Objective

To provide information on individuals not paid the Martinez settlement payments under the No Social Security Benefits for Prisoners Act of 2009.

Background

On January 12, 2010, Congressman Sam Johnson, Congressman John Linder, and Congressman Wally Herger requested information regarding beneficiaries affected by both the Martinezsettlement and the No Social Security Benefits for Prisoners Act of 2009.  Specifically, they requested statistical information showing how many prison inmates—whose Martinez settlement-related payments the Social Security Administration (SSA) withheld—were in prison because of fugitive felon warrants versus other crimes.

To view the full report, visit http://www.ssa.gov/oig/ADOBEPDF/A-01-10-20112.pdf

Our Findings

As of January 2010, for the 157 individuals SSA identified as having potential prison addresses, the Agency properly withheld Martinez settlement payments in 80 cases pursuant to the No Social Security Benefits for Prisoners Act of 2009.  Of these 80 individuals, 21 were incarcerated because of a fugitive felon warrant.  Additionally, the Agency correctly processed Martinez settlement payments totaling $553,835 for 76 individuals and incorrectly paid one individual who was still incarcerated.