BALTIMORE, MD — The Social Security Administration reported lower improper payments and a series of operational changes in the Supplemental Security Income program as it released its 2026 annual report to the president and Congress.
The report outlines administrative initiatives implemented under Commissioner Frank J. Bisignano that the agency says have improved payment accuracy, strengthened eligibility oversight and expanded services for the more than 7 million Americans who receive SSI benefits.
SSI provides monthly financial assistance to aged, blind and disabled people with limited income and resources. The program is funded through general tax revenues rather than Social Security payroll taxes.
Among the changes highlighted in the report are simplified SSI policy instructions, expanded use of technology to route customer calls, broader deployment of the Access to Financial Institution tool to identify improper payments earlier, and full implementation of the Payroll Information Exchange to improve wage reporting and reduce reporting burdens for recipients.
The agency also expanded its use of non-medical redeterminations, scheduled reviews of recipients’ financial and other non-medical eligibility factors intended to verify continued qualification for benefits.
“For the first time in the agency’s history, I named a lead executive and established the SSI Improvement office to transform the service we provide to SSI recipients,” Commissioner Frank J. Bisignano stated. “We have made the program better for the people who rely on it and the SSA employees who support them.”
The annual report did not quantify the reduction in improper payments or provide comparative accuracy figures in the accompanying announcement.
According to SSA, the initiatives are intended to improve program integrity while making services more accessible for recipients and their representatives.
The 2026 Annual Report of the Supplemental Security Income Program is available at: https://www.ssa.gov/oact/ssir/SSI26/
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