GAO Report on RHS Subsidy Errors

The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) completed a study in 2012 that examined improper RA payments by the Rural Housing Service (RHS). The study found that between 2007 and 2010, RHS made from $15 million to $35 million in errors regarding RA payments. To assist in reducing this error rate, GAO has recommended that Congress consider authorizing RHS access to the HHS New Hires Data Base and to the SSA benefits database. This proposal could lead to RHS participation in the EIV program, although there is no indication that this will happen anytime soon.