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“Improper payments” are payments made by the government to the wrong person, in the wrong amount, or for the wrong reason. Although not all improper payments are fraud, and not all improper payments represent a loss to the government...more
An improper payment can happen for a number of reasons. Knowing the causes of program error is essential. By understanding the causes of improper payments, agencies can better implement policies and procedures to reduce…more
Need more information on improper payments? We have a list of useful improper payment resources—including agency specific data, laws, and implementing guidance—that are often requested by agencies and the public.
| Program | Improper Payments |
|---|---|
| Medicare Fee-for-Service | $43.3B |
| Medicaid | $29.1B |
| Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) | $15.6B |
| Medicare Advantage (Part C) | $14.1B |
| Retirement, Survivors, and Disability Insurance (RSDI) | $5B |
| Supplemental Security Income (SSI) | $4.8B |
| Unemployment Insurance (UI) | $3.5B |
| Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) | $2.6B |
| Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit (Part D) | $2.2B |
| National School Lunch Program (NSLP) | $1.8B |
| William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program | $1.3B |
The Administration has announced that the government wide error rate has decreased to 3.53 percent in fiscal year (FY) 2013, having steadily declined for four consecutive years from its high-water mark of 5.42 percent in FY 2009.more
The Administration has announced that the government-wide error rate has decreased to 4.35 percent in fiscal year (FY) 2012, having steadily declined from its high-water mark of 5.42 percent in FY 2009. more