Semiannual Report to Congress (SARC 57)

During the period April 1, 2017 through September 30, 2017, we: (1) Closed 11 audit recommendations and issued 9 new audit recommendations. The total number of open audit recommendations is 84. (2) Issued the following reports: (a) FY 2016 Improper Payments Evaluation. PBGC complied with improper payment requirements and financial assistance and contractor payment streams were not susceptible to significant improper payments. (b) Administrative Expenses for Insolvent Multiemployer Plans. PBGC adequately ensured that financial assistance recurring administrative expenses were reasonable, necessary, and adequately supported. However, we identified opportunities where PBGC could strengthen data quality and monitoring to ensure recurring administrative expenses for financial assistance are necessary and reasonable. (c) Premiums: Ways to Improve Exemption Determinations. PBGC’s premium exemption determinations can be improved with additional supporting documentation. (d) Special Report on Antideficiency Act Conclusion. PBGC’s conclusion regarding the reporting and recording of its multi-year lease obligations was not consistent with legal authority interpreting the Act, decisions of other agencies to report similar violations of the Act, and PBGC’s own decision to report a violation of the Act in another matter. (e) Risk Advisory: Personally Identifiable Information (PII) and Data Loss Prevention Controls. We identified for management and the Board weaknesses in controls to prevent the loss of sensitive data and made suggestions to mitigate this risk. (f) Inspection of Government Purchase Card Program. We found no fraudulent, improper, or abusive purchases during the period under review. However, we identified opportunities for PBGC to strengthen fraud prevention and program oversight. (3) Began the Deceased Participants Computer Matching Program. We initiated a computer matching program to identify PBGC benefits being paid to deceased participants. To date, we have identified 13 such cases. One case resulted in an indictment, two other cases are under consideration by prosecutors, and we referred 10 cases to the Office of Benefits Administration for termination of benefit payments and recoupment. Read the full report for details of our work to address these management challenge areas.