IG's Message Audit of SSA's Financial Statements Including Independent Accountant's Opinion on SSA's

Office of theInspector GeneralOffice of the Inspector General85SSA’s FY 1998 Accountability Report 86Message From theActing Inspector GeneralI am pleased to present the opinion on the Social SecurityAdministration’s financial statements and the Office of theInspector General’s Report to the Congress for FY 1998. Wecontinue our cooperative effort with the Agency to streamline andconsolidate these reports within the Agency’s AccountabilityReport. These reports satisfy the requirements of the FederalManagers’ Financial Integrity Act and the Inspector General Act of1978, as amended.In FY 1998, our Office of Audit issued 56 reports withrecommendations that about $2.1 billion in Federal funds could beput to better use. Our Office of Investigations worked with otherFederal agencies and local law enforcement departments to obtain6,291 criminal convictions that resulted in over $94 million in scheduled restitution, judgments,recoveries, fines, and savings. As in previous years, the dollars gained as a result of our work exceed our$48,424,000 FY 1998 budget.I intend for the Office of the Inspector General to maintain independence and objectivity and foster apositive cooperative relationship with the Commissioner and Social Security Administrationmanagement. I will balance our need for independence with an equal responsibility to be considered afair and valued resource to the Social Security Administration. As we continue our work to contribute tothe ...