IT maintenance a drain on SSA budget

It's no secret that the Social Security Administration is spending too much money--way too much money--on information technology maintenance to keep its current systems operating. But a new report by the Social Security Advisory Board shows that the SSA spent more than 70 percent of its 2008 IT budget of $482 million just to keep current computer systems operating.

Despite all of that, the effort put forth is almost like using a Band-Aid to "plug holes" to keep projects running, the report said. Entitled "Bridging the Gap: Improving SSA's Public Service Through Technology," the report recommends a new approach: a comprehensive long-term plan to improve technology, and, of course, more money from Congress.

There's plenty of reasons for long-term IT planning, the report said. The SSA's National Computer Center, near Baltimore, will be outdated by 2012. And the agency plans to build a replacement, but isn't sure how soon it can be accomplished. Meanwhile, the NCC facility continues to deteriorate.

"Electrical supplies into the building are rapidly becoming inadequate; the backup power supplies are so old that it is virtually impossible to get replacement parts; and the fire suppression system needs upgrading," the report said.

For more on SSA's IT needs:
- check out this Federal Times article