IG: SSA failed to use E-Verify for 19 percent of new hires

E-Verify is a federal program that is supposed to make it easier for businesses and the federal government to verify that new hires are legal residents by checking a potential worker's Social Security number. So it is a remarkable irony that a government agency--the Social Security Administration--failed to comply with the requirement.

SSA Inspector General Patrick O'Carroll Jr., found that the SSA failed to perform required verifications of Social Security numbers in 19 percent of its own hires during a recent 18-month period. In addition, the SSA also improperly screened the identities of 75 volunteers, job candidates and existing employees, and was either too early or too late in verifying the eligibility of 49 percent of its new hires, according to the audit reported by Federal Computer Week.

E-Verify is voluntary except at federal agencies that have been required to use it since 2007, and for federal contractors who have been required to use it since September 2009.

"We believe SSA needs to set an example for federal agencies when using E-Verify by making sure all new hires are verified to help maintain a legal workforce, and improve the accuracy of wage and tax reporting," O'Carroll said. "In addition, the agency needs to ensure it complies with all the E-Verify requirements related to existing employees and job candidates."

For more on SSA and E-Verify:
- see this Federal Computer Week article

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