Commissioner Frank J. Bisignano has established a dedicated leader and launched an SSI Improvement Team to enhance the Social Security program’s Supplemental Security Income operations, marking the first time in the agency’s history that SSI has received this level of organizational focus.
The SSI Improvement Team, announced in May 2026, is designed to streamline processes, support recipients in meeting program requirements, and eliminate improper payments through enhanced technology, policy changes, and more efficient workflows. Improper payments have been a persistent challenge for the program, with the SSI improper payment rate rising from 9.41 percent (approximately $5.3 billion) in fiscal year 2019 to 10.62 percent (approximately $6.5 billion) in fiscal year 2023, according to the Social Security Administration’s Office of the Inspector General.
One major source of overpayments stems from recipients failing to report changes in their financial resources that affect eligibility. The OIG found that 89 percent of overpayments resulting from excess resources occurred after SSA approved initial applications or completed eligibility redeterminations, suggesting that more frequent monitoring could prevent billions in improper payments. The OIG estimated SSA could have prevented approximately $2 billion in overpayments in fiscal year 2023 had it performed additional financial verification searches between initial approvals and redeterminations.
Technology and Operational Improvements
Bisignano’s broader operational transformation at Social Security has already yielded measurable results. The agency reduced National 800 Number average wait times from 34 minutes in 2024 to 8 minutes as of June 2026, a 75 percent reduction, and completed 385 million online transactions in fiscal year 2026 year to date, a 37 percent increase from 2024. These improvements have saved the public nearly 40 million hours in waiting time.
Technology enhancements specifically supporting SSI claims processing have increased program integrity and reduced improper payments, according to SSA’s June 2026 performance report. The agency also established technology improvements including Interactive Voice Response systems that now handle nearly 40 percent of incoming calls through self-service options, reducing the need for staff intervention and improving response times.
Bisignano, the 18th Senate-confirmed Commissioner of the Social Security Administration, took office in May 2025. His focus on digital transformation and operational excellence extends across all Social Security programs. The agency serves more than 330 million Americans and sends out approximately 75 million payments each month, totaling $1.6 trillion annually.
Sources
- Social Security Administration — Official press release (May 7, 2026) announcing Commissioner Bisignano’s one-year anniversary and establishment of SSI Improvement Team
- Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General — May 22, 2025 report on improper payment rates and causes, including SSI program analysis
- Social Security Administration — Official press release (June 29, 2026) detailing historic service improvements and technology enhancements
