g e n c y p ro g ra m s a n d o pe ra tio n s .\n\n To e n s u re o b je c tivity, th e IG Ac t e m p owe rs th e IG with :\n\n \xef\x81\xad In d e p e n d e n c e to d e te rm in e wha t re vie ws to p e rfo rm .\n \xef\x81\xad Ac c e s s to a ll in fo rm a tio n n e c e s s a ry fo r th e re vie ws .\n \xef\x81\xad Au th o rity to p u b lis h fin d in g s a n d re c o m m e n d a tio n s b a s e d o n th e re vie ws .\n\n Vis io n\nWe s trive fo r c o n tin u a l im p ro ve m e n t in S S A\xe2\x80\x99s p ro g ra m s , o p e ra tio n s a n d\nm a n a g e m e n t b y p ro a c tive ly s e e kin g n e w wa ys to p re ve n t a n d d e te r fra u d , wa s te\na n d a b u s e . We c o m m it to in te g rity a n d e xc e lle n c e b y s u p p o rtin g a n e n viro n m e n t\nth a t p ro vid e s a va lu a b le p u b lic s e rvic e while e nc o u ra g in g e m p lo ye e d e ve lo p m e n t\na n d re te n tio n a n d fo s te rin g d ive rs ity a n d in n o va tio n .\n\x0c Background\nOBJECTIVE\nOur objective was to determine whether the Agency accurately reported improper\npayment information in the Debt Management Tables and the Improper Payments\nInformation Act of 2002 (IPIA 1) Detailed Report published in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2008\nPerformance and Accountability Report (PAR).\n\nBACKGROUND\nDEBT MANAGEMENT\n\nIn FY 2008, the Social Security Administration (SSA) collected $2.81 billion in program\nbenefit overpayments. SSA used its internal debt collection methods, such as benefit\nwithholding, to collect overpayments from monthly benefits when the person was still in\ncurrent pay status. When the person was no longer in current pay status, SSA used its\nbilling and follow-up system. That system enabled SSA to send a series of\nprogressively stronger notices requesting repayment and make telephone calls to\nnegotiate repayment. In addition to the internal methods, SSA used external collection\ntechniques, as follows.\n\n\xe2\x80\xa2 Tax Refund Offset/Treasury Offset Program \xe2\x80\x93 In 1992, SSA began recovering\n delinquent Old-Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance (OASDI) overpayments from\n former beneficiaries by offsetting their Federal tax refunds through a process called\n Tax Refund Offset (TRO). 2 In 1998, TRO was expanded to include delinquent\n Supplemental Security Income (SSI) overpayments.3 Also in 1998, SSA began using\n the Treasury Offset Program (TOP) to recover OASDI overpayments through\n administrative offset--reduction or withholding of a Federal payment other than a tax\n refund. 4 In 2002, SSA implemented TOP for SSI debts. 5\n\n\n\n1\n Pub. L. No. 107-300, 31 U.S.C. \xc2\xa7 3321.\n2\n The Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1990, Pub. L. No. 101-508, 104 Stat. 1388, allows SSA to\nrecover delinquent OASDI overpayments through TRO. See also, Social Security Act \xc2\xa7 204(a)(1)(A),\n42 U.S.C. \xc2\xa7 404(a)(1)(A).\n3\n TRO for SSI debts is authorized by the Deficit Reduction Act of 1984, Pub. L. No. 98-369.\n4\n The Debt Collection Improvement Act of 1996, Pub. L. No. 104-134, authorizes SSA to collect certain\nOASDI overpayments by TOP. See also, Social Security Act \xc2\xa7 204(f)(1) and (2), 42 U.S.C. \xc2\xa7 404(f)(1)\nand (2).\n5\n TOP for SSI debts is authorized by the Foster Care Independence Act of 1999, Pub. L. No. 106-169\n(H.R. 3443).\n\n\nQuick Response Evaluation: Improper Payments Report (A-15-09-29125) 1\n\x0c\xe2\x80\xa2 Credit Bureau Reporting \xe2\x80\x93 The Social Security Domestic Employment Reform Act\n of 1994 authorizes SSA to report certain delinquent OASDI overpayments to credit\n bureaus.6 In 1998, SSA began reporting these overpayments to credit bureaus as a\n way of influencing individuals to repay their debts.\n\n\xe2\x80\xa2 Cross Program Recovery 7 \xe2\x80\x93 In 2002, SSA began recovering delinquent SSI\n overpayments from monthly Old-Age and Survivors Insurance (OASI) and Disability\n Insurance (DI) benefits due the debtor. In March 2004, the Social Security Protection\n Act of 2004 was enacted and covers OASDI, SSI, and Special Veterans Benefits. It\n allowed SSA, subject to certain limitations, to collect an overpayment in any of the\n three programs from benefits payable from any of those three programs. 8\n\n\xe2\x80\xa2 Administrative Wage Garnishment 9 \xe2\x80\x93 The Debt Collection Improvement Act of\n 1996 (DCIA) authorizes SSA to collect delinquent overpayments by garnishing the\n wages of private and public sector employees. 10 In April 2005, the first garnishment\n orders were issued to employers of OASI, DI, and SSI debtors who had delinquent\n overpayments in 2005. In August 2006, the program was expanded to include all\n existing delinquent debtors.\n\n\xe2\x80\xa2 Automatic Netting of SSI Payments \xe2\x80\x93 SSA began automatically netting SSI\n overpayments against SSI underpayments in September 2002.\n\n\xe2\x80\xa2 Non-Entitled Debtor Initiative \xe2\x80\x93 In 2005, SSA implemented the Non-Entitled Debtor\n (NED) initiative, which is a process that electronically identifies, controls, and\n resolves overpayments owed by persons who are not entitled to Social Security\n benefits or SSI payments. NED allows these overpayments to be collected via TOP\n and Administrative Wage Garnishment. 11\n\n\n\n\n6\n Pub. L. No. 103-387 \xc2\xa7 5(a) (1994), Social Security Act \xc2\xa7 204(f)(1), 42 U.S.C. \xc2\xa7 404(f)(1).\n7\n In June 2007, our review of Cross Program Recovery of Benefit Overpayments (A-13-06-16031) found\nthat the Agency had not fully implemented its cross-program authority as authorized under the Social\nSecurity Protection Act of 2004.\n8\n Pub. L. No. 108-203 \xc2\xa7 210 (2004), 42 U.S.C. \xc2\xa7 1320b-17.\n9\n Our September 2008 review of the Administrative Wage Garnishment (A-13-08-28009) found that,\ngenerally, the Agency complied with its policies and procedures when it used Administrative Wage\nGarnishment to collect OASDI and SSI delinquent debt; however, we found three system-related\nproblems and two instances in which the debtors\xe2\x80\x99 employers were uncooperative or non-responsive.\n10\n Pub. L. No. 104-134 \xc2\xa7 31001(o)(1) (1996).\n11\n NED is authorized by the Foster Care Independence Act of 1999, Pub. L. No. 106-169 (H.R. 3443).\n\n\n\nQuick Response Evaluation: Improper Payments Report (A-15-09-29125) 2\n\x0cThe results of two FY 2004 audit reports12 indicated that SSA had made significant\nefforts to identify, prevent, and recover OASDI and SSI overpayments over the past\nseveral years. In those reports, we recommended that SSA continue evaluating the\nrecovery tools that were not yet implemented but were authorized through legislation.\nSince the issuance of those reports, SSA has initiated several additional debt recovery\nprograms, such as the Administrative Wage Garnishment and Federal salary offset. 13\n\nTo determine whether SSA benefited from implementing various recovery efforts, we\nreviewed the amount of collections for both OASDI and SSI from the date of inception\nfor each recovery mechanism. The data provided by SSA for TRO, TOP, and Credit\nBureau Reporting were based on the calendar year. Therefore, the analysis we\nconducted used calendar year data for TRO, TOP, and Credit Bureau Reporting and FY\ndata for the remaining initiatives. Although we did not independently verify the recovery\nstatistics provided, the data suggest that the above-referenced recovery initiatives have\nresulted in increased recoveries. For example, when TRO and TOP were implemented\nin 1992, $54.7 million was recovered for OASI and DI. In 2008, $125.3 million was\nrecovered. TRO and TOP were not implemented for SSI until 1998. During that year,\n$33 million was recovered, and in 2008, $69.1 million was recovered. Appendix C\ncontains graphs for each initiative showing the collections for OASDI and SSI from the\ndate of inception.\n\nIMPROPER PAYMENTS\n\nIPIA was signed into law on November 26, 2002. It requires that the head of each\nagency, in accordance with guidance prescribed by the Director of the Office of\nManagement and Budget (OMB), annually review all programs and activities it\nadministers and identify all such programs and activities that may be susceptible to\nsignificant improper payments.14 An estimate of the annual amount of improper\npayments must be submitted to Congress before March 31 of the following applicable\nyear. 15\n\nEach year, SSA reports payment accuracy rates for both the OASDI and SSI programs\nbased on the stewardship reviews. The reviews are used as the basic measure to\nreport on the accuracy of benefit payments. Each year, SSA reports improper\npayments (both overpayments and underpayments) from its stewardship reviews of\nnonmedical aspects of the OASI, DI, and SSI programs. In accordance with OMB\xe2\x80\x99s\nguidelines implementing the provisions of IPIA, SSA reports payments that should not\n\n12\n Supplemental Security Income Overpayments (A-01-04-24022) and Overpayments in the Old-Age,\nSurvivors and Disability Insurance Program (A-01-04-24023).\n\n13\n Authorized by DCIA for OASDI debts and the Foster Care Independence Act of 1999 for SSI debts.\nThis program was implemented by SSA in FY 2006 and allows paying agencies to withhold amounts\neach pay period from a Federal employee who owes a debt to a creditor agency.\n14\n Pub. L. No. 107-300 \xc2\xa7 2(a).\n15\n Pub. L. No. 107-300 \xc2\xa7 2(b).\n\n\nQuick Response Evaluation: Improper Payments Report (A-15-09-29125) 3\n\x0chave been made or payments that were made in an incorrect amount as improper.\nStewardship review findings provide the basis for reports to Congress and other\nmonitoring authorities. Data from these reviews are also used in corrective action\nplanning and in monitoring performance, as required by the Government Performance\nand Results Act of 1993. 16\n\nPayment accuracy rates developed in SSA\xe2\x80\x99s stewardship reviews reflect the accuracy\nof payments issued to OASDI beneficiaries and SSI recipients who received or were\nissued a payment for the sample month. A statistically valid national sample is selected\nmonthly from the payment rolls, which consist of OASDI and SSI beneficiaries in current\npay status. For each sample selected, the recipient or representative payee is\ninterviewed, collateral contacts are made, as needed, and all nonmedical eligibility\nfactors are redeveloped as of the current sample month. Findings are input into a\nnational database for analysis and report preparation. Separate rates are determined\nfor accuracy of payments in terms of over- and underpayment dollars.\n\n\n\n\n16\n Pub. L. No. 103-62.\n\n\nQuick Response Evaluation: Improper Payments Report (A-15-09-29125) 4\n\x0c Results of Review\nOverall, our review determined that the Agency accurately presented information for the\nDebt Management and Improper Payments tables in the FY 2008 PAR. Specifically, we\nreviewed the (1) FY 2008 Quarterly Debt Management Activities Table, (2) Debt\nManagement Activities Table, (3) Improper Payments Experience FY 2005 \xe2\x80\x93 FY 2007,\nand (4) Improper Payments Reduction Outlook FY 2008 - 2011.\n\nDEBT MANAGEMENT\n\nFY 2008 Quarterly Debt Management Activities Table\n\nWe recalculated the figures in the FY 2008 Quarterly Debt Management Activities\nTable 17 and found two numbers that were incorrectly reported. The fourth quarter\nfigures for both \xe2\x80\x9cTotal collections (cumulative)\xe2\x80\x9d and \xe2\x80\x9cTOP collections (cumulative)\xe2\x80\x9d did\nnot reconcile to the amounts from the Treasury Report on Receivables (TROR)\nreports.18 Each total was inaccurate by approximately $3 million. The Office of Finance\nstated that the TROR for SSI was updated, and the figures in the PAR were not updated\nto reflect the changes. Although these figures were incorrectly stated, the amounts are\nnot significant and should not be carried forward to the FY 2009 PAR; therefore,\nrestating the amounts should not be necessary.\n\nDebt Management Activities Table\n\nThe figures in the Debt Management Activities Table 19 represented legally defined\noverpayments. 20 These figures were obtained from the TROR. For our review, we\nrecalculated the figures in the table and compared certain figures to determine whether\nthey were appropriately reported. When we recalculated the figures in the Debt\nManagement Activities Table, we found one of the percentage statistics was incorrectly\nreported. The \xe2\x80\x9cpercent change in collections from the prior FY\xe2\x80\x9d figure for FY 2004 was\nreported as 2.5 percent. However, based on our calculations, the percentage should\nhave been 3.5 percent. 21 Although this figure was incorrectly stated, the difference is\n\n\n17\n FY 2008 PAR, page 169.\n18\n The TROR serves as a management report that informs Federal decisionmakers of the total book value\nof the receivables owed to Federal agencies and the status of the Government\xe2\x80\x99s debt portfolio.\n19\n FY 2008 PAR, page 170.\n20\n An overpayment is the total amount an individual received for any period that exceeds the total amount\nthat should have been paid for the period. For specific information on how SSA defines overpayments,\nrefer to SSA\xe2\x80\x99s Program Operations Manual System, GN 02201.001 and SM 00610.515.\n21\n The percentage was recalculated as follows (in thousands): (2,226,737 \xe2\x80\x93 2,307,601)/ 2,307,601\n= -3.5 percent. Figures were provided by the Division of Central Accounting and Reporting (DCAR).\n\n\nQuick Response Evaluation: Improper Payments Report (A-15-09-29125) 5\n\x0cnot significant and should not be carried forward to the FY 2009 PAR; therefore,\nrestating the figure should not be necessary.\n\nDuring our analysis, we focused on recalculating the \xe2\x80\x9caverage number of months to\nclear receivables\xe2\x80\x9d to determine whether the fluctuations reported were accurate. We\nalso compared the average number of months to clear receivables in relation to\noutstanding actual debt, new debt detection, and collections on receivables. The tables\nbelow break out OASI, DI, and SSI figures for FYs 2004 through 2008.\n\n Debt Management Activities - OASI (in thousands)\n FY 2004 FY 2005 FY 2006 FY 2007 FY 2008\n\n Outstanding Actual $1,948,131 $2,076,607 $2,237,761 $2,498,808 $2,685,224\n Debt\n New Debt $1,085,007 $1,231,967 $1,456,109 $1,571,639 $1,762,316\n Detection\n (Receivables)\n Collections on $942,061 $1,030,218 $1,170,724 $1,181,622 $1,360,609\n Receivables\n Average Number of 22 20 18 18 18\n Months to Clear\n Receivables\n Source: Debt Management Workpapers prepared by DCAR based on TROR reports\n\nThe average number of months to clear receivables for OASI remained fairly consistent\nfor FYs 2004 to 2008. This was a result of a consistent change in the ratio of new debt\ndetection to average outstanding actual debt.\n\n Debt Management Activities - DI (in thousands)\n FY 2004 FY 2005 FY 2006 FY 2007 FY 2008\n\n\n Outstanding Actual $3,198,483 $3,771,387 $4,378,031 $4,735,551 $5,017,926\n Debt\n New Debt Detection $980,690 $1,413,604 $1,683,403 $1,401,216 $1,458,521\n (Receivables)\n Collections on $451,558 $505,463 $658,868 $713,052 $784,264\n Receivables\n Average Number of 38 30 29 39 40\n Months to Clear\n Receivables\n Source: Debt Management Workpapers prepared by DCAR based on TROR reports\n\nThe average number of months to clear receivables for DI did not remain as consistent.\nIn FY 2006, it took SSA only 29 months on average to clear a receivable; however, in\nFY 2007, it took an average of 39 months to clear a receivable. For FY 2007, the\naverage number of months to clear a receivable increased because new debt\ndecreased at a rate of 16.8 percent, yet average outstanding debt increased at a rate of\n\n\nQuick Response Evaluation: Improper Payments Report (A-15-09-29125) 6\n\x0c11.8 percent. We requested the Office of Payment and Recovery Policy (OPRP)\npersonnel provide us the underlying causes of the fluctuations in the average number of\nmonths to clear receivables for the DI program. OPRP stated there was a significant\ndecrease in the number of continuing disability reviews (CDR) conducted in FY 2006\n(1.33 million) compared to FY 2007 (764,000). This decrease in CDRs resulted in a\nsignificant drop in disability cessations and may have caused most of the 16.8-percent\ndecrease in new debt detections for the DI program and the resulting increase in the\naverage number of months to clear receivables in FY 2007.\n\n Debt Management Activities - SSI (in thousands)\n FY 2004 FY 2005 FY 2006 FY 2007 FY 2008\n\n Outstanding $7,113,549 $7,306,769 $7,031,701 $7,005,299 $7,181,206\n Actual Debt\n New Debt $1,978,635 $2,050,186 $2,014,551 $2,019,725 $2,351,517\n Detection\n (Receivables)\n Collections on $833,118 $901,627 $935,111 $966,178 $1,032,391\n Receivables\n Average Number 47 42 43 42 36\n of Months to\n Clear\n Receivables\n Source: Debt Management Workpapers prepared by DCAR based on TROR reports\n\nThe average number of months to clear receivables for SSI remained consistent for FYs\n2005 through 2007. However, in FY 2008, the average number of months decreased\nsubstantially. This decrease resulted from new debt increasing at a rate of\n16.4 percent, while average outstanding debt increased at a rate of 1.1 percent. We\nalso requested that OPRP personnel provide us the underlying causes of the\nfluctuations in the average number of months to clear receivables for the SSI program.\nThey stated that from May through August 2008, the Internal Revenue Service released\neconomic stimulus payments to more than 130 million individuals. The stimulus\npayments were subject to offset against outstanding tax and non-tax liabilities in the\nsame fashion as regular tax refunds. Therefore, SSI overpayments were subject to\nTOP during the release of the stimulus payments in FY 2008, and in part may have lead\nto an increase of collections and a decrease in the average number of months to clear\nreceivables. In addition, SSI redeterminations increased from 1 million in FY 2007 to\n1.2 million in FY 2008. This increase in redeterminations contributed to the increase in\nnew debt in FY 2008 and the overall decrease in the average number of months to clear\nreceivables. See Appendix D for further details on the calculations we analyzed.\n\n\n\n\nQuick Response Evaluation: Improper Payments Report (A-15-09-29125) 7\n\x0cIMPROPER PAYMENTS INFORMATION ACT OF 2002 DETAILED REPORT\n\nImproper Payments Experience FY 2005 \xe2\x80\x93 FY 2007 Table\n\nThe Improper Payments Experience FY 2005 \xe2\x80\x93 FY 2007 Table 22 figures were based on\nthe statistical sample used in the Stewardship Reviews conducted by the Office of\nQuality Performance (OQP). Each FY, OQP conducted stewardship reviews of both\nOASDI and SSI payments issued in that FY. The stewardship reviews were based on a\nmonthly sample selection from the OASDI and SSI payment rolls that consisted of\nbeneficiaries in current pay status. Each month, about 80 OASI cases, 40 DI cases,\nand 360 SSI cases were selected for review. According to the FY 2007 Title II Payment\nAccuracy (Stewardship) Report published by OQP, \xe2\x80\x9c. . . the sample is sufficient to\nprovide statistically reliable data on the overall payment accuracy of the universe of RSI\nand DI payments issued in the FY. The annual sample is not large enough to provide\nstatistically reliable information about the individual deficiencies23 in a given year.\nTherefore, Stewardship sample data are viewed over a period of years to aid in\nidentifying trends.\xe2\x80\x9d24 If an error was detected, OQP determined whether the payment\nerror met the definition of improper (see Appendix E). If a program payment was not\nconsidered \xe2\x80\x9cunavoidable,\xe2\x80\x9d it was included in the projection of improper payment\nexperience.\n\nIn contrast to the statistical information presented by OQP, OPRP tracked legally\ndefined overpayment information regardless of whether it was considered improper.\nOPRP used this information to forecast overpayments and analyze trends. The\ninformation was then shared with the Office of Budget 25 and incorporated into an exhibit\nin the Agency\xe2\x80\x99s budget. The main use of this information was for internal analysis\nconducted by various SSA components.\n\nThe differences between the information presented by OQP and the information tracked\nby OPRP presented difficulties when we tried to compare them. For example, the\namount of overpayments for the DI program for FY 2007 reported in the FY 2008 PAR\nwas $864 million. Based on the report provided by OPRP, the new debt that was\nactually detected for the DI program in FY 2007 was $1.3 billion. The differences\noccurred because each component evaluated two separate measures of overpayments.\nOQP evaluated undetected overpayments meeting the definition of improper for a single\nFY and then projected that experience to program outlays for the same FY while OPRP\ntallied actual overpayments detected in the operating processes in a FY, but that could\nrepresent a debt from the same FY or an accumulation of previous FYs. The purpose\n\n22\n FY 2008 PAR, page 172.\n23\n Some cases had more than one \xe2\x80\x9cerror\xe2\x80\x9d causing an incorrect payment. Each of these \xe2\x80\x9cerrors\xe2\x80\x9d was\nreferred to as a deficiency.\n24\n Fiscal Year (FY) 2007 Title II Payment Accuracy (Stewardship) Report,\nhttp://quality.ba.ad.ssa.gov/hq/reports/reportspdf/FY2007_Title_II_Stewardship_Report.pdf\n25\n Social Security Administration: Debt Collection \xe2\x80\x93 Benefit Overpayments.\n\n\nQuick Response Evaluation: Improper Payments Report (A-15-09-29125) 8\n\x0cof the OQP reviews was to project the amount of error found in the sample month to the\nuniverse to arrive at the correct payment accuracy number. According to OQP\npersonnel, for any individual Social Security number (SSN), overpayment errors found\nwere only attributable to the incorrect payment in the sample month and did not include\nother additional overpayments made during other months of the FY for that particular\nSSN. If other errors outside the sample month were discovered, OQP reported the\nerrors to the Feedback Coordinator in the program service center with jurisdiction over\nthe SSN under review as informational feedback but did not include them in error dollars\nrecorded for the sample month.\n\nOPRP tracked debts based on overpayments that SSA actually detected in the current\nyear. Although the overpayments were detected in the current year, they may have\ncorresponded to historical events that initiated the overpayment. For example, suppose\nduring the stewardship review for the sample month of June, OQP discovered a\n$50 overpayment for a particular SSN for the sample month. During the redevelopment\nof the case to determine the accuracy of the June payment, OQP also discovered the\n$50 payments for March, April, and May were also overpayments. Because OQP only\nincluded overpayments detected for the sample month, it recorded an overpayment\nerror of $50, which was then projected to the universe. OQP would also report the\noverpayment errors from March through June to Operations as informational feedback.\nOnce the total $200 overpayment was assessed on the beneficiary\xe2\x80\x99s record, the\n$200 would be recorded as new debt by SSA that was included in the information\ntracked by OPRP.\n\nImproper Payments Reduction Outlook FY 2008 \xe2\x80\x93 FY 2011 Table\n\nThe Improper Payments Reduction Outlook FY 2008 \xe2\x80\x93 FY 2011 Table 26 figures were\nderived from both OMB and the Mid-Session Review of the President\xe2\x80\x99s FY 2009\nBudget. These figures did not correlate to the figures provided by OQP\xe2\x80\x99s FY 2007\nStewardship Report or OPRP\xe2\x80\x99s actual program overpayments detected for FY 2008.\nAccording to the PAR, the payment dollars represent estimated outlays as presented in\nthe Mid-Session Review of the President\xe2\x80\x99s FY 2009 Budget. OMB then provided the\ntarget percentages for both overpayments and underpayments for OASDI and SSI.\nFrom program outlays and OMB\xe2\x80\x99s payment accuracy targets, projected dollars for\nimproper overpayments and underpayments were computed. According to OPRP,\nOMB had not provided a reason for the target percentages. OPRP indicated the\npercentages provided were unrealistic and should have been reassessed based on the\nbudget restraints and the resulting reduced amounts of redeterminations and continuing\ndisability reviews being conducted. Below is a comparison of the target rates provided\nby OMB versus the rates that were reported in the PAR based on the Stewardship\nReviews conducted by OQP.\n\n\n\n\n26\n FY 2008 PAR, Page 173.\n\n\nQuick Response Evaluation: Improper Payments Report (A-15-09-29125) 9\n\x0c Target vs. Reported Error Rates\n FY 2005 FY 2006 FY 2007\n Target Reported Target Reported Target Reported\n Rate Rate 27 Rate Rate Rate Rate\n OASDI\n Underpayments 0.2% 0.19% 0.2% 0.12% 0.2% 0.13%\n Overpayments 0.2% 0.45% 0.2% 0.33% 0.2% 0.21%\n\n SSI\n Underpayments 1.2% 1.4% 1.2% 2.2% 1.2% 1.5%\n Overpayments 5.1% 6.4% 4.6% 7.9% 4.3% 9.1%\n Source: SSA\xe2\x80\x99s FY 2004 and FY 2008 PARs\n\n\n\n\n27\n Reported rates are based on the accuracy rates determined by the stewardship reviews conducted by\nOQP. The rates are presented in Table 1 on page 172 of the FY 2008 PAR.\n\n\nQuick Response Evaluation: Improper Payments Report (A-15-09-29125) 10\n\x0c Conclusion\nOverall, our review determined that the Agency accurately presented information for the\nDebt Management and Improper Payments sections in the FY 2008 PAR. The figures\npresented in the Debt Management Tables were accurately reported; however, three\nfigures were incorrectly stated. Although the figures were incorrectly stated, the related\namounts were not significant and should not be carried forward to the FY 2009 PAR;\ntherefore, restating the figures should not be necessary. The Improper Payments\nExperience figures were accurately presented based on the Stewardship Reviews\nconducted by OQP. The figures were based on statistical information obtained from a\nmonthly sample selection from the OASDI and SSI payment rolls. By contrast, OPRP\ntracked improper payment information based on OMB\xe2\x80\x99s definition of improper\npayments. Lastly, The Improper Payments Reduction Outlook figures were accurately\npresented based on the target percentages provided by OMB and the Mid-Session\nReview of the President\xe2\x80\x99s FY 2009 Budget.\n\n\n\n\nQuick Response Evaluation: Improper Payments Report (A-15-09-29125) 11\n\x0c Appendices\nAPPENDIX A \xe2\x80\x93 Acronyms\nAPPENDIX B \xe2\x80\x93 Scope and Methodology\nAPPENDIX C \xe2\x80\x93 Debt Management Initiatives\nAPPENDIX D \xe2\x80\x93 Analysis of Average Number of Months to Clear Receivables\nAPPENDIX E \xe2\x80\x93 Defining Erroneous Payments\nAPPENDIX F \xe2\x80\x93 OIG Contacts and Staff Acknowledgments\n\n\n\n\nQuick Response Evaluation: Improper Payments Report (A-15-09-29125)\n\x0c Appendix A\n\nAcronyms\n\n CDR Continuing Disability Review\n\n DCAR Division of Central Accounting and Reporting\n\n DCIA Debt Collection Improvement Act of 1996\n\n DI Disability Insurance\n\n FCIA Foster Care Independence Act of 1999\n\n FY Fiscal Year\n\n IPIA Improper Payments Information Act of 2002\n\n NED Non-Entitled Debtor\n\n OASDI Old-Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance\n\n OASI Old-Age and Survivors Insurance\n\n OIG Office of the Inspector General\n\n OMB Office of Management and Budget\n\n OPRP Office of Payment and Recovery Policy\n\n OQP Office of Quality Performance\n\n PAR Performance and Accountability Report\n\n SSA Social Security Administration\n\n SSI Supplemental Security Income\n\n SSN Social Security Number\n\n TOP Treasury Offset Program\n\n TRO Tax Refund Offset\n\n TROR Treasury Report on Receivables\n\n\n\n\nQuick Response Evaluation: Improper Payments Report (A-15-09-29125)\n\x0c Appendix B\n\nScope and Methodology\nOur objective was to determine whether the Agency accurately reported on improper\npayment information in the Debt Management Tables and the Improper Payments\nInformation Act of 2002 (IPIA) Detailed Report published in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2008\nPerformance and Accountability Report (PAR). To accomplish our objective, we:\n\n\xe2\x80\xa2 Reviewed applicable Federal laws and regulations as well as the Social Security\n Administration\xe2\x80\x99s Program Operations Manual System.\n\n\xe2\x80\xa2 Reviewed the FY 2007 Stewardship Review Reports for the Old-Age, Survivors and\n Disability Insurance and the Supplemental Security Income programs.\n\n\xe2\x80\xa2 Reviewed the Treasury Reports on Receivables for FY 2008.\n\n\xe2\x80\xa2 Requested data from the Offices of Finance and Payment and Recovery Policy to\n support the figures presented in the Debt Management Activities tables and the\n Improper Payments Information Act of 2002 Detailed Report.\n\n\xe2\x80\xa2 Analyzed the calculations provided by the Office of Finance, which are used for the\n Debt Management Tables.\n\n\xe2\x80\xa2 Analyzed the source data for various tables in the Improper Payments Information\n Act of 2002 Detailed Report.\n\nWe determined the data obtained from the Social Security Administration used in this\nreport were sufficiently reliable given the evaluation objective and their intended use.\n\nWe performed our review in May 2009 in Baltimore, Maryland. The report reviewed was\nthe Improper Payments Information Act of 2002 Detailed Report and the Debt\nManagement Tables in the FY 2008 PAR. We conducted our review in accordance with\nthe President\xe2\x80\x99s Council on Integrity and Efficiency\xe2\x80\x99s 1 Quality Standards for Inspections.\n\n\n\n\n1\n In January 2009, the President\xe2\x80\x99s Council on Integrity and Efficiency was superseded by the Council of\nthe Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency, Inspector General Reform Act of 2008, Pub. L. No.\n110-409 \xc2\xa7 7, 5 U.S.C App. 3 \xc2\xa7 11.\n\n\nQuick Response Evaluation: Improper Payments Report (A-15-09-29125)\n\x0c Appendix C\n\nDebt Management Initiatives1\n\n Tax Refund Offset / Treasury Offset\n (Calendar Year)\n\n 140\n\n\n\n 120\n\n\n\n 100\n $ Recovery (in millions)\n\n\n\n\n 80\n OASDI\n SSI\n 60\n\n\n\n 40\n\n\n\n 20\n\n\n\n -\n 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008\n Years\n\n\nFigure 1: Tax Refund Offset (TRO) for Old-Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance (OASDI) was\ninitiated in 1992. TRO was initiated for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) in 1998; however,\nsome of the collections applied to the 1997 calendar tax year. TRO was expanded to include the\nTreasury Offset Program (TOP) in 1998 for OASDI and in 2002 for SSI.\n\n\n\n\n1\n Figures provided by \xe2\x80\x9cThe External Collection Operations Report\xe2\x80\x9d provided by the Office of Retirement\nand Survivors Insurance Systems.\n\n\nQuick Response Evaluation: Improper Payments Report (A-15-09-29125) C-1\n\x0c Credit Bureau Reporting\n (Calendar Year)\n\n 45\n\n\n 40\n\n\n 35\n\n\n 30\n $ Recovery (in millions)\n\n\n\n\n 25\n OASDI\n SSI\n 20\n\n\n 15\n\n\n 10\n\n\n 5\n\n\n -\n 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008\n Years\n\n\nFigure 2: Credit Bureau Reporting was initiated for OASDI in 1998 and SSI in 2002.\n\n\n\n\nQuick Response Evaluation: Improper Payments Report (A-15-09-29125) C-2\n\x0c Cross Program Recovery\n (Fiscal Year)\n\n 80\n\n\n\n 70\n\n\n\n 60\n $ Recovery (in millions)\n\n\n\n\n 50\n\n\n OASDI\n 40\n SSI\n\n\n 30\n\n\n\n 20\n\n\n\n 10\n\n\n\n -\n 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008\n Years\n\n\nFigure 3: Cross Program Recovery was initiated for the collection of SSI overpayments from\nmonthly OASDI benefit payments in 2002. It was expanded in 2007 to include the recovery of\nOASDI overpayments from SSI underpayments.\n\n\n\n\nQuick Response Evaluation: Improper Payments Report (A-15-09-29125) C-3\n\x0c Wage Garnishment\n (Fiscal Year)\n\n 25\n\n\n\n\n 20\n $ Recovery (In millions)\n\n\n\n\n 15\n\n OASDI\n SSI\n\n 10\n\n\n\n\n 5\n\n\n\n\n -\n 2005 2006 2007 2008\n Years\n\n\nFigure 4: Wage Garnishment was initiated for the collection of OASDI and SSI overpayments in\n2005.\n\n\n\n\nQuick Response Evaluation: Improper Payments Report (A-15-09-29125) C-4\n\x0c Netting\n (Fiscal Year)\n\n 140\n\n\n\n 120\n\n\n\n 100\n $ Recovery (in millions)\n\n\n\n\n 80\n OASDI\n SSI\n 60\n\n\n\n 40\n\n\n\n 20\n\n\n\n -\n 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008\n Years\n\n\nFigure 5: In 2002, the Social Security Administration began automatically netting SSI\noverpayments against SSI underpayments. This initiative corresponds solely to SSI.\n\n\n\n\nQuick Response Evaluation: Improper Payments Report (A-15-09-29125) C-5\n\x0c Appendix D\n\nAnalysis of Average Number of Months to Clear\nReceivables\nDuring our analysis of the Debt Management Activities Table, 1 we focused on the\naverage number of months to clear receivables for Disability Insurance (DI) and\nSupplemental Security Income (SSI) because of the large fluctuations from one fiscal\nyear (FY) to the next. Specifically, we analyzed the change in DI average months from\n29 in FY 2006 to 39 in FY 2007 and SSI average months from 42 in FY 2007 to 36 in\nFY 2008. We first obtained the equation used to calculate the amounts.2 Using the\ndata provided by the Office of Finance, we recalculated the figures to verify the amounts\nwere presented accurately. The calculations were as follows.\n\nDisability Insurance\n\n Description Amount\n New Debt \xe2\x80\x93 FY 2006 $1,683,403\n Outstanding Actual Debt \xe2\x80\x93 2006 $4,378,031\n Outstanding Actual Debt \xe2\x80\x93 2005 $3,771,387\n\n 12\n = 29 Months\n (1,683,403) / [(4,378,031 + 3,771,387) / 2] 3\n\n Description Amount\n New Debt \xe2\x80\x93 2007 $1,401,216\n Outstanding Actual Debt \xe2\x80\x93 2007 $4,735,551\n Outstanding Actual Debt \xe2\x80\x93 2006 $4,378,031\n\n 12\n = 39 Months\n 4\n (1,401,216) / [(4,735,551 + 4,378,031) / 2]\n\n1\n FY 2008 PAR, page 170.\n2\n The equation used to calculate average number of months to clear receivables is 12 / (New Debt\nDetection for the current FY) + (Average Outstanding Actual Debt); Average Outstanding Actual Debt is\nthe Average Outstanding Actual Debt of the prior FY plus the Average Outstanding Actual Debt of the\ncurrent FY divided by 2.\n3\n The denominator is also known as the Accounts Receivable Turnover Ratio, which computed to\n.4132 for 2006.\n4\n The denominator is also known as the Accounts Receivable Turnover Ratio, which computed to\n.3075 for 2007.\n\n\nQuick Response Evaluation: Improper Payments Report (A-15-09-29125) D-1\n\x0cNew Debt in 2007 for DI was decreasing at a rate of 16.77 percent, 5 and average debt\nfor DI was increasing at a rate of 11.83 percent. 6 Since average debt was increasing at\na higher rate, the Social Security Administration (SSA) could not collect its debts as\nquickly as in 2006. The accounts receivable turnover ratios decreased from 2006 to\n2007 which also indicated that the Agency was collecting its receivables at a slower\nrate.\n\nSupplemental Security Income\n\n Description Amount\n New Debt \xe2\x80\x93 2007 $2,019,725\n Outstanding Actual Debt \xe2\x80\x93 2007 $7,005,299\n Outstanding Actual Debt \xe2\x80\x93 2006 $7,031,701\n\n 12\n = 42 Months\n (2,019,725) / [(7,005,299 + 7,031,701) / 2] 7\n\n Description Amount\n New Debt \xe2\x80\x93 2008 $2,351,517\n Outstanding Actual Debt \xe2\x80\x93 2008 $7,181,206\n Outstanding Actual Debt \xe2\x80\x93 2007 $7,005,299\n\n 12\n = 36 Months\n 8\n (2,351,517) / [(7,181,206 + 7,005,299) / 2]\n\n\n\n\n5\n New Debt in 2007 decreased from New Debt in 2006 by 16.77 percent [(1,401,216 \xe2\x80\x93 1,683,403) /\n1,683,403].\n6\n The average Outstanding Actual Debt for 2007 increased over the average for 2006 by 11.83 percent\n{[((4,735,551 + 4,378,031) / 2) \xe2\x80\x93 ((4,378,031 + 3,771,387) / 2)] / ((4,378,031 + 3,771,387) / 2)}.\n7\n The denominator is also known as the Accounts Receivable Turnover Ratio, which computed to\n.2878 for 2007.\n8\n The denominator is also known as the Accounts Receivable Turnover Ratio, which computed to\n.3316 for 2008.\n\n\n\nQuick Response Evaluation: Improper Payments Report (A-15-09-29125) D-2\n\x0cNew Debt in 2008 for SSI was increasing at a rate of 16.4 percent 9 while average debt\nwas only increasing at a rate of 1.1 percent. 10 Since average debt was increasing at a\nslower rate, SSA was collecting its debts more quickly, which resulted in fewer months\nto collect the outstanding accounts receivable. The accounts receivable turnover ratios\nincreased from 2007 to 2008, which also indicated that the Agency was collecting its\nreceivables at a faster rate.\n\n\n\n\n9\n New Debt in 2008 increased from New Debt in 2007 by 16.4 percent [(2,351,517 \xe2\x80\x93 2,019,725) /\n2,019,725].\n10\n The average Outstanding Actual Debt for 2008 increased over the average for 2007 by 1.1 percent\n{[((7,181,206 + 7,005,299) / 2) \xe2\x80\x93 ((7,005,299 + 7,031,701) / 2)] / ((7,005,299 + 7,031,701) / 2)}.\n\n\nQuick Response Evaluation: Improper Payments Report (A-15-09-29125) D-3\n\x0c Appendix E\n\n Defining Erroneous Payments\n The following table identifies the types of Social Security Administration (SSA) payments, programs affected, current reporting status,\n reasons for the payments, and their classification. There are two classifications.\n\n \xe2\x80\xa2 Unavoidable - Payments resulting from legal or policy requirements. These payments are not considered erroneous.\n \xe2\x80\xa2 Avoidable - Payments that should be reflected in the erroneous payment estimate because they could be reduced through\n changes in administrative actions.\n\n Current\n Types of Payments Program Status Reason for Overpayment/Underpayment Classification\nPayments following a DI 1 and Not currently When SSA is required by law to make payments during the Unavoidable\ncessation of eligibility SSI 2 reflected as appeals process, these payments are not erroneous.\ndue to a continuing an error\ndisability review\nPayments made under SSI Reported as When due process requires SSI payments to continue, Unavoidable\nthe Goldberg-Kelly due- unavoidable although the Agency has determined that a payment\nprocess Supreme Court erroneous reduction or termination is in order, such payments are not\ndecision payment in erroneous.\n the APP 3\nPayments made SSI Reported as The law requires that SSI payments be made on the first of Unavoidable\nincorrectly because of unavoidable the month based on projected income for that particular\nprogram design erroneous month. Changes in the recipient\xe2\x80\x99s status can occur during\n payment in the month, which causes the recipient\xe2\x80\x99s eligibility to\n the APP change. Because SSA cannot prevent the overpayment\n from being made, this situation should not be reflected in\n the Agency\xe2\x80\x99s erroneous payment rate.\n\n 1\n Disability Insurance (DI).\n 2\n Supplemental Security Income (SSI).\n 3\n Annual Performance Plan (APP).\n\n\n Quick Response Evaluation: Improper Payments Report (A-15-09-29125) E-1\n\x0c Current\n Types of Payments Program Status Reason for Overpayment/Underpayment Classification\nPayments issued after OASI, 4 DI Not currently Dollars released after death (either electronically or in the Unavoidable\ndeath and SSI reflected as form of a paper check), which are reclaimed by the except for fraud\n an error 5 Department of the Treasury or returned unendorsed, or misuse\n should not be reflected in the Agency's erroneous payment\n rate. Conversely, payments made after death which are\n improperly cashed or withdrawn, and are subject to\n overpayment recovery, should be reported.\nNon-receipt of payment OASI, DI Not currently Duplicate Payments issued in accordance with the Unavoidable\n and SSI reflected as Robinson-Reyf Court decision are unavoidable and should except for fraud\n an error not be reflected in the Agency's reports on erroneous or misuse\n payments. The only exception is duplicates incorrectly sent\n to abusers.\nPayments based on DI and SSI Not currently Payments are not erroneous if they are the result of a Should not be\nmedical eligibility reflected as medical improvement review standard or a situation where included in the\n an error the beneficiary would have been ineligible had the law erroneous\n permitted retroactive ineligibility. payment estimate\nPayments made for Title DI and Not currently When program design requires that the Agency make Unavoidable\nII beneficiaries based on OASI reflected as payments based on estimated earnings, these payments\nearnings estimates an error should not be considered erroneous.\nUndetected error OASI, DI Not currently The Agency should not reflect undetected error in its Should not be\n and SSI reported as erroneous payment rate unless it has evidence that a included in the\n an error specific type of erroneous payment was made. erroneous\n payment estimate\nDuplicate payments to Admin- Not currently Systems do not capture when the overpayment occurs; Avoidable\nattorneys, vendors, and istrative reported as however, this type of error does not meet the reporting\nemployees Expense an error threshold.\n\n\n\n\n 4\n Old-Age and Survivors Insurance (OASI).\n 5\n Per Office of Quality Performance (OQP), these payments can be recorded as erroneous if not returned timely per the stewardship review protocol.\n\n\n Quick Response Evaluation: Improper Payments Report (A-15-09-29125) E-2\n\x0c Appendix F\n\nOIG Contacts and Staff Acknowledgments\nOIG Contacts\n Victoria Vetter, Director, Financial Audit Division\n\n Mark Meehan, Audit Manager, Financial Audit Division\n\nAcknowledgments\nIn addition to those named above:\n\n Kelly Stankus, Auditor\n\n Lori Lang, Auditor\n\nFor additional copies of this report, please visit our web site at\nwww.socialsecurity.gov/oig or contact the Office of the Inspector General\xe2\x80\x99s Public\nAffairs Staff Assistant at (410) 965-4518. Refer to Common Identification Number\nA-15-09-29125.\n\n\n\n\nQuick Response Evaluation: Improper Payments Report (A-15-09-29125)\n\x0c DISTRIBUTION SCHEDULE\n\nCommissioner of Social Security\nOffice of Management and Budget, Income Maintenance Branch\nChairman and Ranking Member, Committee on Ways and Means\nChief of Staff, Committee on Ways and Means\nChairman and Ranking Minority Member, Subcommittee on Social Security\nMajority and Minority Staff Director, Subcommittee on Social Security\nChairman and Ranking Minority Member, Committee on the Budget, House of\nRepresentatives\nChairman and Ranking Minority Member, Committee on Oversight and Government Reform\n\n\nChairman and Ranking Minority Member, Committee on Appropriations, House of\nRepresentatives\nChairman and Ranking Minority, Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services,\nEducation and Related Agencies, Committee on Appropriations,\n House of Representatives\nChairman and Ranking Minority Member, Committee on Appropriations, U.S. Senate\nChairman and Ranking Minority Member, Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human\nServices, Education and Related Agencies, Committee on Appropriations, U.S. Senate\nChairman and Ranking Minority Member, Committee on Finance\nChairman and Ranking Minority Member, Subcommittee on Social Security Pensions and\nFamily Policy\nChairman and Ranking Minority Member, Senate Special Committee on Aging\nSocial Security Advisory Board\n\x0c Overview of the Office of the Inspector General\nThe Office of the Inspector General (OIG) is comprised of an Office of Audit (OA), Office of Investigations\n(OI), Office of the Counsel to the Inspector General (OCIG), Office of External Relations (OER), and Office of\nTechnology and Resource Management (OTRM). To ensure compliance with policies and procedures, internal\ncontrols, and professional standards, the OIG also has a comprehensive Professional Responsibility and Quality\nAssurance program.\n Office of Audit\nOA conducts financial and performance audits of the Social Security Administration\xe2\x80\x99s (SSA) programs and\noperations and makes recommendations to ensure program objectives are achieved effectively and efficiently.\nFinancial audits assess whether SSA\xe2\x80\x99s financial statements fairly present SSA\xe2\x80\x99s financial position, results of\noperations, and cash flow. Performance audits review the economy, efficiency, and effectiveness of SSA\xe2\x80\x99s\nprograms and operations. OA also conducts short-term management reviews and program evaluations on issues\nof concern to SSA, Congress, and the general public.\n Office of Investigations\n\nOI conducts investigations related to fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement in SSA programs and operations.\nThis includes wrongdoing by applicants, beneficiaries, contractors, third parties, or SSA employees performing\ntheir official duties. This office serves as liaison to the Department of Justice on all matters relating to the\ninvestigation of SSA programs and personnel. OI also conducts joint investigations with other Federal, State,\nand local law enforcement agencies.\n Office of the Counsel to the Inspector General\nOCIG provides independent legal advice and counsel to the IG on various matters, including statutes,\nregulations, legislation, and policy directives. OCIG also advises the IG on investigative procedures and\ntechniques, as well as on legal implications and conclusions to be drawn from audit and investigative material.\nAlso, OCIG administers the Civil Monetary Penalty program.\n Office of External Relations\nOER manages OIG\xe2\x80\x99s external and public affairs programs, and serves as the principal advisor on news releases\nand in providing information to the various news reporting services. OER develops OIG\xe2\x80\x99s media and public\ninformation policies, directs OIG\xe2\x80\x99s external and public affairs programs, and serves as the primary contact for\nthose seeking information about OIG. OER prepares OIG publications, speeches, and presentations to internal\nand external organizations, and responds to Congressional correspondence.\n Office of Technology and Resource Management\nOTRM supports OIG by providing information management and systems security. OTRM also coordinates\nOIG\xe2\x80\x99s budget, procurement, telecommunications, facilities, and human resources. In addition, OTRM is the\nfocal point for OIG\xe2\x80\x99s strategic planning function, and the development and monitoring of performance\nmeasures. In addition, OTRM receives and assigns for action allegations of criminal and administrative\nviolations of Social Security laws, identifies fugitives receiving benefit payments from SSA, and provides\ntechnological assistance to investigations.\n\x0c"