2020 Federal Managers Survey: Results on Government Performance and Management Issues

United States Government Accountability Office


Social Security Administration (SSA)

This section presents responses provided by managers at SSA to the questions in our 2020 survey. For each close-ended question, it presents an estimated percentage along with the 95 percent confidence interval. For comparison, we also provide the overall government-wide estimates (which include the responses of managers at SSA). Although respondents were able to provide written comments to open-ended questions, we do not make those responses available.

Overall, 115 managers at SSA responded to our survey, for a weighted response rate of 71 percent. When looking at individual questions, the number of managers who responded may vary. This is due to skip patterns associated with some questions, and respondents choosing not to answer certain questions.

Contents

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Section 1. Background

The results in this section are intentionally not reported.

Section 2. Performance Measures and Information

This section asks questions about performance measures and information.

For the purpose of this survey, performance measures collect data (i.e., performance information) to track progress towards achieving agency goals or objectives. These measures may also be used to assess the overall performance of a program/operation/project.

The measures can be quantitative or qualitative, and can focus on different aspects of performance such as customer satisfaction, efficiency, or quality.

Subsection 2a. Your Experience as a Manager

This first sub-section asks questions about your current role as a manager and the program(s) in which you are involved. When we say 'program' we mean any program(s), operation(s), or project(s) for which you have management responsibilities.

2. Are there performance measures for the program(s) that you are involved with? (Select one.)

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Yes - Continue with Question 3 89.4 82.0 94.5 88.4 86.0 90.8
No 5.9 2.3 12.1 7.8 5.9 10.0
Do not know 4.7 1.6 10.6 3.7 2.4 5.4
Missing or Nonresponse 0.0 0.0 2.6 0.1 0.0 0.2


Note: Only respondents who answered “Yes” on question 2 were also asked to answer questions 3 through 6. Those who did not are reflected in the “Missing or Nonresponse” category for those questions.


3. To what extent, if at all, do you agree with the following statements regarding performance measures for the program(s) that you are involved with? (Select one answer in each row.)

3a. Program staff and I take steps to align program performance measures with agency-wide goals and objectives

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Very great extent 36.1 27.1 45.0 38.8 34.9 42.6
Great extent 39.0 29.8 48.2 35.4 31.6 39.2
Moderate extent 9.7 4.8 16.8 10.8 8.3 13.6
Small extent 2.9 0.6 8.2 1.6 0.9 2.4
No extent 0.0 0.0 2.6 0.7 0.3 1.3
No basis to judge/Not applicable 1.8 0.2 6.2 1.2 0.5 2.5
Missing or Nonresponse 10.6 5.5 18.0 11.7 9.3 14.1

3b. There are meaningful performance measures for my program(s)

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Very great extent 26.2 18.3 35.4 29.4 25.8 33.0
Great extent 40.2 30.9 49.5 33.7 29.9 37.4
Moderate extent 17.3 10.7 25.7 18.1 15.2 21.1
Small extent 3.9 1.1 9.6 5.2 3.4 7.5
No extent 1.0 0.0 5.1 0.7 0.3 1.4
No basis to judge/Not applicable 0.9 0.0 4.8 0.8 0.2 2.2
Missing or Nonresponse 10.6 5.5 18.0 12.1 9.6 14.5

3c. Program staff and I have a shared understanding of the definitions used to measure performance

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Very great extent 32.2 23.4 40.9 32.4 28.7 36.2
Great extent 44.6 35.3 54.0 36.8 33.0 40.6
Moderate extent 8.8 4.2 15.8 13.8 11.1 16.6
Small extent 2.9 0.6 8.2 3.5 2.2 5.1
No extent 0.0 0.0 2.6 1.2 0.5 2.6
No basis to judge/Not applicable 0.9 0.0 4.8 0.5 0.2 1.0
Missing or Nonresponse 10.6 5.5 18.0 11.7 9.3 14.1

4. To what extent does your program(s) have the following types of measures? (Select one answer in each row.)

4a. We have performance measures that tell us the amount of resources being used to develop, maintain or deliver the products or services we provide. If none of these types of information are available to you, skip to question 27 (Input measures)

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Very great extent 22.4 15.1 31.3 18.8 15.6 22.0
Great extent 31.7 22.9 40.5 24.0 20.6 27.4
Moderate extent 14.1 8.1 22.1 24.6 21.2 28.1
Small extent 12.5 6.9 20.4 10.6 8.4 12.9
No extent 3.1 0.8 7.9 5.2 3.6 7.2
No basis to judge/Not applicable 5.6 2.1 11.7 4.6 3.3 6.2
Missing or Nonresponse 10.6 5.5 18.0 12.2 9.7 14.6

4b. We have performance measures that tell us how many things we produce or services we provide (Output measures)

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Very great extent 36.9 27.8 45.9 25.9 22.5 29.2
Great extent 36.1 27.0 45.1 31.1 27.4 34.7
Moderate extent 6.9 2.9 13.4 20.8 17.4 24.2
Small extent 5.8 2.2 12.1 5.6 3.9 7.7
No extent 2.8 0.6 8.0 2.0 1.1 3.4
No basis to judge/Not applicable 0.0 0.0 2.6 2.9 1.7 4.7
Missing or Nonresponse 11.6 6.2 19.2 11.7 9.3 14.1

4c. We have performance measures that tell us about the quality of the products or services we provide (Quality measures)

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Very great extent 20.5 13.4 29.2 19.7 16.5 22.9
Great extent 31.2 22.5 39.9 32.5 28.7 36.2
Moderate extent 24.5 16.7 33.7 19.5 16.6 22.4
Small extent 8.6 4.0 15.6 9.4 7.1 12.2
No extent 2.8 0.6 8.0 3.6 2.4 5.3
No basis to judge/Not applicable 1.8 0.2 6.4 2.9 1.6 4.7
Missing or Nonresponse 10.6 5.5 18.0 12.4 9.9 14.9

4d. We have performance measures that tell us if we are operating efficiently (Process measures)

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Very great extent 24.0 16.3 33.1 19.6 16.4 22.8
Great extent 30.2 21.5 38.9 26.3 22.9 29.6
Moderate extent 18.2 11.5 26.8 24.1 20.7 27.5
Small extent 11.3 6.0 18.9 12.1 9.4 14.7
No extent 2.8 0.6 7.9 3.7 2.4 5.5
No basis to judge/Not applicable 1.8 0.2 6.4 2.2 1.1 3.7
Missing or Nonresponse 11.6 6.2 19.2 12.1 9.7 14.5

4e. We have performance measures that tell us whether or not we are satisfying our customers (Customer service measures)

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Very great extent 19.4 12.5 27.9 17.9 14.8 21.0
Great extent 30.4 21.7 39.1 26.9 23.4 30.4
Moderate extent 15.7 9.5 23.9 23.6 20.1 27.1
Small extent 13.5 7.7 21.5 10.2 8.0 12.4
No extent 5.6 2.1 11.8 4.7 3.3 6.5
No basis to judge/Not applicable 4.7 1.6 10.6 4.6 3.4 6.2
Missing or Nonresponse 10.6 5.5 18.0 12.1 9.7 14.5

4f. We have performance measures that tell us how the products or services we provide are distributed across different populations (Equity measures)

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Very great extent 13.7 7.9 21.6 13.6 10.7 16.4
Great extent 28.2 19.7 36.7 20.0 16.8 23.1
Moderate extent 15.8 9.5 24.0 14.3 11.7 16.8
Small extent 10.5 5.4 17.9 12.3 9.9 14.7
No extent 8.8 4.3 15.6 10.4 7.9 12.8
No basis to judge/Not applicable 12.4 6.9 20.1 17.5 14.3 20.7
Missing or Nonresponse 10.6 5.5 18.0 12.0 9.6 14.4

4g. We have performance measures that would demonstrate whether or not we are achieving our intended results (Outcome measures)

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Very great extent 32.0 23.2 40.7 25.9 22.4 29.4
Great extent 36.6 27.5 45.7 32.0 28.3 35.7
Moderate extent 13.0 7.4 20.7 19.8 16.6 23.0
Small extent 5.9 2.3 12.1 6.9 5.1 9.0
No extent 2.0 0.2 6.8 2.4 1.2 4.2
No basis to judge/Not applicable 0.0 0.0 2.6 1.3 0.7 2.3
Missing or Nonresponse 10.6 5.5 18.0 11.7 9.3 14.1

5. Which of the following describe your program's development, if any, of new measures to assess the performance or results of activities undertaken as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic? (Select one answer in each row.)

5a. We will use existing measures to assess some of these activities

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Yes 82.7 74.2 89.2 76.7 73.5 79.8
No 4.9 1.7 10.7 10.3 8.2 12.5
Missing or Nonresponse 12.5 6.9 20.2 13.0 10.4 15.5

5b. We have developed new measures for some of these activities

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Yes 56.7 47.4 66.0 46.6 42.7 50.6
No 29.9 21.3 38.5 40.1 36.3 44.0
Missing or Nonresponse 13.4 7.6 21.3 13.2 10.6 15.8

5c. We are developing, or planning to develop, new measures for some of these activities

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Yes 59.1 49.8 68.3 48.6 44.6 52.5
No 27.5 19.4 36.9 37.4 33.6 41.2
Missing or Nonresponse 13.4 7.6 21.3 14.0 11.4 16.6

5d. We are not developing any new measures for these activities

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Yes 23.5 15.9 32.6 28.5 24.8 32.1
No 61.2 52.0 70.3 57.0 53.1 60.9
Missing or Nonresponse 15.4 9.1 23.5 14.5 11.9 17.2

5e. My program does not have any COVID-19-related activities to assess

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Yes 15.8 9.5 24.0 23.7 20.3 27.1
No 71.7 63.3 80.2 62.5 58.7 66.3
Missing or Nonresponse 12.5 6.9 20.2 13.8 11.2 16.3

6. For those program(s) that you are involved with, to what extent, if at all, do you use the information obtained from performance measurement when participating in the following activities? (Select one answer in each row.)

6a. Setting program priorities

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Very great extent 28.5 20.1 37.0 24.5 21.0 27.9
Great extent 33.4 24.5 42.2 29.3 25.7 32.8
Moderate extent 11.2 5.9 18.7 20.5 17.3 23.8
Small extent 6.0 2.3 12.3 7.8 5.7 10.3
No extent 4.7 1.6 10.5 3.0 1.9 4.5
No basis to judge/Not applicable 5.7 2.1 11.9 3.3 2.2 4.7
Missing or Nonresponse 10.6 5.5 18.0 11.7 9.3 14.1

6b. Setting new or revising existing performance goals

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Very great extent 24.8 17.1 34.0 22.8 19.5 26.1
Great extent 32.6 23.8 41.4 32.9 29.2 36.6
Moderate extent 8.2 3.8 14.8 17.9 14.8 20.9
Small extent 6.8 2.8 13.4 8.5 6.2 11.3
No extent 8.6 4.0 15.5 3.1 2.0 4.6
No basis to judge/Not applicable 7.6 3.3 14.3 2.8 1.9 4.0
Missing or Nonresponse 11.5 6.2 19.0 12.1 9.7 14.5

6c. Refining program performance measures

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Very great extent 22.6 15.2 31.6 20.2 17.0 23.4
Great extent 31.1 22.4 39.8 30.9 27.3 34.6
Moderate extent 5.4 2.0 11.3 20.5 17.2 23.7
Small extent 10.4 5.4 17.8 8.7 6.5 11.4
No extent 11.4 6.1 19.0 3.5 2.3 5.0
No basis to judge/Not applicable 8.5 4.0 15.4 3.6 2.5 5.1
Missing or Nonresponse 10.6 5.5 18.0 12.6 10.1 15.1

6d. Developing program strategy

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Very great extent 23.6 16.0 32.7 21.8 18.5 25.0
Great extent 31.0 22.2 39.7 32.4 28.6 36.1
Moderate extent 10.0 5.1 17.2 18.7 15.6 21.9
Small extent 7.8 3.5 14.5 8.0 5.9 10.5
No extent 8.5 4.0 15.5 3.4 2.3 5.0
No basis to judge/Not applicable 7.5 3.3 14.2 3.2 2.1 4.6
Missing or Nonresponse 11.6 6.2 19.1 12.5 10.0 14.9

6e. Allocating resources

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Very great extent 23.3 15.7 32.4 24.2 20.7 27.7
Great extent 30.2 21.5 38.8 29.5 25.9 33.1
Moderate extent 14.6 8.6 22.5 18.5 15.5 21.5
Small extent 7.1 3.0 13.7 8.1 6.2 10.4
No extent 3.7 1.0 9.1 3.3 2.2 4.8
No basis to judge/Not applicable 7.6 3.4 14.4 3.8 2.5 5.5
Missing or Nonresponse 13.6 7.8 21.4 12.6 10.1 15.0

6f. Identifying program problems to be addressed

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Very great extent 28.4 19.9 36.8 26.5 22.9 30.0
Great extent 33.4 24.5 42.3 33.3 29.5 37.0
Moderate extent 9.4 4.7 16.5 17.5 14.5 20.5
Small extent 6.1 2.4 12.4 6.1 4.5 8.1
No extent 6.5 2.7 12.9 2.2 1.3 3.4
No basis to judge/Not applicable 4.7 1.6 10.5 2.1 1.2 3.2
Missing or Nonresponse 11.6 6.2 19.1 12.3 9.8 14.8

6g. Taking corrective action to solve program problems

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Very great extent 31.4 22.6 40.1 25.4 21.9 28.9
Great extent 28.0 19.5 36.5 32.5 28.8 36.2
Moderate extent 10.7 5.6 18.0 17.5 14.5 20.6
Small extent 5.0 1.7 10.9 7.2 5.3 9.4
No extent 7.5 3.3 14.2 2.4 1.4 3.8
No basis to judge/Not applicable 5.7 2.1 11.9 1.9 1.1 3.1
Missing or Nonresponse 11.8 6.4 19.4 13.1 10.5 15.6

6h. Identifying opportunities to reduce, eliminate, or better manage duplicative activities

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Very great extent 23.8 16.1 33.0 20.3 17.0 23.5
Great extent 29.8 21.2 38.3 30.1 26.4 33.8
Moderate extent 14.8 8.7 22.8 20.9 17.7 24.1
Small extent 6.6 2.7 13.1 9.4 7.3 11.9
No extent 8.4 4.0 15.3 3.7 2.5 5.2
No basis to judge/Not applicable 5.7 2.1 11.9 3.4 2.3 4.9
Missing or Nonresponse 11.0 5.8 18.3 12.2 9.8 14.7

6i. Coordinating program efforts with other internal or external organizations

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Very great extent 19.7 12.6 28.4 18.9 15.8 22.0
Great extent 27.4 19.3 36.8 30.0 26.3 33.7
Moderate extent 17.7 11.0 26.1 21.2 17.9 24.4
Small extent 8.6 4.1 15.5 10.5 8.2 12.8
No extent 9.4 4.6 16.5 5.2 3.5 7.4
No basis to judge/Not applicable 6.5 2.7 12.9 2.3 1.5 3.3
Missing or Nonresponse 10.8 5.7 18.1 12.0 9.6 14.4

6j. Identifying and sharing effective program approaches with others

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Very great extent 19.7 12.7 28.4 17.7 14.7 20.7
Great extent 30.1 21.4 38.8 31.2 27.5 34.9
Moderate extent 15.8 9.6 23.9 20.0 16.9 23.2
Small extent 12.3 6.8 20.0 11.1 8.6 13.6
No extent 4.6 1.5 10.4 4.7 3.1 6.6
No basis to judge/Not applicable 4.7 1.6 10.6 2.6 1.5 4.0
Missing or Nonresponse 12.7 7.1 20.4 12.8 10.3 15.3

6k. Adopting new program approaches or changing work processes

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Very great extent 26.3 18.4 35.6 18.7 15.7 21.7
Great extent 34.0 25.0 42.9 33.9 30.1 37.7
Moderate extent 9.3 4.6 16.2 21.5 18.2 24.8
Small extent 2.8 0.6 7.9 7.7 5.8 9.9
No extent 6.6 2.7 13.0 3.9 2.5 5.8
No basis to judge/Not applicable 9.3 4.6 16.4 2.3 1.4 3.5
Missing or Nonresponse 11.7 6.4 19.3 12.0 9.6 14.4

6l. Informing the public about how programs are performing

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Very great extent 13.0 7.3 20.7 10.8 8.3 13.6
Great extent 16.7 10.2 25.1 15.6 12.7 18.5
Moderate extent 15.4 9.3 23.5 14.7 12.1 17.3
Small extent 11.9 6.4 19.7 12.8 10.2 15.3
No extent 15.9 9.6 24.2 13.9 11.2 16.7
No basis to judge/Not applicable 16.3 9.9 24.7 19.6 16.4 22.8
Missing or Nonresponse 10.8 5.7 18.1 12.6 10.1 15.2

6m. Setting individual job expectations for the government employees I manage or supervise

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Very great extent 37.4 28.3 46.6 26.9 23.4 30.4
Great extent 28.1 19.7 36.6 34.9 31.1 38.7
Moderate extent 8.8 4.3 15.5 16.8 13.8 19.8
Small extent 2.8 0.6 7.9 4.8 3.2 6.8
No extent 5.5 2.1 11.6 2.2 1.3 3.6
No basis to judge/Not applicable 5.6 2.1 11.7 1.9 1.1 2.9
Missing or Nonresponse 11.7 6.4 19.3 12.6 10.1 15.1

6n. Rewarding government employees I manage or supervise

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Very great extent 29.5 20.9 38.1 25.5 22.1 29.0
Great extent 29.7 21.1 38.3 35.3 31.4 39.1
Moderate extent 14.9 8.9 22.9 15.1 12.4 17.9
Small extent 7.6 3.4 14.4 6.5 4.8 8.6
No extent 2.8 0.6 7.9 2.2 1.4 3.1
No basis to judge/Not applicable 4.7 1.6 10.6 2.9 1.7 4.5
Missing or Nonresponse 10.8 5.7 18.1 12.6 10.0 15.1

7. To what extent, if at all, do you agree with the following statements about the performance information for the program(s) that you are involved with? (Select one answer in each row.)

7a. I have access to the performance information I need to manage my program(s)

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Very great extent 30.8 22.1 39.4 29.4 25.7 33.0
Great extent 36.2 27.1 45.2 32.4 28.8 36.1
Moderate extent 21.4 14.1 30.2 21.5 18.3 24.7
Small extent 4.2 1.3 9.7 9.7 7.2 12.5
No extent 1.9 0.2 6.5 2.4 1.4 3.6
No basis to judge/Not applicable 4.7 1.6 10.6 4.2 2.8 6.0
Missing or Nonresponse 1.0 0.0 5.4 0.5 0.2 1.1

7b. The performance information is available in time to be useful

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Very great extent 26.7 18.7 36.0 23.2 19.8 26.6
Great extent 35.3 26.3 44.3 32.7 29.0 36.4
Moderate extent 22.6 15.1 31.6 23.4 20.2 26.6
Small extent 8.9 4.3 15.8 11.6 8.9 14.3
No extent 0.9 0.0 4.9 3.9 2.5 5.6
No basis to judge/Not applicable 4.7 1.6 10.6 4.4 3.0 6.2
Missing or Nonresponse 1.0 0.0 5.4 0.8 0.4 1.4

7c. The performance information is of sufficient quality (valid, credible, accurate, and complete)

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Very great extent 26.0 18.0 35.3 21.7 18.4 25.0
Great extent 30.4 21.7 39.0 32.0 28.3 35.6
Moderate extent 27.1 19.0 36.5 25.3 21.9 28.7
Small extent 8.0 3.8 14.6 12.0 9.4 14.6
No extent 1.9 0.2 6.7 3.3 2.2 4.7
No basis to judge/Not applicable 5.6 2.1 11.7 4.5 3.1 6.3
Missing or Nonresponse 1.0 0.0 5.4 1.2 0.6 2.3

7d. The performance information is in an easy-to-use format

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Very great extent 26.0 18.0 35.3 19.4 16.3 22.6
Great extent 26.4 18.5 35.7 27.1 23.7 30.5
Moderate extent 27.3 19.1 36.7 30.4 26.7 34.1
Small extent 9.9 5.1 17.0 11.9 9.4 14.3
No extent 3.8 1.1 9.4 5.7 4.0 8.0
No basis to judge/Not applicable 4.7 1.6 10.6 4.4 3.0 6.3
Missing or Nonresponse 1.9 0.2 6.6 1.1 0.5 1.9

8. For the program(s) that you are involved with, to what extent, if at all, do you agree with the following statements? (Select one answer in each row.)

8a. I have access to the analytical tools needed to collect, analyze, and use performance information

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Very great extent 20.2 13.1 28.9 17.7 14.6 20.8
Great extent 36.8 27.7 45.9 30.1 26.5 33.7
Moderate extent 23.3 15.8 32.4 27.8 24.3 31.3
Small extent 11.0 5.9 18.3 14.5 11.7 17.4
No extent 2.9 0.6 8.2 4.8 3.3 6.7
No basis to judge/Not applicable 4.8 1.6 10.9 4.0 2.7 5.7
Missing or Nonresponse 1.0 0.0 5.1 1.2 0.5 2.2

8b. Staff involved in the program(s) collectively have the knowledge and skills needed to collect, analyze, and use performance information

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Very great extent 13.6 7.8 21.5 17.7 14.7 20.8
Great extent 27.7 19.3 36.1 32.8 29.0 36.5
Moderate extent 34.7 25.7 43.6 28.7 25.1 32.3
Small extent 14.6 8.5 22.6 11.7 9.2 14.3
No extent 2.8 0.6 7.9 3.7 2.4 5.5
No basis to judge/Not applicable 5.7 2.2 12.0 4.3 3.0 6.0
Missing or Nonresponse 1.0 0.0 5.4 1.1 0.6 1.8

8c. I communicate performance information about my program(s) on a routine basis to internal and external stakeholders

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Very great extent 19.4 12.4 28.0 22.6 19.2 25.9
Great extent 42.9 33.6 52.2 33.9 30.2 37.7
Moderate extent 19.5 12.6 28.0 22.1 18.8 25.4
Small extent 8.8 4.2 15.8 10.6 8.2 13.1
No extent 2.8 0.6 8.0 4.7 3.3 6.4
No basis to judge/Not applicable 6.6 2.7 13.1 4.9 3.5 6.7
Missing or Nonresponse 0.0 0.0 2.6 1.2 0.5 2.4

8d. The individual I report to periodically reviews with me the results or outcomes of the program(s)

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Very great extent 23.0 15.5 32.0 26.1 22.6 29.6
Great extent 35.9 26.8 45.0 28.8 25.3 32.3
Moderate extent 17.1 10.6 25.3 21.2 17.9 24.5
Small extent 15.1 8.9 23.3 11.5 9.2 13.8
No extent 4.0 1.2 9.6 7.9 5.7 10.5
No basis to judge/Not applicable 4.9 1.6 11.0 3.8 2.4 5.7
Missing or Nonresponse 0.0 0.0 2.6 0.7 0.3 1.4

8e. Changes by management above my level to the program(s) are based on results- or outcome-oriented performance information

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Very great extent 13.6 7.8 21.5 17.0 13.9 20.2
Great extent 32.4 23.6 41.2 24.6 21.2 27.9
Moderate extent 14.7 8.6 22.8 23.2 19.8 26.5
Small extent 11.6 6.2 19.2 11.6 9.3 13.9
No extent 6.5 2.7 12.9 10.1 7.7 12.9
No basis to judge/Not applicable 21.1 13.8 30.0 12.2 9.7 14.7
Missing or Nonresponse 0.2 0.0 0.9 1.3 0.5 2.5

8f. Existing processes and systems allow my program(s) to collect the performance information needed to assess the results of COVID-19 pandemic-related activities

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Very great extent 14.7 8.6 22.8 14.2 11.3 17.0
Great extent 32.0 23.2 40.7 25.2 21.9 28.6
Moderate extent 19.4 12.4 28.0 20.1 17.0 23.3
Small extent 11.7 6.3 19.2 11.7 9.2 14.2
No extent 2.8 0.6 7.9 9.0 6.8 11.8
No basis to judge/Not applicable 19.3 12.2 28.0 18.9 15.9 22.0
Missing or Nonresponse 0.2 0.0 0.9 0.8 0.3 1.5

9. Based on your experience, to what extent, if at all, do you agree with the following statements? (Select one answer in each row.)

9a. The individual I report to pays attention to my agency's use of performance information in management decision making

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Very great extent 29.5 21.0 38.0 28.2 24.6 31.7
Great extent 37.6 28.4 46.7 29.8 26.2 33.4
Moderate extent 15.7 9.4 23.8 19.7 16.6 22.9
Small extent 5.8 2.2 11.9 9.5 7.2 12.1
No extent 2.0 0.2 6.8 4.1 2.7 5.9
No basis to judge/Not applicable 9.6 4.7 16.8 7.5 5.5 10.0
Missing or Nonresponse 0.0 0.0 2.6 1.3 0.5 2.6

9b. Compared to 3 years ago, the individual I report to pays more attention to my agency's use of performance information in management decision making

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Very great extent 18.8 12.0 27.4 19.6 16.4 22.8
Great extent 27.5 19.4 36.8 22.4 19.2 25.7
Moderate extent 18.6 11.7 27.2 19.8 16.7 22.9
Small extent 11.2 6.0 18.7 10.7 8.3 13.1
No extent 3.9 1.2 9.4 8.5 6.4 11.0
No basis to judge/Not applicable 20.0 12.9 28.8 17.9 14.9 21.0
Missing or Nonresponse 0.0 0.0 2.6 1.0 0.3 2.2

9c. Employees that report to me pay attention to my agency's use of performance information in management decision making

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Very great extent 16.6 10.1 25.0 16.9 13.9 20.0
Great extent 34.7 25.8 43.6 33.3 29.5 37.0
Moderate extent 28.0 19.5 36.4 21.1 18.0 24.1
Small extent 8.6 4.1 15.4 13.9 11.2 16.7
No extent 5.5 2.1 11.5 5.7 4.0 7.8
No basis to judge/Not applicable 6.7 2.8 13.2 8.1 6.1 10.5
Missing or Nonresponse 0.0 0.0 2.6 1.0 0.4 2.3

9d. Compared to 3 years ago, employees that report to me pay more attention to my agency's use of performance information in management decision making

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Very great extent 12.1 6.7 19.6 14.7 11.9 17.5
Great extent 25.8 17.9 35.1 27.6 24.0 31.2
Moderate extent 27.8 19.3 36.3 21.6 18.5 24.7
Small extent 12.5 6.9 20.2 10.6 8.4 12.8
No extent 6.6 2.8 12.8 7.9 5.9 10.3
No basis to judge/Not applicable 15.3 9.0 23.5 16.6 13.6 19.6
Missing or Nonresponse 0.0 0.0 2.6 1.0 0.3 2.2

10. During the past 3 years, has your agency provided, arranged, or paid for training that would help you to accomplish the following tasks? (Select one answer in each row.)

10a. Conduct strategic planning

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Yes 55.9 46.5 65.2 54.8 50.9 58.7
No 42.3 33.0 51.6 44.6 40.7 48.5
Missing or Nonresponse 1.9 0.2 6.6 0.6 0.4 1.0

10b. Set program performance goals

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Yes 62.1 53.0 71.2 61.7 57.8 65.5
No 37.9 28.8 47.0 37.8 34.0 41.6
Missing or Nonresponse 0.0 0.0 2.6 0.5 0.3 0.8

10c. Develop program performance measures

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Yes 56.1 46.7 65.4 57.5 53.6 61.3
No 42.0 32.7 51.3 41.6 37.8 45.5
Missing or Nonresponse 2.0 0.2 6.8 0.9 0.5 1.4

10d. Assess the quality of performance data

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Yes 56.9 47.6 66.2 52.6 48.7 56.5
No 43.1 33.8 52.4 46.4 42.5 50.3
Missing or Nonresponse 0.0 0.0 2.6 0.9 0.4 1.9

10e. Use program performance information to make decisions

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Yes 64.9 55.9 73.8 56.8 52.9 60.7
No 35.2 26.2 44.1 42.2 38.3 46.1
Missing or Nonresponse 0.0 0.0 2.6 1.0 0.5 1.9

10f. Link the performance of program(s)/operation(s)/project(s) to the achievement of agency strategic goals

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Yes 65.0 56.1 73.9 57.7 53.8 61.6
No 34.1 25.2 43.0 41.7 37.8 45.6
Missing or Nonresponse 0.9 0.0 4.9 0.6 0.3 1.1

Subsection 2b. Other Managers at Your Level

This sub-section asks additional questions about performance measures and information. Please provide your opinion as it relates to other managers at your level in your agency.

11. To what extent, if at all, do you agree with the following statements as they relate to other managers at your level in your agency? (Select one answer in each row.)

11a. Managers take steps to align program performance measures with agency-wide goals and objectives

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Very great extent 23.4 15.7 32.5 18.0 15.0 21.0
Great extent 37.2 28.1 46.2 35.5 31.7 39.2
Moderate extent 20.4 13.2 29.2 26.3 22.7 29.8
Small extent 5.7 2.1 11.9 10.2 7.8 12.5
No extent 0.9 0.0 4.9 2.2 1.2 3.6
No basis to judge/Not applicable 12.5 6.9 20.3 7.1 5.2 9.5
Missing or Nonresponse 0.0 0.0 2.6 0.8 0.4 1.5

11b. Managers are held accountable for the results of the program(s) they are responsible for

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Very great extent 29.2 20.6 37.8 18.7 15.7 21.7
Great extent 35.6 26.6 44.5 31.2 27.6 34.8
Moderate extent 20.0 12.9 28.8 26.1 22.5 29.6
Small extent 5.8 2.2 11.9 12.9 10.1 15.6
No extent 1.8 0.2 6.3 4.0 2.6 5.8
No basis to judge/Not applicable 7.6 3.4 14.4 6.5 4.7 8.7
Missing or Nonresponse 0.0 0.0 2.6 0.7 0.4 1.2

11c. Managers are held accountable for agency accomplishment of its strategic goals

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Very great extent 32.8 23.9 41.6 17.1 14.2 19.9
Great extent 33.0 24.2 41.8 31.8 28.2 35.4
Moderate extent 18.1 11.3 26.7 25.4 21.9 29.0
Small extent 6.7 2.8 13.1 14.4 11.5 17.3
No extent 1.8 0.2 6.3 3.6 2.4 5.1
No basis to judge/Not applicable 7.6 3.4 14.4 6.4 4.6 8.5
Missing or Nonresponse 0.0 0.0 2.6 1.4 0.6 2.5

11d. Managers have the decision making authority they need to help the agency accomplish its strategic goals

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Very great extent 13.3 7.5 21.2 14.7 11.8 17.6
Great extent 27.7 19.3 36.1 29.9 26.3 33.5
Moderate extent 29.5 20.9 38.1 27.0 23.4 30.5
Small extent 11.6 6.3 19.1 14.9 12.2 17.6
No extent 10.2 5.2 17.5 6.6 4.9 8.6
No basis to judge/Not applicable 7.7 3.4 14.5 6.2 4.5 8.5
Missing or Nonresponse 0.0 0.0 2.6 0.7 0.4 1.2

11e. Managers can easily access my agency's performance information

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Very great extent 25.3 17.4 34.5 17.0 14.0 20.0
Great extent 38.9 29.7 48.1 29.0 25.4 32.5
Moderate extent 23.5 15.9 32.6 27.7 24.1 31.2
Small extent 4.7 1.6 10.4 11.9 9.4 14.4
No extent 0.9 0.0 4.9 4.4 3.0 6.3
No basis to judge/Not applicable 6.7 2.8 13.2 9.0 7.0 11.4
Missing or Nonresponse 0.0 0.0 2.6 1.0 0.4 2.0

11f. Managers have analytical tools to collect, analyze, and use performance information

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Very great extent 23.2 15.6 32.3 13.8 11.1 16.5
Great extent 38.0 28.9 47.2 30.5 26.8 34.1
Moderate extent 18.7 11.9 27.3 25.6 22.2 29.0
Small extent 8.7 4.2 15.6 15.1 12.2 17.9
No extent 3.6 1.0 9.0 5.3 3.7 7.3
No basis to judge/Not applicable 7.7 3.4 14.6 8.7 6.6 11.3
Missing or Nonresponse 0.0 0.0 2.6 1.1 0.6 1.8

11g. Managers take steps to ensure that performance information is useful and/or appropriate

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Very great extent 18.6 11.8 27.2 14.2 11.4 17.0
Great extent 38.1 29.0 47.2 31.3 27.6 35.0
Moderate extent 23.3 15.7 32.3 26.7 23.2 30.2
Small extent 6.7 2.8 13.1 13.8 11.2 16.5
No extent 1.8 0.2 6.3 4.2 2.6 6.2
No basis to judge/Not applicable 11.5 6.1 19.1 8.9 6.8 11.3
Missing or Nonresponse 0.0 0.0 2.6 1.0 0.5 1.6

11h. Managers use performance information to recognize employees for their performance

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Very great extent 21.0 13.7 29.9 19.1 15.9 22.3
Great extent 37.2 28.1 46.3 34.2 30.5 37.9
Moderate extent 23.6 16.0 32.7 22.5 19.2 25.9
Small extent 3.9 1.2 9.3 10.4 8.0 12.7
No extent 0.9 0.0 4.9 3.1 2.1 4.5
No basis to judge/Not applicable 12.5 6.9 20.4 10.0 7.7 12.7
Missing or Nonresponse 0.9 0.0 4.8 0.8 0.4 1.3

11i. Managers effectively communicate performance information on a routine basis

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Very great extent 21.9 14.5 30.9 17.2 14.1 20.2
Great extent 40.0 30.8 49.2 31.0 27.3 34.6
Moderate extent 18.8 11.9 27.4 25.6 22.1 29.1
Small extent 6.7 2.8 13.1 12.7 10.2 15.2
No extent 0.9 0.0 4.9 3.3 2.2 4.7
No basis to judge/Not applicable 11.8 6.3 19.4 9.4 7.2 12.1
Missing or Nonresponse 0.0 0.0 2.6 0.9 0.5 1.5

11j. Managers use performance information to share effective program approaches with others

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Very great extent 18.3 11.5 26.9 15.0 12.1 17.9
Great extent 35.4 26.4 44.4 26.8 23.4 30.2
Moderate extent 20.6 13.4 29.4 26.0 22.5 29.6
Small extent 7.6 3.4 14.2 16.6 13.6 19.6
No extent 2.8 0.6 7.8 4.8 3.5 6.6
No basis to judge/Not applicable 14.6 8.5 22.7 9.5 7.3 12.0
Missing or Nonresponse 0.9 0.0 4.8 1.3 0.7 2.3

Subsection 2c. Your Agency and Top Leadership

This sub-section asks additional questions about performance measures and information. Please provide your opinion as it relates to your agency and your agency's top leadership.

12. To what extent, if at all, do you agree with the following statements as they relate to performance information at your agency? (Select one answer in each row.)

12a. My agency's performance information is easily accessible to employees, as appropriate

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Very great extent 19.9 12.8 28.7 12.7 10.1 15.2
Great extent 41.9 32.7 51.2 27.5 24.0 31.0
Moderate extent 20.9 13.7 29.7 27.6 24.0 31.1
Small extent 11.6 6.3 19.1 17.1 14.2 20.1
No extent 2.8 0.6 7.9 6.5 4.7 8.6
No basis to judge/Not applicable 2.9 0.6 8.2 7.6 5.6 10.2
Missing or Nonresponse 0.0 0.0 2.6 1.1 0.4 2.3

12b. My agency's performance information is easily accessible to the public, as appropriate

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Very great extent 12.5 6.9 20.3 6.9 5.2 8.9
Great extent 19.1 12.2 27.7 14.7 12.1 17.4
Moderate extent 21.0 13.9 29.8 18.2 15.2 21.1
Small extent 15.5 9.2 23.7 13.9 11.3 16.5
No extent 0.9 0.0 4.9 13.3 10.4 16.3
No basis to judge/Not applicable 31.1 22.4 39.8 31.4 27.7 35.1
Missing or Nonresponse 0.0 0.0 2.6 1.6 0.7 3.1

12c. My agency's performance information is available in time to be useful for employees

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Very great extent 18.1 11.3 26.7 9.8 7.6 11.9
Great extent 37.1 28.0 46.2 25.9 22.4 29.3
Moderate extent 20.8 13.6 29.6 28.0 24.4 31.5
Small extent 16.5 10.1 24.8 18.2 15.2 21.1
No extent 2.8 0.6 7.8 7.2 5.2 9.7
No basis to judge/Not applicable 4.7 1.6 10.6 9.6 7.4 12.3
Missing or Nonresponse 0.0 0.0 2.6 1.4 0.7 2.5

12d. My agency's performance information is of sufficient quality (valid, credible, accurate, and complete)

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Very great extent 22.4 15.0 31.4 12.6 10.0 15.1
Great extent 40.6 31.4 49.9 29.3 25.7 32.9
Moderate extent 19.1 12.2 27.8 28.1 24.5 31.8
Small extent 8.4 3.9 15.3 12.4 9.9 14.8
No extent 2.8 0.6 7.8 5.6 3.9 7.8
No basis to judge/Not applicable 6.6 2.7 13.1 10.7 8.3 13.2
Missing or Nonresponse 0.0 0.0 2.6 1.3 0.6 2.4

12e. My agency's performance information is in an easy-to-use format

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Very great extent 16.5 10.1 24.9 10.4 8.1 12.8
Great extent 33.9 25.0 42.8 23.2 20.0 26.3
Moderate extent 29.6 21.0 38.3 31.6 27.9 35.4
Small extent 12.4 6.9 20.0 15.8 13.0 18.6
No extent 2.7 0.6 7.6 7.8 5.8 10.4
No basis to judge/Not applicable 4.8 1.6 10.7 9.9 7.6 12.5
Missing or Nonresponse 0.0 0.0 2.6 1.3 0.6 2.4

13. To what extent, if at all, do you agree with the following statements as they relate to your agency? (Select one answer in each row.)

13a. My agency takes steps to align program performance measures throughout the organization with agency-wide goals and objectives

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Very great extent 27.6 19.2 35.9 20.1 17.0 23.1
Great extent 39.7 30.5 48.9 33.9 30.3 37.6
Moderate extent 26.0 18.0 35.4 25.4 21.9 28.9
Small extent 2.9 0.7 7.8 10.8 8.3 13.3
No extent 1.9 0.2 6.5 3.4 2.1 5.2
No basis to judge/Not applicable 2.0 0.2 6.8 5.2 3.5 7.3
Missing or Nonresponse 0.0 0.0 2.6 1.2 0.5 2.3

13b. Employees in my agency receive positive recognition for helping the agency accomplish its strategic goals

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Very great extent 20.0 12.9 28.8 19.6 16.5 22.7
Great extent 36.4 27.3 45.4 29.7 26.2 33.3
Moderate extent 27.3 19.2 36.7 25.4 22.0 28.8
Small extent 11.4 6.1 18.9 14.9 12.0 17.8
No extent 3.7 1.0 9.2 5.7 3.9 8.1
No basis to judge/Not applicable 1.0 0.0 5.4 3.5 2.2 5.3
Missing or Nonresponse 0.2 0.0 0.9 1.1 0.5 2.3

13c. My agency is investing the resources needed to ensure that its performance information is of sufficient quality

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Very great extent 14.4 8.4 22.5 13.9 11.2 16.6
Great extent 29.5 21.0 38.0 27.2 23.7 30.8
Moderate extent 21.6 14.3 30.6 24.6 21.3 27.9
Small extent 12.2 6.7 19.8 13.7 10.8 16.5
No extent 3.8 1.1 9.4 5.7 4.0 7.8
No basis to judge/Not applicable 16.5 10.1 25.0 13.2 10.6 15.8
Missing or Nonresponse 2.0 0.2 6.8 1.8 0.8 3.3

13d. My agency has staff with the knowledge and skills needed to collect, analyze, and use performance information

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Very great extent 22.2 14.8 31.1 14.9 12.1 17.6
Great extent 30.2 21.6 38.8 31.3 27.7 35.0
Moderate extent 26.0 18.0 35.4 25.4 22.0 28.8
Small extent 11.3 6.0 18.7 12.7 10.1 15.4
No extent 3.8 1.1 9.4 4.8 3.2 7.0
No basis to judge/Not applicable 6.6 2.7 13.1 8.7 6.8 11.1
Missing or Nonresponse 0.0 0.0 2.6 2.1 1.0 3.7

13e. My agency is investing in resources to improve the agency's capacity to use performance information

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Very great extent 17.9 11.2 26.4 15.0 12.1 17.8
Great extent 21.9 14.6 30.9 23.7 20.4 27.0
Moderate extent 24.9 17.1 34.1 22.1 18.8 25.3
Small extent 9.2 4.5 16.2 12.7 9.9 15.4
No extent 4.8 1.6 10.8 5.7 4.0 7.8
No basis to judge/Not applicable 21.3 14.0 30.3 19.5 16.4 22.5
Missing or Nonresponse 0.0 0.0 2.6 1.4 0.7 2.7

14. To what extent, if at all, do you agree with the following statements as they relate to your agency's top leadership? (Select one answer in each row.)

14a. My agency's top leadership demonstrates a strong commitment to achieving results

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Very great extent 28.4 20.0 36.8 35.6 31.8 39.4
Great extent 41.9 32.6 51.2 33.1 29.3 36.8
Moderate extent 19.2 12.3 28.0 16.6 13.8 19.4
Small extent 4.8 1.6 10.7 6.4 4.7 8.5
No extent 2.8 0.6 7.9 2.6 1.6 4.1
No basis to judge/Not applicable 1.8 0.2 6.4 4.2 2.8 5.9
Missing or Nonresponse 1.0 0.0 5.4 1.6 0.7 3.0

14b. My agency's top leadership demonstrates a strong commitment to using performance information to guide decision making

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Very great extent 25.3 17.5 34.5 25.9 22.4 29.4
Great extent 31.5 22.7 40.2 26.7 23.3 30.1
Moderate extent 21.5 14.2 30.4 20.0 16.8 23.2
Small extent 8.7 4.1 15.7 10.6 8.2 13.0
No extent 2.8 0.6 7.9 4.3 2.8 6.2
No basis to judge/Not applicable 9.4 4.6 16.5 10.8 8.4 13.1
Missing or Nonresponse 0.9 0.0 4.8 1.8 0.9 3.3

14c. My agency's top leadership communicates performance information throughout the organization on a routine basis

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Very great extent 20.5 13.4 29.2 21.9 18.6 25.2
Great extent 30.2 21.6 38.9 24.5 21.2 27.8
Moderate extent 28.3 19.8 36.8 26.4 22.8 30.0
Small extent 9.8 5.0 17.0 14.2 11.5 16.8
No extent 8.5 4.0 15.4 6.1 4.5 8.1
No basis to judge/Not applicable 2.7 0.6 7.7 5.3 3.7 7.3
Missing or Nonresponse 0.0 0.0 2.6 1.6 0.8 3.0

14d. My agency's top leadership pays attention to the use of performance information in management decision making throughout my agency

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Very great extent 22.3 14.8 31.2 22.9 19.5 26.3
Great extent 31.2 22.4 39.9 24.1 20.7 27.4
Moderate extent 19.9 12.8 28.6 21.6 18.2 24.9
Small extent 10.5 5.4 17.8 10.4 8.1 12.6
No extent 4.8 1.6 10.8 4.3 3.0 5.9
No basis to judge/Not applicable 11.3 6.0 18.8 15.0 12.3 17.7
Missing or Nonresponse 0.2 0.0 0.9 1.9 1.0 3.1

14e. Compared to three years ago, my agency's top leadership pays more attention to the use of performance information in management decision making throughout my agency

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Very great extent 20.3 13.2 29.1 19.9 16.6 23.2
Great extent 26.5 18.5 35.9 21.9 18.7 25.2
Moderate extent 20.3 13.2 29.2 18.3 15.3 21.3
Small extent 10.6 5.5 18.0 12.2 9.5 14.9
No extent 8.0 3.7 14.8 7.8 6.0 9.8
No basis to judge/Not applicable 14.2 8.2 22.2 18.7 15.6 21.7
Missing or Nonresponse 0.0 0.0 2.6 1.3 0.6 2.4

Subsection 2d. Quarterly Performance Reviews

Please Note:

Quarterly performance reviews, which some agencies refer to as 'stat' meetings or data-driven performance reviews, are regular meetings held at the highest levels of your agency.
These reviews examine progress toward accomplishing _____, and in some cases, other agency performance goals.

Among other things, these reviews are typically used to assess agencies' coordination efforts, activities and contributions to goals, and strategies for improvement, when applicable. Quarterly performance reviews are to involve key leadership and other relevant parties.

These reviews may be conducted more frequently than quarterly.

In the following questions, 'quarterly performance reviews' refers to all aspects of these reviews, including preparation, review, and follow-up.

In the following question, 'agency' refers only to your cabinet-level department (e.g., Department of Transportation) or independent agency (e.g., Environmental Protection Agency).

Please do not consider activities at the major component level (e.g., Federal Aviation Administration, Army, Internal Revenue Service).

As with prior questions, 'program' means any program(s), operation(s), or project(s) for which you have management responsibilities.

15. How familiar are you with your agency's quarterly performance reviews? (Select one.)

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Very Familiar - Continue with Question 16 11.8 6.4 19.2 22.4 19.2 25.7
Somewhat Familiar - Continue with Question 16 26.0 18.0 35.3 18.7 15.7 21.7
Not Familiar 62.2 53.1 71.3 57.9 54.0 61.7
Missing or Nonresponse 0.0 0.0 2.6 1.0 0.4 2.1


Note: Only respondents who indicated familiarity on question 15 were also asked to answer questions 16a through n. Those who did not are reflected in the “Missing or Nonresponse” category for those questions.


16. To what extent, if at all, do you agree with the following statements as they relate to your agency's quarterly performance reviews? (Select one answer in each row.)

Information for Reviews

16a. My agency has the performance information needed for these reviews

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Very great extent 9.3 4.6 16.2 11.5 8.9 14.0
Great extent 18.7 11.8 27.3 13.8 11.3 16.4
Moderate extent 2.9 0.6 8.0 9.4 7.2 12.0
Small extent 1.0 0.0 5.4 2.5 1.4 4.1
No extent 0.0 0.0 2.6 0.5 0.1 1.3
No basis to judge/Not applicable 6.0 2.3 12.3 3.1 1.8 5.0
Missing or Nonresponse 62.2 53.1 71.3 59.2 55.4 63.1

16b. My agency has the capacity to analyze the performance information needed for these reviews

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Very great extent 9.3 4.6 16.2 10.8 8.4 13.2
Great extent 18.7 11.8 27.3 14.2 11.5 16.8
Moderate extent 2.8 0.6 8.0 9.1 6.9 11.6
Small extent 1.0 0.0 5.4 2.8 1.6 4.3
No extent 0.0 0.0 2.6 0.6 0.2 1.4
No basis to judge/Not applicable 6.0 2.3 12.3 3.2 1.9 5.1
Missing or Nonresponse 62.2 53.1 71.3 59.5 55.6 63.3

16c. Performance information for these reviews is communicated to relevant parties in an easy-to-understand, useful format

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Very great extent 6.5 2.7 12.6 10.1 7.7 12.4
Great extent 17.3 10.7 25.8 12.9 10.4 15.4
Moderate extent 7.0 3.0 13.4 10.0 7.7 12.7
Small extent 1.0 0.0 5.4 3.8 2.5 5.6
No extent 0.0 0.0 2.6 0.6 0.2 1.4
No basis to judge/Not applicable 6.0 2.3 12.3 3.1 1.8 5.0
Missing or Nonresponse 62.2 53.1 71.3 59.5 55.6 63.3

Review Participants

16d. Agency leadership actively participates in these reviews

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Very great extent 8.3 3.9 15.0 12.3 9.7 14.8
Great extent 11.8 6.4 19.4 12.8 10.1 15.5
Moderate extent 6.8 2.9 13.2 8.0 6.0 10.3
Small extent 2.0 0.3 7.0 2.3 1.4 3.6
No extent 0.0 0.0 2.6 1.1 0.6 1.8
No basis to judge/Not applicable 9.0 4.3 16.0 4.1 2.7 5.9
Missing or Nonresponse 62.2 53.1 71.3 59.6 55.7 63.4

16e. These reviews include staff with relevant knowledge needed to facilitate problem solving and identify improvement opportunities

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Very great extent 6.5 2.7 12.6 11.1 8.6 13.7
Great extent 15.7 9.4 24.0 13.2 10.5 15.8
Moderate extent 3.9 1.2 9.3 7.9 5.9 10.3
Small extent 2.9 0.6 8.2 2.5 1.6 3.7
No extent 0.0 0.0 2.6 1.4 0.8 2.4
No basis to judge/Not applicable 7.9 3.6 14.7 4.3 2.8 6.3
Missing or Nonresponse 63.1 54.0 72.2 59.6 55.8 63.5

16f. These reviews include officials external to the agency who contribute to the goals discussed at the reviews

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Very great extent 4.3 1.4 10.1 8.0 5.9 10.5
Great extent 9.7 4.8 16.9 9.5 7.1 12.3
Moderate extent 4.9 1.8 10.6 6.3 4.5 8.4
Small extent 2.0 0.3 7.0 3.6 2.3 5.3
No extent 0.0 0.0 2.6 4.2 2.9 5.9
No basis to judge/Not applicable 15.8 9.5 24.0 8.7 6.8 10.8
Missing or Nonresponse 63.2 54.2 72.3 59.8 55.9 63.6

16g. The program(s) that I am involved with has been the subject of these reviews

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Very great extent 6.1 2.5 12.4 12.0 9.3 14.6
Great extent 10.9 5.7 18.3 11.4 8.8 14.0
Moderate extent 8.7 4.1 15.6 7.3 5.5 9.6
Small extent 3.1 0.7 8.4 3.5 2.2 5.2
No extent 0.9 0.0 4.8 2.0 1.2 3.1
No basis to judge/Not applicable 7.9 3.6 14.7 4.0 2.8 5.6
Missing or Nonresponse 62.4 53.3 71.5 59.8 56.0 63.7

Review Purpose and Follow-Up

16h. These reviews are held on a regular, routine basis

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Very great extent 5.5 2.1 11.2 13.4 10.8 16.0
Great extent 15.5 9.2 23.8 13.2 10.5 15.9
Moderate extent 6.7 2.8 13.1 8.1 6.0 10.7
Small extent 1.0 0.0 5.4 1.9 1.1 3.1
No extent 0.0 0.0 2.6 0.5 0.2 1.0
No basis to judge/Not applicable 9.1 4.5 16.0 3.3 2.2 4.7
Missing or Nonresponse 62.2 53.1 71.3 59.5 55.7 63.4

16i. These reviews focus on goals and objectives that are aligned with my agency's strategic and performance plans

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Very great extent 8.3 4.0 15.0 12.7 10.1 15.3
Great extent 17.7 11.0 26.3 14.8 11.9 17.7
Moderate extent 3.8 1.1 9.2 7.6 5.7 10.0
Small extent 1.0 0.0 5.4 1.4 0.7 2.4
No extent 0.0 0.0 2.6 0.9 0.4 1.7
No basis to judge/Not applicable 6.0 2.3 12.2 2.8 1.7 4.2
Missing or Nonresponse 63.2 54.1 72.2 59.8 56.0 63.7

16j. Agency leadership uses these reviews to help achieve agency performance goals

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Very great extent 11.1 6.0 18.4 11.5 9.0 13.9
Great extent 12.9 7.2 20.8 14.8 11.9 17.7
Moderate extent 4.8 1.6 10.7 7.5 5.6 9.8
Small extent 1.9 0.2 6.6 1.9 1.1 2.9
No extent 0.0 0.0 2.6 0.9 0.4 1.7
No basis to judge/Not applicable 7.1 3.1 13.6 3.8 2.4 5.6
Missing or Nonresponse 62.2 53.1 71.3 59.7 55.9 63.6

16k. Agency leadership is using these reviews to assess the results of our COVID-19 pandemic-related activities

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Very great extent 7.3 3.2 13.8 9.2 6.9 11.8
Great extent 10.5 5.4 18.0 9.6 7.4 12.2
Moderate extent 3.9 1.2 9.3 7.5 5.4 10.1
Small extent 2.0 0.2 6.8 1.8 0.9 2.9
No extent 0.0 0.0 2.6 2.1 1.2 3.4
No basis to judge/Not applicable 14.1 8.2 22.0 10.2 8.0 12.5
Missing or Nonresponse 62.2 53.1 71.3 59.6 55.8 63.5

16l. My agency uses these reviews to identify problems or opportunities associated with agency performance goals

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Very great extent 8.3 3.9 14.9 10.9 8.4 13.3
Great extent 12.7 7.1 20.5 14.5 11.6 17.4
Moderate extent 5.0 1.7 11.0 6.9 5.2 8.9
Small extent 2.0 0.2 6.8 2.3 1.3 3.6
No extent 0.0 0.0 2.6 1.2 0.7 2.0
No basis to judge/Not applicable 9.0 4.3 16.0 4.6 3.1 6.6
Missing or Nonresponse 63.1 54.0 72.2 59.7 55.8 63.5

16m. My agency has a process in place for following up on problems or opportunities identified through these reviews

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Very great extent 6.4 2.7 12.4 9.7 7.5 12.3
Great extent 12.9 7.2 20.7 13.1 10.5 15.7
Moderate extent 3.8 1.1 9.5 9.7 7.3 12.5
Small extent 2.0 0.2 6.8 1.8 1.0 2.8
No extent 0.0 0.0 2.6 1.4 0.7 2.4
No basis to judge/Not applicable 11.7 6.4 19.3 4.2 2.9 5.9
Missing or Nonresponse 63.2 54.2 72.3 60.2 56.3 64.0

Other Agency Reviews

16n. These reviews have led to similar meetings at lower levels

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Very great extent 6.3 2.6 12.5 7.2 5.3 9.4
Great extent 10.9 5.7 18.3 11.2 8.7 13.8
Moderate extent 8.6 4.0 15.6 9.6 7.4 12.2
Small extent 1.5 0.2 4.9 3.0 2.0 4.2
No extent 0.0 0.0 2.6 2.8 1.6 4.7
No basis to judge/Not applicable 9.6 4.7 16.8 5.7 4.2 7.6
Missing or Nonresponse 63.2 54.2 72.3 60.5 56.7 64.3

Section 3. Program Evaluations

Program evaluations are individual, systematic studies using research methods to assess how well a program, operation or project is achieving its objectives and the reasons why it may, or may not, be performing as expected. Program evaluations answer specific questions, typically associated with a single product or report, such as how well a program is operating, whether a program is reaching targeted recipients, why a program is not achieving its desired outcomes, or whether one approach is more effective than another.

Program evaluation as defined here does not include information gathered for more regular management use, such as routine program monitoring, performance information, or quarterly performance reviews. It also does not include an audit or review performed by GAO or your agency's inspector general.

Please note: When we say 'program' here we mean any program(s), operation(s), or project(s) for which you have management responsibilities.

17. To what extent do you agree with the following statements about program evaluations of your program(s)?

17a. I am familiar with program evaluation(s) at my agency.

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Very great extent - Continue with Question 17B 7.0 2.9 13.6 14.0 11.2 16.9
Great extent - Continue with Question 17B 12.4 6.9 20.1 17.9 14.9 20.9
Moderate extent - Continue with Question 17B 13.6 7.9 21.5 20.1 16.9 23.3
Small extent - Continue with Question 17B 12.4 6.9 20.2 10.2 7.8 12.6
No extent 17.3 10.7 25.7 19.3 16.2 22.3
No basis to judge/Not applicable 35.4 26.3 44.4 16.0 13.2 18.7
Missing or Nonresponse 2.0 0.2 6.8 2.6 1.6 4.1


Note: Only respondents who indicated familiarity on question 17a were also asked to answer questions 17b through 22. Those who did not are reflected in the “Missing or Nonresponse” category for those questions.


17b. I have access to program evaluation(s) I need to manage my program(s).

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Very great extent 6.9 2.9 13.5 13.7 10.8 16.6
Great extent 18.1 11.4 26.7 17.6 14.7 20.5
Moderate extent 9.9 5.1 16.9 18.0 14.9 21.2
Small extent 7.6 3.3 14.3 8.3 6.2 10.8
No extent 3.0 0.7 8.0 2.5 1.5 3.8
No basis to judge/Not applicable 0.0 0.0 2.6 2.1 1.3 3.1
Missing or Nonresponse 54.6 45.2 63.9 37.9 34.1 41.6

18. Within your program(s), have you served in any of the following roles in program evaluation(s)? (Select one answer in each row.)

18a. Leader or member of an agency team that identified or prioritized research questions for potential evaluation(s)

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Yes 12.7 7.0 20.6 22.8 19.5 26.1
No 32.8 24.0 41.6 37.6 33.7 41.4
Missing or Nonresponse 54.6 45.2 63.9 39.6 35.8 43.5

18b. Evaluator who has managed third parties responsible for conducting evaluation(s)

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Yes 11.6 6.2 19.2 16.1 13.1 19.1
No 33.9 25.0 42.7 44.5 40.6 48.5
Missing or Nonresponse 54.6 45.2 63.9 39.4 35.6 43.2

18c. Member of the program staff that provided program information or context to evaluators

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Yes 22.8 15.3 31.9 34.0 30.2 37.7
No 21.7 14.4 30.6 26.7 23.1 30.2
Missing or Nonresponse 55.5 46.2 64.9 39.4 35.6 43.2

18d. Evaluator or member of a team that conducted evaluation(s)

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Yes 14.6 8.4 22.8 29.3 25.7 33.0
No 28.2 19.8 36.5 31.7 28.1 35.4
Missing or Nonresponse 57.3 48.0 66.6 39.0 35.2 42.7

18e. Manager who has used the results of the evaluation(s) to make performance improvement decisions

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Yes 32.1 23.3 40.9 42.6 38.7 46.5
No 13.3 7.6 21.1 18.3 15.2 21.3
Missing or Nonresponse 54.6 45.2 63.9 39.1 35.3 42.9

19. To what extent does your program(s) use results from evaluations for the following purposes? (Select one answer in each row.)

19a. Implementing changes to improve program performance

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Very great extent 10.6 5.5 18.0 15.9 12.9 18.9
Great extent 17.5 10.9 26.0 21.9 18.5 25.3
Moderate extent 5.7 2.2 11.8 13.0 10.4 15.6
Small extent 3.9 1.2 9.3 4.9 3.4 6.8
No extent 1.9 0.2 6.5 1.1 0.6 2.0
No basis to judge/Not applicable 4.9 1.7 10.7 3.9 2.6 5.5
Missing or Nonresponse 55.5 46.1 64.8 39.4 35.6 43.2

19b. Adopting new program approaches, operations, or processes

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Very great extent 10.6 5.5 18.0 15.9 12.8 18.9
Great extent 17.5 10.8 26.0 21.1 17.8 24.5
Moderate extent 8.5 4.1 15.2 12.8 10.2 15.4
Small extent 1.1 0.1 4.7 5.3 3.7 7.3
No extent 2.9 0.6 8.0 1.1 0.6 1.9
No basis to judge/Not applicable 4.0 1.2 9.6 3.9 2.7 5.5
Missing or Nonresponse 55.5 46.1 64.8 39.9 36.0 43.7

19c. Sharing effective program approaches or lessons learned

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Very great extent 9.7 4.9 16.9 15.8 12.8 18.8
Great extent 17.6 11.0 26.1 21.6 18.2 24.9
Moderate extent 7.4 3.3 13.9 11.4 9.1 13.8
Small extent 4.0 1.2 9.5 6.7 4.9 8.9
No extent 1.9 0.2 6.5 1.5 0.7 2.6
No basis to judge/Not applicable 4.0 1.2 9.6 3.7 2.5 5.3
Missing or Nonresponse 55.5 46.1 64.8 39.4 35.6 43.2

19d. Allocating resources within the program

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Very great extent 8.8 4.2 15.9 13.7 10.8 16.6
Great extent 14.7 8.6 22.8 17.2 14.1 20.2
Moderate extent 7.7 3.6 14.3 14.4 11.7 17.2
Small extent 1.9 0.2 6.6 6.5 4.7 8.6
No extent 2.8 0.6 7.8 2.6 1.4 4.2
No basis to judge/Not applicable 7.8 3.5 14.5 5.6 4.1 7.4
Missing or Nonresponse 56.4 47.0 65.7 40.1 36.3 43.9

19e. Explaining or providing context for performance results

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Very great extent 9.7 4.9 16.9 13.7 10.8 16.6
Great extent 17.5 10.9 26.0 22.4 19.0 25.8
Moderate extent 5.7 2.2 11.7 12.5 9.8 15.1
Small extent 4.7 1.6 10.7 5.1 3.7 6.8
No extent 2.8 0.6 7.9 1.8 1.0 2.9
No basis to judge/Not applicable 4.1 1.2 9.7 4.2 2.8 5.9
Missing or Nonresponse 55.5 46.1 64.8 40.4 36.5 44.2

19f. Informing the public about the program's performance, as appropriate

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Very great extent 8.7 4.2 15.7 7.0 5.1 9.3
Great extent 11.2 5.9 18.7 12.7 9.8 15.5
Moderate extent 8.3 4.0 15.0 9.2 7.2 11.6
Small extent 1.9 0.2 6.6 7.3 5.5 9.4
No extent 2.9 0.6 8.0 7.3 5.3 9.8
No basis to judge/Not applicable 11.6 6.2 19.1 17.1 14.1 20.2
Missing or Nonresponse 55.5 46.1 64.8 39.4 35.6 43.2

20. To what extent do you agree with the following statements about evaluations of your program(s)? (Select one answer in each row.)

20a. Evaluations addressed issues important to key stakeholders

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Very great extent 5.8 2.3 11.9 13.3 10.5 16.2
Great extent 15.8 9.5 24.1 20.1 16.9 23.4
Moderate extent 8.6 4.2 15.4 13.9 11.1 16.6
Small extent 2.9 0.6 8.2 3.3 2.3 4.5
No extent 0.9 0.0 4.9 1.2 0.7 2.1
No basis to judge/Not applicable 10.5 5.4 17.7 8.1 6.1 10.6
Missing or Nonresponse 55.5 46.1 64.8 40.1 36.3 43.9

20b. Evaluations were completed without undue influence

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Very great extent 6.8 2.8 13.2 14.7 11.9 17.5
Great extent 16.0 9.6 24.3 20.8 17.5 24.1
Moderate extent 5.8 2.2 11.9 9.8 7.5 12.6
Small extent 2.8 0.6 7.8 4.6 3.0 6.6
No extent 0.9 0.0 4.9 1.0 0.5 1.7
No basis to judge/Not applicable 12.4 6.8 20.0 8.9 6.8 11.4
Missing or Nonresponse 55.5 46.1 64.8 40.2 36.4 44.0

20c. Evaluations were technically rigorous (i.e., they produced accurate, valid, and high quality evidence)

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Very great extent 6.8 2.9 13.3 12.6 9.9 15.3
Great extent 11.9 6.5 19.6 19.5 16.3 22.8
Moderate extent 9.8 4.9 16.9 13.0 10.4 15.7
Small extent 1.8 0.2 6.3 4.5 3.1 6.3
No extent 1.9 0.2 6.5 1.5 0.8 2.7
No basis to judge/Not applicable 12.4 6.9 20.1 8.6 6.5 11.1
Missing or Nonresponse 55.5 46.1 64.8 40.2 36.4 44.0

20d. Evaluation results had clear implications for program improvement

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Very great extent 6.8 2.9 13.3 12.0 9.4 14.6
Great extent 15.8 9.5 24.1 20.6 17.3 23.9
Moderate extent 8.6 4.1 15.5 12.3 9.8 14.9
Small extent 3.9 1.2 9.3 5.0 3.5 6.9
No extent 0.9 0.0 4.9 1.0 0.6 1.7
No basis to judge/Not applicable 8.6 4.1 15.4 8.8 6.6 11.4
Missing or Nonresponse 55.5 46.1 64.8 40.3 36.4 44.1

20e. Evaluation results were delivered in time to be useful

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Very great extent 7.8 3.5 14.5 12.2 9.5 14.9
Great extent 15.7 9.4 23.9 18.9 15.7 22.1
Moderate extent 4.6 1.5 10.4 14.2 11.4 16.9
Small extent 3.1 0.8 8.0 4.0 2.7 5.8
No extent 1.9 0.2 6.5 1.2 0.7 1.8
No basis to judge/Not applicable 11.5 6.2 19.0 9.0 6.8 11.5
Missing or Nonresponse 55.5 46.1 64.8 40.5 36.7 44.4

20f. Evaluation recommendations were feasible to implement with existing resources

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Very great extent 6.8 2.9 13.3 11.4 8.8 14.4
Great extent 14.8 8.7 23.0 16.9 13.9 20.0
Moderate extent 6.6 2.8 12.8 13.4 10.8 16.0
Small extent 3.0 0.7 8.1 7.0 5.1 9.3
No extent 0.9 0.0 4.9 1.7 0.9 2.8
No basis to judge/Not applicable 11.5 6.2 19.0 9.1 6.9 11.7
Missing or Nonresponse 56.4 47.1 65.7 40.6 36.8 44.4

21. To what extent do you agree with the following statements about staff collectively in your program(s)? (Select one answer in each row.)

21a. Program staff have the skills necessary to conduct program evaluations

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Very great extent 7.8 3.5 14.5 13.1 10.2 15.9
Great extent 16.5 10.1 24.9 19.6 16.4 22.8
Moderate extent 10.4 5.3 17.7 15.7 12.8 18.6
Small extent 2.3 0.4 6.8 4.9 3.4 6.9
No extent 3.8 1.0 9.3 0.7 0.3 1.4
No basis to judge/Not applicable 3.0 0.7 8.0 5.0 3.4 7.0
Missing or Nonresponse 56.4 47.0 65.7 41.0 37.2 44.9

21b. Program staff have the skills necessary to understand program evaluation methods, results, and limitations

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Very great extent 6.8 2.8 13.2 12.6 9.8 15.3
Great extent 20.4 13.2 29.2 20.4 17.2 23.6
Moderate extent 8.6 4.1 15.5 15.3 12.4 18.1
Small extent 3.1 0.7 8.2 4.2 2.9 5.9
No extent 2.8 0.6 7.8 0.7 0.3 1.4
No basis to judge/Not applicable 3.0 0.7 8.0 5.4 3.7 7.6
Missing or Nonresponse 55.5 46.1 64.8 41.4 37.6 45.3

21c. Program staff have the skills necessary to implement evaluation recommendations

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Very great extent 7.8 3.5 14.5 13.0 10.2 15.7
Great extent 20.3 13.2 29.1 22.3 19.0 25.7
Moderate extent 9.8 5.0 16.9 15.0 12.1 17.8
Small extent 1.8 0.2 6.4 3.1 2.0 4.5
No extent 1.9 0.2 6.5 0.7 0.3 1.3
No basis to judge/Not applicable 3.0 0.7 8.0 4.6 3.1 6.4
Missing or Nonresponse 55.5 46.1 64.8 41.4 37.6 45.3

21d. Program staff receive training in program evaluation (e.g., formal classroom training, conferences, on the job training)

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Very great extent 8.6 4.0 15.5 9.4 7.1 12.1
Great extent 16.5 10.0 24.8 15.9 12.9 18.9
Moderate extent 4.8 1.7 10.6 12.9 10.3 15.6
Small extent 2.2 0.4 6.7 7.9 6.0 10.1
No extent 3.8 1.0 9.3 4.8 3.3 6.7
No basis to judge/Not applicable 8.7 4.2 15.6 7.7 5.7 10.0
Missing or Nonresponse 55.5 46.1 64.8 41.4 37.5 45.3

21e. Program staff have access to evaluation experts to support evaluation-related tasks (e.g., through other agency programs, external organizations)

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Very great extent 7.7 3.5 14.4 11.1 8.6 14.1
Great extent 17.4 10.8 25.8 15.1 12.2 18.0
Moderate extent 8.8 4.2 15.8 13.0 10.3 15.7
Small extent 1.1 0.1 4.7 7.2 5.3 9.5
No extent 2.9 0.6 8.2 4.3 2.9 6.0
No basis to judge/Not applicable 6.7 2.8 13.1 8.2 6.2 10.6
Missing or Nonresponse 55.5 46.1 64.8 41.1 37.3 45.0

22. To what extent do you agree with the following statements about evaluations of your program(s)? (Select one answer in each row.)

22a. Agency top leadership was committed to using evaluations

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Very great extent 6.1 2.4 12.3 13.6 10.8 16.4
Great extent 13.4 7.6 21.3 15.4 12.6 18.1
Moderate extent 5.6 2.1 11.8 11.6 9.0 14.2
Small extent 3.1 0.8 7.9 3.4 2.2 4.9
No extent 0.9 0.0 4.9 1.4 0.6 2.8
No basis to judge/Not applicable 15.4 9.2 23.6 12.4 9.8 14.9
Missing or Nonresponse 55.5 46.1 64.8 42.3 38.4 46.2

22b. Congress supported the use of evaluations

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Very great extent 3.1 0.7 8.4 7.4 5.3 9.9
Great extent 11.4 6.1 18.9 9.6 7.4 12.2
Moderate extent 3.9 1.1 9.2 7.9 5.8 10.5
Small extent 1.8 0.2 6.3 1.8 1.0 2.8
No extent 1.9 0.2 6.5 1.7 0.9 2.9
No basis to judge/Not applicable 22.5 15.1 31.6 29.4 25.9 33.0
Missing or Nonresponse 55.5 46.1 64.8 42.3 38.4 46.2

22c. Evaluations of my program were guided by an agency evaluation plan

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Very great extent 5.1 1.8 10.9 9.0 6.7 11.6
Great extent 14.3 8.3 22.4 14.1 11.3 16.9
Moderate extent 4.7 1.6 10.3 11.1 8.5 13.7
Small extent 1.9 0.2 6.5 2.6 1.8 3.6
No extent 2.0 0.3 6.3 2.4 1.5 3.8
No basis to judge/Not applicable 15.7 9.4 23.9 18.1 15.1 21.1
Missing or Nonresponse 56.5 47.1 65.8 42.7 38.8 46.6

22d. Evaluations were guided by agency evaluation policies

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Very great extent 4.9 1.7 10.8 10.8 8.4 13.6
Great extent 16.5 10.0 24.9 16.1 13.2 19.1
Moderate extent 5.7 2.2 11.8 10.9 8.3 13.4
Small extent 2.7 0.6 7.7 2.5 1.6 3.6
No extent 2.0 0.3 6.3 1.7 0.9 2.8
No basis to judge/Not applicable 12.7 7.1 20.5 15.3 12.5 18.1
Missing or Nonresponse 55.5 46.1 64.8 42.7 38.9 46.6

22e. Evaluations involved consultation with key staff in my program

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Very great extent 3.1 0.7 8.4 11.8 9.2 14.5
Great extent 15.4 9.2 23.7 16.5 13.6 19.4
Moderate extent 5.6 2.2 11.5 10.2 7.9 12.9
Small extent 2.0 0.3 6.3 3.5 2.3 5.1
No extent 2.8 0.6 7.9 2.5 1.5 4.0
No basis to judge/Not applicable 14.6 8.5 22.7 12.2 9.6 14.7
Missing or Nonresponse 56.5 47.2 65.8 43.3 39.3 47.2

22f. Evaluations involved consultation with key external stakeholders

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Very great extent 4.0 1.2 9.6 8.7 6.6 11.3
Great extent 12.8 7.2 20.6 13.8 11.0 16.7
Moderate extent 4.7 1.6 10.5 11.3 8.8 14.3
Small extent 3.9 1.2 9.4 3.7 2.6 5.2
No extent 1.8 0.2 6.3 2.0 1.3 2.7
No basis to judge/Not applicable 17.3 10.7 25.7 17.2 14.3 20.1
Missing or Nonresponse 55.5 46.1 64.8 43.2 39.3 47.1

22g. Disagreements among stakeholders were easy to resolve

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Very great extent 3.8 1.1 9.5 5.8 3.9 8.3
Great extent 8.0 3.7 14.7 9.7 7.5 12.2
Moderate extent 4.9 1.7 10.8 15.0 12.1 17.9
Small extent 1.1 0.1 4.7 3.2 2.0 4.8
No extent 1.9 0.2 6.5 1.4 0.9 2.1
No basis to judge/Not applicable 24.0 16.3 33.2 22.1 18.9 25.3
Missing or Nonresponse 56.4 47.0 65.7 42.7 38.9 46.6

22h. Evaluation results were made easily accessible and available to the public, as appropriate

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Very great extent 4.0 1.2 9.6 6.2 4.4 8.4
Great extent 8.0 3.7 14.7 8.5 6.4 10.9
Moderate extent 7.5 3.3 14.2 11.6 9.0 14.7
Small extent 2.0 0.3 6.4 3.7 2.6 5.0
No extent 3.0 0.7 8.0 3.5 2.3 5.1
No basis to judge/Not applicable 20.1 13.0 28.8 23.3 20.0 26.6
Missing or Nonresponse 55.5 46.1 64.8 43.3 39.4 47.2

22i. My program systematically tracked the implementation of evaluation recommendations

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Very great extent 5.7 2.2 12.0 9.9 7.6 12.7
Great extent 10.8 5.7 18.2 13.5 10.8 16.1
Moderate extent 6.6 2.7 13.1 12.7 9.9 15.4
Small extent 4.2 1.3 9.7 3.8 2.6 5.2
No extent 0.9 0.0 4.9 2.4 1.3 3.9
No basis to judge/Not applicable 15.3 9.2 23.4 14.6 11.9 17.3
Missing or Nonresponse 56.4 47.1 65.7 43.2 39.3 47.1

23. Please answer the following question.

If an evaluation of your program contained recommendations for program improvements, how likely would you be to take the following actions? (Select one answer in each row.)

23a. Support implementation of recommended changes

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Extremely likely 14.3 8.3 22.3 11.6 9.1 14.1
Very likely 16.6 10.1 25.0 15.7 12.8 18.6
Somewhat likely 2.9 0.6 8.2 2.3 1.4 3.3
Not at all likely 1.9 0.2 6.6 0.8 0.3 1.6
Missing or Nonresponse 64.3 55.3 73.4 69.7 66.1 73.2

23b. Seek additional resources for implementation of recommendations

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Extremely likely 14.3 8.3 22.3 8.9 6.9 11.3
Very likely 15.6 9.3 23.9 14.6 11.8 17.3
Somewhat likely 4.0 1.1 9.7 4.6 3.1 6.6
Not at all likely 1.9 0.2 6.5 2.0 1.1 3.3
Missing or Nonresponse 64.3 55.3 73.4 69.9 66.3 73.4

23c. Support making the evaluation results public (for example, on your agency or program website), as appropriate

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Extremely likely 10.5 5.4 17.8 7.0 5.2 9.1
Very likely 16.5 10.1 25.0 11.0 8.5 13.4
Somewhat likely 4.9 1.6 11.0 5.6 4.0 7.6
Not at all likely 3.7 1.0 9.2 6.7 4.8 9.0
Missing or Nonresponse 64.3 55.3 73.4 69.8 66.2 73.4

23d. Invite one or more members of the evaluation team to share the results with your agency's top leadership

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Extremely likely 12.5 6.9 20.3 8.1 6.2 10.3
Very likely 16.5 10.0 24.9 14.9 12.0 17.8
Somewhat likely 2.0 0.3 7.0 4.0 2.6 5.7
Not at all likely 4.6 1.5 10.4 3.0 2.0 4.3
Missing or Nonresponse 64.3 55.3 73.4 70.1 66.5 73.6

23e. Invite one or more members of the evaluation team to share the results with program staff

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Extremely likely 12.5 6.9 20.2 10.6 8.2 12.9
Very likely 16.5 10.1 25.0 14.5 11.7 17.3
Somewhat likely 2.0 0.3 7.0 2.8 1.8 4.2
Not at all likely 4.6 1.5 10.4 2.0 1.2 3.1
Missing or Nonresponse 64.3 55.3 73.4 70.1 66.6 73.7

If an evaluation of your program based on questions identified by program staff contained recommendations for program improvements, how likely would you be to take the following actions? (Select one answer in each row.)

23a. Support implementation of recommended changes

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Extremely likely 9.7 4.9 16.8 13.2 10.4 16.0
Very likely 13.6 7.7 21.5 12.7 10.1 15.3
Somewhat likely 3.2 0.7 8.5 3.5 2.1 5.3
Not at all likely 1.8 0.2 6.3 1.1 0.4 2.2
Missing or Nonresponse 71.8 63.3 80.2 69.6 65.9 73.2

23b. Seek additional resources for implementation of recommendations

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Extremely likely 8.6 4.1 15.4 11.2 8.6 13.8
Very likely 12.1 6.6 19.7 11.5 9.0 13.9
Somewhat likely 4.8 1.6 10.9 4.6 3.2 6.4
Not at all likely 2.8 0.6 7.9 2.9 1.6 4.9
Missing or Nonresponse 71.8 63.3 80.2 69.8 66.1 73.5

23c. Support making the evaluation results public (for example, on your agency or program website), as appropriate

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Extremely likely 5.7 2.2 11.8 7.4 5.4 9.9
Very likely 8.3 3.9 15.1 9.7 7.5 12.2
Somewhat likely 8.7 4.1 15.7 7.4 5.4 9.9
Not at all likely 4.6 1.5 10.4 5.9 4.1 8.1
Missing or Nonresponse 72.7 63.3 80.8 69.6 66.0 73.3

23d. Invite one or more members of the evaluation team to share the results with your agency's top leadership

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Extremely likely 6.0 2.4 12.1 11.9 9.2 14.5
Very likely 11.9 6.5 19.5 10.0 7.6 12.3
Somewhat likely 3.8 1.1 9.4 5.7 3.9 7.9
Not at all likely 6.5 2.7 12.9 2.8 1.7 4.4
Missing or Nonresponse 71.8 63.3 80.2 69.7 66.0 73.4

23e. Invite one or more members of the evaluation team to share the results with program staff

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Extremely likely 6.9 3.0 13.3 12.8 10.1 15.5
Very likely 12.8 7.2 20.6 10.4 8.0 12.7
Somewhat likely 3.8 1.1 9.4 4.6 3.0 6.8
Not at all likely 4.7 1.6 10.6 2.7 1.5 4.4
Missing or Nonresponse 71.8 63.3 80.2 69.5 65.9 73.2

If an evaluation of your program based on questions identified by your agency's top leadership contained recommendations for program improvements, how likely would you be to take the following actions? (Select one answer in each row.)

23a. Support implementation of recommended changes

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Extremely likely 10.7 5.6 18.0 11.4 9.0 13.8
Very likely 17.6 11.0 26.1 15.6 12.7 18.5
Somewhat likely 3.8 1.1 9.3 3.3 2.3 4.7
Not at all likely 1.2 0.1 5.2 0.5 0.2 0.9
Missing or Nonresponse 66.8 57.9 75.6 69.2 65.6 72.8

23b. Seek additional resources for implementation of recommendations

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Extremely likely 8.9 4.3 15.8 9.5 7.4 12.1
Very likely 18.0 11.3 26.6 13.5 11.0 16.1
Somewhat likely 2.5 0.5 7.1 6.2 4.3 8.6
Not at all likely 3.9 1.1 9.2 1.2 0.7 1.9
Missing or Nonresponse 66.8 57.9 75.6 69.6 66.0 73.2

23c. Support making the evaluation results public (for example, on your agency or program website), as appropriate

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Extremely likely 6.8 2.9 13.2 6.1 4.5 8.1
Very likely 13.5 7.8 21.4 11.1 8.7 13.5
Somewhat likely 8.8 4.2 15.8 6.1 4.5 8.1
Not at all likely 4.1 1.3 9.6 7.1 5.0 9.5
Missing or Nonresponse 66.8 57.9 75.6 69.6 66.1 73.2

23d. Invite one or more members of the evaluation team to share the results with your agency's top leadership

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Extremely likely 11.7 6.3 19.2 10.5 8.1 12.9
Very likely 11.0 5.8 18.3 13.5 10.8 16.2
Somewhat likely 3.8 1.1 9.5 3.9 2.6 5.7
Not at all likely 6.8 2.9 13.2 2.7 1.6 4.1
Missing or Nonresponse 66.8 57.9 75.6 69.4 65.8 73.0

23e. Invite one or more members of the evaluation team to share the results with program staff

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Extremely likely 10.8 5.7 18.1 12.3 9.8 14.8
Very likely 14.7 8.6 22.8 13.4 10.7 16.1
Somewhat likely 3.8 1.1 9.5 3.5 2.2 5.1
Not at all likely 3.9 1.2 9.3 1.6 0.8 2.7
Missing or Nonresponse 66.8 57.9 75.6 69.3 65.7 72.9

Section 4. Additional Types of Information

Please Note:

This section focuses on additional types of information beyond performance information and program evaluation covered in previous sections that may be useful for the program(s) that you are involved with. As with prior questions, when we say program we mean any program(s), operation(s), or project(s) for which you have management responsibilities.

Among other things, these additional types of information can include the following:

Administrative data are collected by agencies, contractors, or grantees, among others, to carry out the basic operations and administration of a program. Examples could include data from nutrition assistance program applications, medical program payment records, school enrollment records, or local measurements of pollution collected to administer environmental laws.

Statistical data are collected for the purpose of describing or making estimates concerning society, the economy, or the environment, or relevant subgroups or components. They can consist of survey data, aggregate indicators, descriptive statistics, or other data collected by your agency or others to better understand a population or condition. Examples could include Census data, economic data, highway traffic statistics, or crime statistics.

Research and Analysis may provide information and insights pertinent to a program, its objectives, the populations it serves, or challenges it faces. Examples could include a study on mental health disorders and likelihood of employment, or an economic analysis on child support debt. An agency may conduct its own research and analysis, or it may contract for others to conduct it. The agency may also identify relevant research and analysis conducted by other entities, such as other federal, state or local government entities; academic researchers; or think tanks.

24. To what extent do you have the following types of information available to you for the program(s) that you are involved with? (Select one answer in each row.)

If none of these types of information are available to you, check this box and click the link to skip to question 27:

24a. Administrative data

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Very great extent 11.3 6.1 18.6 12.5 10.0 15.0
Great extent 19.5 12.5 28.2 17.7 14.7 20.7
Moderate extent 11.6 6.3 19.1 13.1 10.5 15.7
Small extent 7.7 3.4 14.6 6.7 4.9 8.9
No extent 6.7 2.8 13.3 4.8 3.1 6.9
No basis to judge/Not applicable 6.8 2.8 13.2 5.7 4.1 7.6
Missing or Nonresponse 36.4 27.4 45.5 39.6 35.7 43.5

24b. Statistical data

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Very great extent 12.6 7.0 20.2 11.8 9.5 14.2
Great extent 19.4 12.4 28.2 18.0 15.0 21.0
Moderate extent 14.0 8.1 21.9 15.1 12.2 18.0
Small extent 10.7 5.6 18.1 5.8 4.2 7.9
No extent 1.9 0.2 6.6 3.1 2.0 4.6
No basis to judge/Not applicable 4.9 1.7 10.7 6.1 4.3 8.4
Missing or Nonresponse 36.6 27.5 45.7 40.0 36.1 43.9

24c. Research and analysis

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Very great extent 9.3 4.6 16.4 8.7 6.7 11.1
Great extent 10.6 5.4 18.1 12.9 10.3 15.5
Moderate extent 14.4 8.4 22.3 14.6 11.8 17.4
Small extent 7.2 3.2 13.6 8.2 6.3 10.4
No extent 8.6 4.1 15.7 7.0 5.0 9.4
No basis to judge/Not applicable 11.4 6.1 18.9 8.2 6.2 10.7
Missing or Nonresponse 38.4 29.3 47.6 40.5 36.6 44.4

24d. Other information not specified above. (Please describe below).

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Very great extent 2.1 0.3 6.7 1.8 0.9 3.0
Great extent 2.9 0.6 8.2 2.5 1.5 4.0
Moderate extent 2.1 0.3 6.6 3.0 1.9 4.5
Small extent 2.0 0.2 6.8 1.4 0.6 2.8
No extent 5.8 2.2 12.1 4.0 2.6 5.9
No basis to judge/Not applicable 40.0 30.8 49.2 37.3 33.5 41.1
Missing or Nonresponse 45.2 35.8 54.5 50.0 46.1 54.0


Note: Only respondents who used the extent scale on question 24 were also asked to answer questions 25 and 26. Those who did not are reflected in the “Missing or Nonresponse” category for those questions.


If you answered "Other information not specified above," please specify the other information here.

Responses to open-ended questions intentionally not reported.

25. Based on your response in question 24, to what extent, if at all, do you use any of those types of information when participating in the following activities for the program(s) you are involved with? (Select one answer in each row.)

25a. Providing context about the problem the program is designed to address

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Very great extent 7.9 3.7 14.6 12.1 9.6 14.6
Great extent 23.6 16.0 32.7 19.6 16.5 22.7
Moderate extent 14.7 8.6 22.8 13.9 11.2 16.6
Small extent 3.2 0.8 8.2 3.9 2.6 5.7
No extent 4.7 1.6 10.7 1.1 0.4 2.2
No basis to judge/Not applicable 2.7 0.6 7.7 3.4 2.0 5.3
Missing or Nonresponse 43.1 33.8 52.4 46.0 42.0 49.9

25b. Setting or revising program priorities and goals

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Very great extent 9.0 4.4 15.9 12.4 9.8 15.0
Great extent 22.9 15.4 31.9 19.5 16.4 22.6
Moderate extent 10.6 5.5 18.0 13.6 10.9 16.3
Small extent 6.0 2.3 12.3 3.8 2.6 5.3
No extent 4.6 1.5 10.4 2.1 1.0 3.8
No basis to judge/Not applicable 3.7 1.0 9.2 2.6 1.5 4.1
Missing or Nonresponse 43.1 33.8 52.4 46.0 42.1 49.9

25c. Developing program strategy

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Very great extent 8.9 4.3 15.8 13.3 10.6 16.1
Great extent 17.0 10.5 25.3 20.2 17.0 23.3
Moderate extent 17.3 10.7 25.7 11.4 8.9 13.8
Small extent 5.1 1.8 11.1 4.3 3.0 6.0
No extent 3.8 1.1 9.5 2.1 1.0 3.9
No basis to judge/Not applicable 4.7 1.6 10.6 2.7 1.6 4.2
Missing or Nonresponse 43.3 33.9 52.6 46.0 42.1 49.9

25d. Explaining or providing context for performance results

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Very great extent 9.9 5.0 17.0 13.1 10.4 15.7
Great extent 22.7 15.3 31.7 19.5 16.5 22.6
Moderate extent 16.7 10.3 25.1 12.3 9.8 14.9
Small extent 1.8 0.2 6.4 5.2 3.5 7.3
No extent 4.0 1.1 9.7 1.1 0.3 2.6
No basis to judge/Not applicable 1.8 0.2 6.4 2.4 1.4 3.9
Missing or Nonresponse 43.1 33.8 52.4 46.4 42.5 50.3

25e. Refining program performance measures

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Very great extent 7.1 3.1 13.4 10.5 8.0 12.9
Great extent 20.1 13.0 28.8 18.9 15.8 22.0
Moderate extent 9.0 4.4 16.0 12.8 10.2 15.5
Small extent 8.3 3.9 15.2 5.7 4.1 7.6
No extent 4.8 1.6 10.9 2.7 1.5 4.5
No basis to judge/Not applicable 7.5 3.3 14.2 3.4 2.2 4.8
Missing or Nonresponse 43.1 33.8 52.4 46.1 42.1 50.0

25f. Allocating resources

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Very great extent 9.6 4.8 16.7 11.1 8.5 13.6
Great extent 18.0 11.4 26.5 17.8 14.8 20.8
Moderate extent 15.0 8.8 23.1 13.4 10.7 16.0
Small extent 5.8 2.2 12.1 6.0 4.4 8.0
No extent 4.6 1.5 10.4 2.0 1.2 3.2
No basis to judge/Not applicable 3.9 1.2 9.3 3.7 2.3 5.5
Missing or Nonresponse 43.1 33.8 52.4 46.1 42.1 50.0

25g. Identifying opportunities to improve program performance

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Very great extent 10.1 5.2 17.1 12.8 10.2 15.4
Great extent 19.5 12.5 28.3 20.9 17.7 24.1
Moderate extent 16.7 10.2 25.1 11.2 8.8 13.5
Small extent 1.9 0.2 6.6 5.3 3.6 7.5
No extent 5.7 2.1 11.9 1.1 0.3 2.6
No basis to judge/Not applicable 2.8 0.6 8.0 2.2 1.2 3.8
Missing or Nonresponse 43.3 33.9 52.6 46.6 42.6 50.5

25h. Identifying and sharing effective program approaches with others

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Very great extent 8.8 4.2 15.8 10.1 7.8 12.3
Great extent 23.6 16.0 32.6 19.8 16.6 22.9
Moderate extent 14.8 8.7 22.9 15.3 12.3 18.2
Small extent 5.1 1.8 10.9 5.9 4.2 7.9
No extent 0.0 0.0 2.6 0.6 0.3 1.1
No basis to judge/Not applicable 4.7 1.6 10.6 2.4 1.4 3.9
Missing or Nonresponse 43.1 33.8 52.4 46.0 42.1 50.0

25i. Adopting new program approaches or changing work processes

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Very great extent 8.0 3.8 14.6 11.3 8.9 13.7
Great extent 22.4 15.0 31.4 19.3 16.2 22.3
Moderate extent 16.8 10.3 25.2 15.6 12.7 18.5
Small extent 5.0 1.7 10.9 4.2 2.9 5.8
No extent 0.0 0.0 2.6 1.3 0.4 2.8
No basis to judge/Not applicable 4.7 1.6 10.6 2.0 1.2 3.2
Missing or Nonresponse 43.1 33.8 52.4 46.4 42.5 50.4

25j. Identifying opportunities to reduce, eliminate or better manage duplicative activities

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Very great extent 7.9 3.6 14.6 11.6 9.2 14.1
Great extent 23.9 16.2 32.9 18.5 15.6 21.5
Moderate extent 14.7 8.6 22.8 14.4 11.5 17.3
Small extent 6.8 2.9 13.2 6.2 4.5 8.4
No extent 1.8 0.2 6.4 1.0 0.4 2.1
No basis to judge/Not applicable 1.8 0.2 6.4 2.1 1.2 3.3
Missing or Nonresponse 43.1 33.8 52.4 46.2 42.2 50.1

25k. Coordinating program efforts within your agency or with other external entities

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Very great extent 5.8 2.2 11.8 9.2 7.0 11.7
Great extent 20.8 13.6 29.6 18.2 15.1 21.2
Moderate extent 16.1 9.8 24.4 13.3 10.6 16.0
Small extent 6.7 2.8 13.2 7.6 5.6 10.0
No extent 1.8 0.2 6.4 2.0 1.2 3.2
No basis to judge/Not applicable 5.7 2.2 11.8 3.4 2.3 4.9
Missing or Nonresponse 43.1 33.8 52.4 46.3 42.4 50.2

25l. Identifying opportunities to support the program's activities to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Very great extent 8.0 3.7 14.8 9.6 7.4 11.8
Great extent 17.0 10.5 25.3 14.3 11.6 16.9
Moderate extent 14.7 8.6 22.8 10.8 8.3 13.4
Small extent 8.7 4.1 15.8 6.1 4.3 8.3
No extent 2.8 0.6 7.9 3.5 2.3 5.2
No basis to judge/Not applicable 3.9 1.1 9.2 9.0 6.8 11.5
Missing or Nonresponse 44.9 35.6 54.3 46.7 42.8 50.7

25m. Other activity not listed. (Please describe below).

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Very great extent 1.0 0.0 5.4 1.8 0.9 3.0
Great extent 2.1 0.3 6.8 2.4 1.4 3.7
Moderate extent 3.9 1.1 9.5 3.4 1.9 5.4
Small extent 0.0 0.0 2.6 0.6 0.1 1.7
No extent 5.1 1.8 11.1 2.8 1.6 4.5
No basis to judge/Not applicable 36.2 27.2 45.2 34.0 30.3 37.7
Missing or Nonresponse 51.8 42.4 61.2 55.2 51.3 59.1

If you answered "Other activity not listed," please specify the other activity here.

Responses to open-ended questions intentionally not reported.

26. Thinking about all these additional types of information (i.e., administrative and statistical data, and research and analysis) that you have available for your program(s), to what extent, if at all, do you agree with the following statements? (Select one answer in each row.)

26a. Program staff collectively have the knowledge and skills needed to collect, analyze, and use these additional types of information

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Very great extent 4.9 1.8 10.6 9.6 7.4 11.9
Great extent 23.6 15.9 32.7 17.4 14.5 20.4
Moderate extent 15.7 9.4 23.8 17.5 14.5 20.6
Small extent 6.0 2.3 12.3 6.7 4.9 8.9
No extent 0.9 0.0 4.9 0.3 0.1 0.5
No basis to judge/Not applicable 5.0 1.7 10.9 2.4 1.3 4.0
Missing or Nonresponse 44.0 34.7 53.4 46.1 42.2 50.0

26b. I have access to the analytical tools needed to collect, analyze, and use these additional types information

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Very great extent 5.6 2.1 11.7 10.3 7.9 13.1
Great extent 24.6 16.8 33.8 15.5 12.8 18.1
Moderate extent 14.8 8.8 22.9 16.3 13.4 19.2
Small extent 8.2 3.8 14.9 7.8 5.8 10.2
No extent 0.9 0.0 4.8 1.5 0.7 2.6
No basis to judge/Not applicable 1.8 0.2 6.4 2.2 1.1 3.9
Missing or Nonresponse 44.1 34.8 53.5 46.5 42.6 50.4

26c. I have the additional types of information I need to manage my programs

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Very great extent 4.9 1.7 10.7 9.4 7.2 12.0
Great extent 27.4 19.3 36.8 17.8 14.8 20.8
Moderate extent 14.2 8.2 22.2 16.6 13.7 19.6
Small extent 2.1 0.3 6.7 6.5 4.8 8.7
No extent 1.8 0.2 6.4 1.0 0.5 1.6
No basis to judge/Not applicable 5.6 2.1 11.7 2.2 1.3 3.5
Missing or Nonresponse 44.1 34.7 53.4 46.5 42.5 50.4

26d. I have access to these additional types of information produced by my agency

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Very great extent 4.7 1.6 10.5 8.8 6.7 11.3
Great extent 24.7 17.0 33.9 15.7 12.9 18.5
Moderate extent 13.2 7.5 21.1 17.7 14.6 20.8
Small extent 6.9 3.0 13.3 6.9 5.1 9.1
No extent 2.8 0.6 7.9 2.1 1.2 3.3
No basis to judge/Not applicable 4.6 1.5 10.3 2.7 1.5 4.4
Missing or Nonresponse 43.1 33.8 52.4 46.1 42.2 50.0

26e. I have access to these additional types of information produced by entities outside my agency (such as other federal agencies, academic researchers, and think tanks)

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Very great extent 3.7 1.0 9.1 5.8 4.2 7.8
Great extent 14.7 8.6 22.8 12.1 9.6 14.7
Moderate extent 7.6 3.5 14.0 14.8 11.9 17.7
Small extent 8.9 4.3 15.8 9.6 7.3 11.8
No extent 11.5 6.1 19.2 5.6 3.9 7.7
No basis to judge/Not applicable 10.5 5.5 17.9 5.9 4.2 7.9
Missing or Nonresponse 43.1 33.8 52.4 46.3 42.3 50.2

27. Thinking more broadly about your agency, to what extent, if at all, do you agree with the following statements about additional types of information (i.e., administrative and statistical data, and research and analysis)? (Select one answer in each row.)

27a. My agency communicates about the additional types of information that are available to its employees

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Very great extent 12.3 6.8 20.1 11.2 8.7 13.7
Great extent 26.5 18.5 35.8 20.2 17.1 23.3
Moderate extent 27.1 19.0 36.5 26.8 23.4 30.3
Small extent 19.7 12.7 28.4 15.9 13.1 18.8
No extent 4.9 1.7 10.8 7.2 5.2 9.7
No basis to judge/Not applicable 4.7 1.6 10.6 8.4 6.3 10.9
Missing or Nonresponse 4.7 1.6 10.6 10.3 7.9 13.0

27b. My agency has the analytical tools needed to collect, analyze, and use these additional types of information

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Very great extent 15.1 8.9 23.2 12.3 9.7 14.8
Great extent 38.5 29.3 47.6 27.0 23.5 30.5
Moderate extent 20.1 13.1 28.9 23.0 19.8 26.2
Small extent 4.3 1.4 9.8 9.6 7.4 12.3
No extent 0.9 0.0 4.9 2.6 1.5 4.3
No basis to judge/Not applicable 17.3 10.7 25.8 14.5 11.8 17.2
Missing or Nonresponse 3.8 1.1 9.4 11.1 8.5 13.6

27c. My agency has staff with the knowledge and skills needed to collect, analyze and use these additional types of information

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Very great extent 14.4 8.4 22.4 13.5 10.9 16.0
Great extent 37.7 28.6 46.8 26.9 23.4 30.4
Moderate extent 21.9 14.6 30.9 23.8 20.5 27.2
Small extent 7.8 3.5 14.6 9.5 7.3 12.2
No extent 0.9 0.0 4.9 2.3 1.3 3.6
No basis to judge/Not applicable 12.5 6.9 20.3 13.0 10.4 15.6
Missing or Nonresponse 4.7 1.6 10.7 11.0 8.5 13.5

27d. My agency is investing resources to improve its capacity to collect, analyze, and use these additional types of information

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Very great extent 13.6 7.8 21.4 11.0 8.6 13.3
Great extent 29.0 20.4 37.5 21.1 17.9 24.3
Moderate extent 16.8 10.4 25.1 19.6 16.5 22.7
Small extent 4.0 1.2 9.6 10.5 8.0 13.0
No extent 4.0 1.2 9.5 3.8 2.4 5.8
No basis to judge/Not applicable 28.9 20.3 37.5 23.3 20.0 26.5
Missing or Nonresponse 3.8 1.1 9.4 10.8 8.3 13.3

27e. My agency has staff with the knowledge and skills to integrate and compare findings from performance measurement, program evaluations, and additional types of information

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Very great extent 13.5 7.7 21.3 11.7 9.3 14.1
Great extent 36.4 27.3 45.4 26.6 23.1 30.1
Moderate extent 21.4 14.1 30.2 22.5 19.2 25.8
Small extent 6.0 2.3 12.2 9.3 7.1 11.9
No extent 0.9 0.0 4.9 2.8 1.7 4.3
No basis to judge/Not applicable 18.1 11.4 26.8 15.7 12.9 18.5
Missing or Nonresponse 3.8 1.1 9.4 11.4 8.8 14.0

27f. My agency has information systems and processes in place to protect the privacy and security of its data

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Very great extent 36.2 27.2 45.3 25.1 21.7 28.4
Great extent 35.0 26.0 43.9 30.9 27.2 34.6
Moderate extent 13.6 7.7 21.6 16.3 13.3 19.3
Small extent 1.9 0.2 6.6 3.5 2.4 5.0
No extent 1.9 0.2 6.5 1.9 1.0 3.3
No basis to judge/Not applicable 7.7 3.4 14.5 11.7 9.3 14.2
Missing or Nonresponse 3.8 1.1 9.4 10.6 8.1 13.1

27g. My agency's top leadership demonstrates a strong commitment to using a variety of data and information in decision making (including performance information, program evaluations, and additional types of information)

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Very great extent 22.8 15.3 31.8 18.7 15.8 21.7
Great extent 30.9 22.2 39.5 25.6 22.1 29.1
Moderate extent 20.7 13.5 29.6 19.2 16.1 22.4
Small extent 4.0 1.2 9.4 7.3 5.3 9.6
No extent 1.9 0.2 6.5 2.9 1.9 4.3
No basis to judge/Not applicable 15.2 9.0 23.4 15.6 12.8 18.4
Missing or Nonresponse 4.7 1.6 10.6 10.7 8.1 13.2

28. During the past 3 years, has your agency provided, arranged, or paid for training that would help you to accomplish the following tasks? (Select one answer in each row.)

28a. Identify and collect additional types of information, such as administrative or statistical data, or research and analysis

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Yes 36.2 27.1 45.2 30.7 27.2 34.2
No 59.1 49.9 68.4 58.3 54.4 62.1
Missing or Nonresponse 4.7 1.6 10.6 11.0 8.5 13.5

28b. Assess the quality of data, such as administrative or statistical data

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Yes 35.6 26.6 44.7 30.4 26.8 33.9
No 59.7 50.4 68.9 58.6 54.7 62.5
Missing or Nonresponse 4.7 1.6 10.6 11.0 8.5 13.5

28c. Assess the credibility of data, research, and analysis

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Yes 31.9 23.1 40.7 27.2 23.8 30.6
No 63.4 54.3 72.5 61.6 57.7 65.4
Missing or Nonresponse 4.7 1.6 10.6 11.3 8.7 13.8

28d. Analyze administrative and statistical data, and research and analysis to draw conclusions or inform decisions

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Yes 37.1 28.0 46.2 30.8 27.2 34.3
No 58.2 48.9 67.5 58.2 54.3 62.0
Missing or Nonresponse 4.7 1.6 10.6 11.1 8.6 13.6

28e. Better understand how to choose the right type(s) of information for different kinds of decisions

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Yes 43.7 34.4 53.1 30.5 26.9 34.0
No 51.6 42.2 61.0 58.3 54.4 62.1
Missing or Nonresponse 4.7 1.6 10.6 11.3 8.7 13.8

Section 5. Financial Information

Please Note:

In addition to performance information, program evaluations, and other types of information addressed previously, government agencies produce a wide range of financial information. This section focuses specifically on the information submitted for and available on USAspending.gov, an official source of spending and spending-related data of the U.S. Government. In compliance with the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006 (FFATA), as amended by the Digital Accountability and Transparency Act of 2014 (DATA Act) requirements, USAspending.gov provides information on almost all types of federal spending including, but not limited to, agency budgetary and financial data as well as federal grants, contracts, and loans.

Please note: As with our prior questions, when we say 'program' we mean any program(s), operation(s), or project(s) for which you have management responsibilities.

29. How familiar are you with the USAspending.gov website? (Select one.)

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Very Familiar - Continue with Question 30 0.2 0.0 0.9 1.3 0.7 2.3
Somewhat Familiar - Continue with Question 30 3.6 1.1 8.5 6.0 4.6 7.6
Not Familiar 92.5 86.1 96.5 83.5 80.7 86.2
Missing or Nonresponse 3.8 1.1 9.4 9.2 7.0 11.9


Note: Only respondents who indicated familiarity on question 29 were asked to answer questions 30 and 31. Those who did not are reflected in the “Missing or Nonresponse” category for those questions.


30. To what extent, if at all, are data available on USAspending.gov useful for the following activities? (Select one answer in each row.)

30a. Improve understanding of overall spending for your program(s)

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Very great extent 0.0 0.0 2.6 1.1 0.4 2.1
Great extent 1.0 0.0 5.4 0.9 0.5 1.5
Moderate extent 1.0 0.0 5.1 2.4 1.3 3.9
Small extent 0.3 0.1 1.1 1.0 0.7 1.3
No extent 1.3 0.1 4.9 0.9 0.6 1.3
No basis to judge/Not applicable 0.2 0.0 0.9 1.1 0.6 1.6
Missing or Nonresponse 96.3 91.4 98.8 92.7 90.9 94.3

30b. Compare spending data and related information for other program(s) within your agency to your own

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Very great extent 0.0 0.0 2.6 1.0 0.4 2.1
Great extent 1.0 0.0 5.4 0.9 0.5 1.5
Moderate extent 1.0 0.0 5.1 2.3 1.2 3.8
Small extent 0.3 0.1 1.1 1.2 0.8 1.7
No extent 1.3 0.1 4.9 0.8 0.5 1.0
No basis to judge/Not applicable 0.2 0.0 0.9 1.2 0.7 1.7
Missing or Nonresponse 96.3 91.4 98.8 92.7 90.9 94.3

30c. Compare spending data and related information for program(s) in other agencies or government-wide to your own

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Very great extent 0.0 0.0 2.6 1.0 0.4 2.1
Great extent 1.0 0.0 5.4 1.1 0.6 1.8
Moderate extent 1.0 0.0 5.1 2.2 1.2 3.7
Small extent 0.3 0.1 1.1 1.1 0.7 1.6
No extent 1.1 0.1 4.9 0.7 0.4 1.0
No basis to judge/Not applicable 0.3 0.1 1.1 1.1 0.7 1.7
Missing or Nonresponse 96.3 91.4 98.8 92.8 91.0 94.3

30d. Increase the availability/transparency of spending data and related information regarding your program(s) for the public or other stakeholders

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Very great extent 0.0 0.0 2.6 1.4 0.7 2.4
Great extent 1.0 0.0 5.4 1.5 0.9 2.2
Moderate extent 2.1 0.3 6.6 2.3 1.2 3.8
Small extent 0.0 0.0 2.6 0.8 0.5 1.2
No extent 0.5 0.1 1.3 0.5 0.3 0.7
No basis to judge/Not applicable 0.2 0.0 0.9 0.9 0.5 1.4
Missing or Nonresponse 96.3 91.4 98.8 92.8 91.0 94.3

30e. Manage your program(s)

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Very great extent 0.0 0.0 2.6 1.1 0.5 2.2
Great extent 1.0 0.0 5.4 1.0 0.4 2.1
Moderate extent 1.0 0.0 5.1 1.4 0.7 2.5
Small extent 0.2 0.0 0.8 1.2 0.6 2.3
No extent 1.5 0.2 4.9 1.4 1.1 1.8
No basis to judge/Not applicable 0.2 0.0 0.9 1.0 0.6 1.5
Missing or Nonresponse 96.3 91.4 98.8 92.8 91.0 94.4

30f. Improve understanding of COVID-19 pandemic-related spending for your program(s)

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Very great extent 0.0 0.0 2.6 1.4 0.6 2.7
Great extent 1.0 0.0 5.4 0.7 0.3 1.2
Moderate extent 1.0 0.0 5.1 1.6 0.7 3.0
Small extent 0.2 0.0 0.8 0.6 0.3 1.1
No extent 1.5 0.2 4.9 1.2 0.9 1.6
No basis to judge/Not applicable 0.2 0.0 0.9 1.6 1.1 2.2
Missing or Nonresponse 96.3 91.4 98.8 92.9 91.2 94.4

30g. Other use not listed. (Please describe below).

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Very great extent 0.0 0.0 2.6 0.3 0.1 0.8
Great extent 0.0 0.0 2.6 0.4 0.1 1.0
Moderate extent 1.0 0.0 5.1 0.5 0.2 1.0
Small extent 0.0 0.0 2.6 0.2 0.0 0.3
No extent 0.0 0.0 2.6 1.0 0.3 2.4
No basis to judge/Not applicable 1.7 0.3 5.1 4.1 3.1 5.4
Missing or Nonresponse 97.4 93.1 99.4 93.7 91.9 95.2

If you answered "Other use not listed," please specify the other use here.

Responses to open-ended questions intentionally not reported.

31. To what extent, if at all, have any of the following factors limited or prevented your use of data on USAspending.gov? (Select one answer in each row.)

31a. Data and information on my program(s) are not available on USAspending.gov

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Very great extent 1.0 0.0 5.1 0.6 0.2 1.6
Great extent 0.0 0.0 2.6 0.5 0.2 1.0
Moderate extent 1.0 0.0 5.1 1.0 0.6 1.5
Small extent 0.2 0.0 0.8 1.0 0.5 1.8
No extent 1.5 0.2 5.1 1.2 0.9 1.6
No basis to judge/Not applicable 0.2 0.0 0.9 2.9 1.8 4.5
Missing or Nonresponse 96.3 91.4 98.8 92.8 91.0 94.3

31b. I already have access to information I need from another source

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Very great extent 1.3 0.1 4.9 1.6 0.8 2.6
Great extent 0.0 0.0 2.6 1.6 0.9 2.6
Moderate extent 1.1 0.1 4.9 1.6 0.9 2.6
Small extent 0.2 0.0 0.9 0.7 0.3 1.3
No extent 1.0 0.0 5.4 0.5 0.2 0.8
No basis to judge/Not applicable 0.2 0.0 0.9 1.4 0.7 2.3
Missing or Nonresponse 96.3 91.4 98.8 92.7 90.9 94.3

31c. I am not sure what is available on USAspending.gov

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Very great extent 0.0 0.0 2.6 0.5 0.2 0.8
Great extent 0.0 0.0 2.6 0.5 0.2 1.0
Moderate extent 1.0 0.0 5.1 1.7 0.9 2.9
Small extent 0.2 0.0 0.8 1.0 0.6 1.5
No extent 2.5 0.5 6.9 1.1 0.8 1.5
No basis to judge/Not applicable 0.2 0.0 0.9 2.5 1.4 4.0
Missing or Nonresponse 96.3 91.4 98.8 92.8 91.0 94.3

31d. It is difficult to use the website to locate data and information I need

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Very great extent 0.0 0.0 2.6 0.4 0.2 0.7
Great extent 0.0 0.0 2.6 0.7 0.3 1.3
Moderate extent 1.1 0.1 4.9 1.4 0.7 2.5
Small extent 0.0 0.0 2.6 1.3 0.8 2.1
No extent 1.5 0.2 5.1 0.9 0.6 1.3
No basis to judge/Not applicable 1.1 0.1 4.9 2.5 1.5 4.0
Missing or Nonresponse 96.3 91.4 98.8 92.7 90.9 94.3

31e. The data and information on USAspending.gov is not in a format that is useful to me

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Very great extent 1.0 0.0 5.1 0.5 0.3 0.8
Great extent 0.0 0.0 2.6 1.2 0.5 2.3
Moderate extent 1.0 0.0 5.1 1.2 0.7 1.9
Small extent 0.2 0.0 0.8 0.8 0.4 1.2
No extent 1.5 0.2 5.1 0.9 0.6 1.2
No basis to judge/Not applicable 0.2 0.0 0.9 2.7 1.7 4.2
Missing or Nonresponse 96.3 91.4 98.8 92.8 91.0 94.4

31f. Data and information on USAspending.gov are not of sufficient quality for my needs

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Very great extent 1.0 0.0 5.1 0.4 0.2 0.7
Great extent 0.0 0.0 2.6 1.0 0.3 2.2
Moderate extent 1.0 0.0 5.1 1.3 0.8 2.0
Small extent 0.2 0.0 0.8 1.0 0.5 1.6
No extent 1.5 0.2 5.1 1.0 0.7 1.4
No basis to judge/Not applicable 0.2 0.0 0.9 2.6 1.6 4.0
Missing or Nonresponse 96.3 91.4 98.8 92.8 91.0 94.3

31g. Other factor not listed. (Please describe below).

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Very great extent 0.0 0.0 2.6 0.2 0.1 0.5
Great extent 0.0 0.0 2.6 0.3 0.1 0.7
Moderate extent 1.0 0.0 5.1 0.5 0.2 1.0
Small extent 0.0 0.0 2.6 0.3 0.0 1.0
No extent 1.0 0.0 5.4 0.8 0.2 2.0
No basis to judge/Not applicable 0.7 0.2 1.4 4.3 3.1 5.8
Missing or Nonresponse 97.4 93.1 99.4 93.6 91.8 95.1

If you answered "Other factor not listed," please specify the other factor here.

Responses to open-ended questions intentionally not reported.

Section 6. Funding and Continuity of Operations during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Beginning in March 2020, Congress and the President have taken a series of actions to respond to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Several laws, including the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, provide emergency financial support for our nation's health care system, economy, and citizens. Funding is being provided through existing programs as well as new programs and funds.

In addition, through executive actions, the President has made additional federal funds available. This has included making disaster relief funding available through disaster declarations, and directing agencies and programs to reallocate existing funding to the extent permissible by law to help respond to the pandemic.

On March 17, 2020, consistent with the President's declaration of a national emergency, the Office of Management and Budget issued guidance that directs agencies to adjust their operations and services to minimize face-to-face interactions while ensuring that government operations continue. Among other things, the guidance gives agencies the flexibility to reduce or postpone functions deemed non-mission-critical, or that require in-person interactions, and to realign individuals or work units to higher-priority activities. It also directs agencies to review and modify their policies and procedures to safeguard the health and safety of federal workplaces.

Please note: When we say 'program' here and throughout this survey, we mean any program(s), operation(s), or project(s) for which you have management responsibilities.

32. To what extent, if at all, has funding for your program(s) changed because of actions to respond to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic? (Select one.)

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Substantially increased 1.9 0.2 6.7 4.8 3.6 6.2
Somewhat increased 11.2 6.1 18.4 11.8 9.5 14.2
No change 26.4 18.4 35.8 38.4 34.6 42.2
Somewhat decreased 3.7 1.0 9.0 6.3 4.4 8.7
Substantially decreased 1.0 0.0 5.1 4.1 2.8 5.9
Unsure/Do not know 51.2 41.7 60.5 25.2 21.7 28.6
Missing or Nonresponse 4.7 1.6 10.7 9.4 7.1 12.0

33. Considering your management responsibilities prior to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, which of the following statements describe how your program(s) activities have been affected? (Select yes or no for each row.)

33a. Some program activities were expanded

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Yes 51.8 42.4 61.2 41.4 37.7 45.2
No 44.2 34.9 53.6 47.6 43.7 51.5
Missing or Nonresponse 4.0 1.2 9.5 11.0 8.5 13.9

33b. Some program activities were reduced

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Yes 78.0 69.0 85.4 52.6 48.7 56.5
No 18.2 11.5 26.7 36.0 32.2 39.7
Missing or Nonresponse 3.8 1.1 9.4 11.4 8.8 14.1

33c. Some program activities remained the same

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Yes 82.9 74.4 89.5 76.1 72.7 79.6
No 13.3 7.5 21.2 12.7 10.2 15.3
Missing or Nonresponse 3.8 1.1 9.4 11.1 8.5 13.7

33d. Some program activities were suspended but have been restarted

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Yes 67.8 58.9 76.6 43.4 39.5 47.3
No 28.5 20.0 37.0 44.8 40.9 48.7
Missing or Nonresponse 3.8 1.1 9.4 11.8 9.1 14.5

33e. Some program activities were suspended and we plan to restart them

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Yes 72.0 63.6 80.4 47.3 43.4 51.2
No 23.3 15.7 32.3 41.0 37.1 44.9
Missing or Nonresponse 4.7 1.6 10.7 11.7 9.0 14.3

33f. Some program activities were terminated

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Yes 11.3 6.0 18.8 15.9 13.0 18.8
No 84.0 75.6 90.3 72.5 68.9 76.1
Missing or Nonresponse 4.7 1.6 10.7 11.6 8.9 14.2

34. How did you make use, if at all, of the following types of guidance in managing your program's operations during the pandemic? (Select one answer in each row.)

34a. Agency continuity of operations (COOP) plan

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
I made extensive use of this 18.4 11.6 27.0 16.8 13.7 19.9
I made regular use of this 10.2 5.2 17.5 19.5 16.4 22.7
I made minor use of this 17.1 10.6 25.5 18.8 15.9 21.8
I did not use this 27.3 19.2 36.7 20.5 17.5 23.5
This guidance does not exist 2.7 0.6 7.7 1.6 0.7 3.2
No basis to judge/Not applicable 19.4 12.4 28.2 11.8 9.4 14.2
Missing or Nonresponse 4.7 1.6 10.7 11.0 8.5 13.9

34b. Agency pandemic response plan

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
I made extensive use of this 23.1 15.6 32.2 21.9 18.6 25.3
I made regular use of this 24.0 16.3 33.1 26.6 23.2 30.0
I made minor use of this 8.4 4.0 15.1 14.1 11.4 16.8
I did not use this 13.7 7.8 21.6 12.3 9.7 14.8
This guidance does not exist 3.9 1.2 9.3 3.2 1.8 5.2
No basis to judge/Not applicable 23.2 15.6 32.3 10.8 8.6 13.1
Missing or Nonresponse 3.8 1.1 9.4 11.1 8.5 13.7

34c. Guidance provided during internal agency briefings (in-person, teleconference, or webcast)

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
I made extensive use of this 49.3 39.9 58.7 37.8 34.0 41.6
I made regular use of this 35.0 26.0 44.0 33.2 29.5 36.9
I made minor use of this 5.1 1.8 11.0 7.5 5.9 9.5
I did not use this 0.9 0.0 4.9 3.2 1.9 5.1
This guidance does not exist 2.0 0.3 7.0 1.4 0.6 2.8
No basis to judge/Not applicable 2.1 0.3 6.7 5.5 3.8 7.7
Missing or Nonresponse 5.6 2.1 11.8 11.3 8.8 14.3

34d. Internal agency communications (e.g., memos, emails, information on internal web sites, or answers to frequently asked questions)

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
I made extensive use of this 60.9 51.7 70.1 42.5 38.6 46.3
I made regular use of this 27.3 19.2 36.7 33.2 29.6 36.9
I made minor use of this 4.0 1.2 9.6 6.8 5.0 8.9
I did not use this 0.0 0.0 2.6 1.4 0.7 2.5
This guidance does not exist 1.0 0.0 5.4 0.5 0.1 1.6
No basis to judge/Not applicable 1.1 0.1 4.7 4.6 3.1 6.5
Missing or Nonresponse 5.7 2.1 11.9 11.1 8.6 14.0

34e. External guidance or plans (e.g., from OMB or OPM)

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
I made extensive use of this 22.2 14.8 31.2 17.4 14.5 20.4
I made regular use of this 24.4 16.7 33.6 25.9 22.5 29.3
I made minor use of this 21.4 14.1 30.3 20.7 17.6 23.7
I did not use this 17.4 10.7 25.9 13.5 10.8 16.2
This guidance does not exist 0.0 0.0 2.6 1.3 0.5 2.6
No basis to judge/Not applicable 8.9 4.3 15.8 9.5 7.3 12.1
Missing or Nonresponse 5.7 2.2 12.0 11.7 9.0 14.4

34f. Other guidance not listed.(Please describe below).

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
I made extensive use of this 15.6 9.4 23.8 7.7 5.5 10.2
I made regular use of this 3.8 1.0 9.3 5.3 3.8 7.1
I made minor use of this 1.9 0.2 6.6 2.8 1.7 4.2
I did not use this 8.7 4.1 15.8 5.6 4.1 7.6
This guidance does not exist 1.0 0.0 5.4 1.8 0.9 3.0
No basis to judge/Not applicable 54.2 44.9 63.6 53.4 49.4 57.3
Missing or Nonresponse 14.8 8.7 22.9 23.5 20.1 26.9

If you answered "Other guidance not listed," please specify the other guidance here.

Responses to open-ended questions intentionally not reported.

35. To what extent, if at all, was guidance from your agency available in time to be useful to support the following types of management decisions regarding continuing your program's operations during the COVID-19 pandemic? (Select one answer in each row.)

35a. Determining which activities to increase, maintain, and/or decrease

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Always in time to be useful 25.0 17.2 34.2 20.9 17.8 24.0
Usually in time to be useful 42.2 32.9 51.5 35.7 32.0 39.4
In time to be useful about half the time 16.4 10.0 24.8 13.6 10.8 16.5
Rarely in time to be useful 2.9 0.6 8.2 6.3 4.4 8.7
Never in time to be useful 1.9 0.2 6.7 1.6 0.8 2.7
No basis to judge/ Not applicable 7.8 3.5 14.6 10.7 8.3 13.1
Missing or Nonresponse 3.8 1.1 9.4 11.2 8.6 14.1

35b. Expanding operations for activities that are being increased

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Always in time to be useful 18.5 11.7 27.1 18.3 15.4 21.3
Usually in time to be useful 34.7 25.7 43.6 28.5 25.1 32.0
In time to be useful about half the time 21.4 14.1 30.4 13.0 10.4 15.7
Rarely in time to be useful 3.0 0.7 8.1 5.4 3.7 7.5
Never in time to be useful 1.9 0.2 6.7 1.9 0.9 3.4
No basis to judge/ Not applicable 15.7 9.5 23.9 21.5 18.2 24.8
Missing or Nonresponse 4.7 1.6 10.7 11.4 8.7 14.0

35c. Continuing operations for those activities that are being maintained

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Always in time to be useful 31.0 22.3 39.7 24.6 21.3 27.9
Usually in time to be useful 37.0 27.9 46.1 36.3 32.6 40.1
In time to be useful about half the time 18.3 11.5 26.9 12.3 9.7 14.9
Rarely in time to be useful 1.2 0.1 5.2 4.3 2.9 6.1
Never in time to be useful 1.9 0.2 6.7 1.3 0.6 2.3
No basis to judge/ Not applicable 5.9 2.3 12.1 9.4 7.2 12.1
Missing or Nonresponse 4.7 1.6 10.7 11.8 9.1 14.4

35d. Reducing or ending activities that are being decreased

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Always in time to be useful 22.5 15.0 31.4 17.8 14.9 20.8
Usually in time to be useful 42.8 33.5 52.1 29.2 25.6 32.7
In time to be useful about half the time 12.5 6.9 20.2 11.6 9.0 14.1
Rarely in time to be useful 4.9 1.6 11.0 6.7 4.7 9.2
Never in time to be useful 3.9 1.1 9.5 1.8 1.1 2.9
No basis to judge/ Not applicable 7.8 3.5 14.5 21.4 18.2 24.6
Missing or Nonresponse 5.7 2.2 12.0 11.5 8.9 14.2

35e. Reallocating resources among activities

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Always in time to be useful 19.6 12.6 28.2 17.5 14.6 20.4
Usually in time to be useful 30.5 21.8 39.2 28.4 24.9 31.9
In time to be useful about half the time 16.7 10.2 25.1 12.6 10.0 15.3
Rarely in time to be useful 4.6 1.5 10.4 5.2 3.6 7.2
Never in time to be useful 4.9 1.6 10.9 2.1 1.2 3.2
No basis to judge/ Not applicable 17.1 10.6 25.5 21.8 18.5 25.1
Missing or Nonresponse 6.6 2.7 13.1 12.4 9.7 15.1

35f. Protecting the health and safety of program staff

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Always in time to be useful 34.5 25.5 43.4 37.1 33.3 40.8
Usually in time to be useful 36.3 27.3 45.3 29.7 26.2 33.3
In time to be useful about half the time 13.7 7.8 21.7 9.9 7.6 12.6
Rarely in time to be useful 4.7 1.6 10.6 3.4 2.1 5.2
Never in time to be useful 4.9 1.6 10.9 2.2 1.3 3.5
No basis to judge/ Not applicable 2.2 0.3 7.0 6.2 4.4 8.4
Missing or Nonresponse 3.8 1.1 9.4 11.5 8.8 14.1

35g. Providing human capital flexibilities for program staff (e.g., telework, alternate schedules, leave, etc.)

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Always in time to be useful 40.2 31.0 49.5 39.1 35.3 42.9
Usually in time to be useful 33.7 24.8 42.5 29.1 25.6 32.7
In time to be useful about half the time 10.6 5.5 18.0 9.2 6.9 11.9
Rarely in time to be useful 3.9 1.1 9.6 3.6 2.2 5.5
Never in time to be useful 2.9 0.6 8.0 1.2 0.7 2.1
No basis to judge/ Not applicable 4.0 1.2 9.6 5.8 4.1 8.0
Missing or Nonresponse 4.7 1.6 10.7 11.9 9.2 14.6

35h. Hiring/onboarding new staff to fill critical needs

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Always in time to be useful 17.6 10.9 26.0 17.0 14.2 19.9
Usually in time to be useful 33.2 24.3 42.1 23.0 19.7 26.2
In time to be useful about half the time 11.9 6.4 19.6 10.4 8.0 12.7
Rarely in time to be useful 5.9 2.3 12.2 8.6 6.4 11.2
Never in time to be useful 4.0 1.2 9.5 6.5 4.7 8.8
No basis to judge/ Not applicable 20.9 13.7 29.7 22.9 19.6 26.2
Missing or Nonresponse 6.6 2.7 13.0 11.7 9.0 14.4

36. To what extent, if at all, was guidance from your agency sufficient to support the following types of decisions during the COVID-19 pandemic? (Select one answer in each row.)

36a. Determining which activities to increase, maintain, and/or decrease

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Very great extent 26.1 18.2 35.4 20.5 17.5 23.6
Great extent 38.3 29.1 47.4 27.6 24.2 31.0
Moderate extent 18.5 11.7 27.1 19.5 16.3 22.6
Small extent 4.7 1.6 10.6 8.1 5.9 10.8
No extent 1.0 0.0 5.4 2.3 1.5 3.4
No basis to judge/Not applicable 5.7 2.2 12.0 10.5 8.1 13.4
Missing or Nonresponse 5.7 2.1 11.9 11.5 8.8 14.1

36b. Expanding operations for activities that are being increased

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Very great extent 17.5 10.9 25.9 17.5 14.6 20.3
Great extent 34.1 25.2 43.1 21.3 18.2 24.4
Moderate extent 20.6 13.4 29.5 17.7 14.7 20.7
Small extent 2.9 0.6 8.0 8.0 5.8 10.7
No extent 1.9 0.2 6.7 2.8 1.8 4.0
No basis to judge/Not applicable 16.4 10.0 24.8 21.0 17.7 24.3
Missing or Nonresponse 6.6 2.7 13.0 11.8 9.2 14.5

36c. Continuing operations for those activities that are being maintained

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Very great extent 26.4 18.4 35.7 23.5 20.1 26.8
Great extent 37.9 28.8 47.0 29.3 25.8 32.8
Moderate extent 21.3 14.0 30.2 19.4 16.3 22.5
Small extent 1.9 0.2 6.5 5.8 4.0 8.1
No extent 1.0 0.0 5.4 2.5 1.5 3.9
No basis to judge/Not applicable 5.8 2.2 12.2 7.8 5.7 10.2
Missing or Nonresponse 5.7 2.2 12.0 11.8 9.2 14.5

36d. Reducing or ending activities that are being decreased

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Very great extent 22.4 15.0 31.4 16.3 13.4 19.2
Great extent 35.2 26.2 44.1 24.9 21.5 28.3
Moderate extent 21.5 14.2 30.4 17.2 14.3 20.2
Small extent 2.8 0.6 7.9 6.2 4.5 8.4
No extent 2.0 0.2 6.8 3.4 2.2 5.1
No basis to judge/Not applicable 9.5 4.7 16.7 19.5 16.4 22.6
Missing or Nonresponse 6.7 2.8 13.2 12.3 9.6 15.1

36e. Reallocating resources among activities

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Very great extent 18.6 11.8 27.1 15.6 12.8 18.4
Great extent 28.8 20.2 37.3 22.5 19.4 25.7
Moderate extent 19.6 12.6 28.3 15.8 13.1 18.6
Small extent 6.6 2.7 13.1 9.8 7.5 12.6
No extent 6.6 2.7 13.1 4.3 3.0 6.0
No basis to judge/Not applicable 13.3 7.5 21.2 19.8 16.5 23.1
Missing or Nonresponse 6.6 2.7 13.0 12.1 9.5 14.8

36f. Protecting the health and safety of program staff

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Very great extent 36.5 27.5 45.6 35.7 32.0 39.4
Great extent 31.7 23.0 40.4 26.0 22.6 29.3
Moderate extent 13.4 7.6 21.4 15.4 12.4 18.3
Small extent 3.0 0.6 8.3 4.6 3.0 6.7
No extent 4.8 1.6 10.7 1.4 0.8 2.3
No basis to judge/Not applicable 4.0 1.1 9.9 5.4 3.7 7.6
Missing or Nonresponse 6.7 2.8 13.2 11.5 8.9 14.1

36g. Providing human capital flexibilities for program staff (e.g., telework, alternate schedules, leave, etc.)

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Very great extent 37.6 28.5 46.7 36.9 33.2 40.7
Great extent 37.2 28.1 46.3 23.2 20.1 26.4
Moderate extent 11.7 6.3 19.4 14.8 11.8 17.7
Small extent 0.0 0.0 2.6 5.2 3.5 7.4
No extent 1.9 0.2 6.7 1.2 0.5 2.3
No basis to judge/Not applicable 5.0 1.6 11.1 6.7 4.7 9.2
Missing or Nonresponse 6.6 2.7 13.0 12.0 9.3 14.7

36h. Hiring/onboarding new staff to fill critical needs

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Very great extent 19.6 12.7 28.3 15.5 12.8 18.2
Great extent 21.4 14.1 30.4 20.5 17.3 23.7
Moderate extent 20.3 13.2 29.2 13.1 10.5 15.6
Small extent 7.1 3.1 13.6 8.5 6.3 11.1
No extent 3.9 1.2 9.4 8.7 6.6 11.3
No basis to judge/Not applicable 21.9 14.6 30.9 22.0 18.8 25.3
Missing or Nonresponse 5.7 2.1 11.9 11.8 9.1 14.4

37. How have the following factors facilitated or hindered your ability to maintain your program's operations during the COVID-19 pandemic? (Select one answer in each row.)

37a. Reallocation of resources within your agency

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Greatly facilitated 17.2 10.7 25.6 14.4 11.7 17.1
Somewhat facilitated 20.3 13.3 29.0 16.1 13.2 19.1
Neither facilitated nor hindered 25.5 17.5 34.8 26.4 23.0 29.7
Somewhat hindered 7.8 3.5 14.5 7.9 5.8 10.5
Greatly hindered 4.7 1.6 10.7 4.0 2.5 6.0
No basis to judge/Not applicable 19.8 12.8 28.6 20.1 17.0 23.3
Missing or Nonresponse 4.7 1.6 10.7 11.1 8.6 13.7

37b. Flexibility offered to staff to work alternate schedules

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Greatly facilitated 45.9 36.5 55.2 52.5 48.6 56.4
Somewhat facilitated 25.6 17.6 34.9 13.9 11.3 16.5
Neither facilitated nor hindered 14.5 8.4 22.5 11.8 9.1 14.4
Somewhat hindered 2.8 0.6 7.9 4.3 2.7 6.5
Greatly hindered 0.9 0.0 4.9 2.0 1.0 3.6
No basis to judge/Not applicable 4.7 1.6 10.6 4.8 3.1 6.9
Missing or Nonresponse 5.7 2.1 11.9 10.8 8.2 13.3

37c. Flexibility offered to staff to work remotely

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Greatly facilitated 70.5 62.0 79.1 58.0 54.1 61.9
Somewhat facilitated 13.6 7.7 21.5 10.3 7.9 12.7
Neither facilitated nor hindered 7.5 3.3 14.2 8.2 6.0 10.7
Somewhat hindered 2.7 0.6 7.6 4.6 2.9 6.8
Greatly hindered 0.0 0.0 2.6 3.0 1.6 4.9
No basis to judge/Not applicable 0.0 0.0 2.6 5.1 3.4 7.3
Missing or Nonresponse 5.6 2.1 11.8 10.9 8.4 13.4

37d. Flexibility offered to staff to take leave

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Greatly facilitated 52.7 43.3 62.1 43.6 39.8 47.4
Somewhat facilitated 21.5 14.1 30.5 16.7 13.6 19.7
Neither facilitated nor hindered 17.3 10.7 25.8 17.7 14.6 20.8
Somewhat hindered 2.9 0.7 7.8 3.7 2.3 5.5
Greatly hindered 0.0 0.0 2.6 2.3 1.2 4.0
No basis to judge/Not applicable 0.0 0.0 2.6 5.1 3.4 7.5
Missing or Nonresponse 5.7 2.1 11.9 11.0 8.5 13.5

37e. Your agency's ability to maintain a safe environment for work that continued onsite

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Greatly facilitated 48.1 38.7 57.4 41.9 38.0 45.7
Somewhat facilitated 19.3 12.3 28.0 18.8 15.6 21.9
Neither facilitated nor hindered 11.6 6.3 19.2 12.0 9.4 14.6
Somewhat hindered 4.8 1.6 10.7 4.2 2.7 6.2
Greatly hindered 3.9 1.1 9.5 2.0 1.2 3.3
No basis to judge/Not applicable 6.8 2.8 13.4 9.4 7.3 11.9
Missing or Nonresponse 5.6 2.1 11.8 11.7 9.0 14.3

37f. Your agency's infrastructure to support remote work (i.e., policies, guidance, technology, and technical assistance)

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Greatly facilitated 55.5 46.2 64.9 41.4 37.7 45.2
Somewhat facilitated 28.4 20.0 36.9 22.3 19.1 25.6
Neither facilitated nor hindered 4.8 1.6 10.7 8.6 6.6 11.1
Somewhat hindered 4.6 1.5 10.4 7.4 5.3 10.0
Greatly hindered 1.9 0.2 6.6 5.4 3.4 8.1
No basis to judge/Not applicable 0.0 0.0 2.6 4.4 2.8 6.5
Missing or Nonresponse 4.7 1.6 10.7 10.5 8.0 13.0

37g. Prior agency training and exercises on its continuity of operations plan

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Greatly facilitated 22.3 14.9 31.3 20.7 17.6 23.8
Somewhat facilitated 30.3 21.7 39.0 21.4 18.3 24.5
Neither facilitated nor hindered 20.5 13.4 29.3 25.3 21.9 28.8
Somewhat hindered 4.9 1.7 10.8 5.1 3.4 7.3
Greatly hindered 2.0 0.2 6.8 2.6 1.4 4.4
No basis to judge/Not applicable 15.3 9.0 23.5 13.9 11.1 16.7
Missing or Nonresponse 4.7 1.6 10.7 11.0 8.4 13.5

37h. Ability to hire/add new staff to fill critical needs

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Greatly facilitated 21.1 13.9 30.0 14.8 12.2 17.5
Somewhat facilitated 17.8 11.2 26.3 15.0 12.3 17.6
Neither facilitated nor hindered 15.3 9.1 23.6 16.8 13.8 19.8
Somewhat hindered 6.8 2.8 13.2 9.0 6.7 11.7
Greatly hindered 9.5 4.7 16.8 11.0 8.5 13.9
No basis to judge/Not applicable 24.8 17.0 34.0 22.9 19.6 26.1
Missing or Nonresponse 4.7 1.6 10.7 10.6 8.1 13.1

37i. Other factor not listed. (Please describe below).

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Greatly facilitated 4.1 1.2 9.7 3.5 2.1 5.4
Somewhat facilitated 2.9 0.6 8.0 1.7 0.8 3.1
Neither facilitated nor hindered 1.0 0.0 5.4 4.3 2.8 6.2
Somewhat hindered 1.9 0.2 6.7 0.4 0.2 0.7
Greatly hindered 3.9 1.1 9.5 1.8 0.9 3.0
No basis to judge/Not applicable 67.0 58.1 75.8 61.2 57.4 65.0
Missing or Nonresponse 19.4 12.4 28.1 27.3 23.8 30.7

If you answered "Other factor not listed," please specify the other factor here.

Responses to open-ended questions intentionally not reported.

Section 7. Telework during the COVID-19 Pandemic

On March 17, 2020, consistent with the President's declaration of a national emergency, the Office of Management and Budget directed agencies to 'maximize telework across the nation for the Federal workforce (including mandatory telework, if necessary), while maintaining mission-critical workforce needs.' Subsequent guidance from the Office of Personnel Management clarified that for certain employees that cannot safely travel to an approved work location, or work remotely due to their job function, the agency would provide a portable work assignment or provide leave.

Please note: As with prior questions, when we say 'program' below we mean any program, operation, or project for which you have management responsibilities.

38. Which of the following responses generally describes where you worked, and have been working, before and during the COVID-19 pandemic?

For this question, please select one anwer for 'Before' and one answer for 'During.'

38a. Before the pandemic:

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
I teleworked for all hours 1.9 0.2 6.5 1.1 0.5 2.1
I teleworked for a majority of my time, with some work onsite 1.0 0.0 5.1 2.2 1.6 3.1
I teleworked approximately half of my time, and worked half of my time onsite 0.0 0.0 2.6 1.9 1.3 2.7
I worked onsite for the majority of my time, with some telework 22.7 15.2 31.7 30.2 26.8 33.5
I worked onsite for all hours 70.7 62.2 79.3 54.9 51.1 58.7
Missing or Nonresponse 3.8 1.1 9.4 9.7 7.4 12.4

38b. During the pandemic:

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
I teleworked for all hours 33.4 24.6 42.3 34.0 30.7 37.3
I teleworked for a majority of my time, with some work onsite 30.4 21.7 39.0 23.7 20.2 27.1
I teleworked approximately half of my time, and worked half of my time onsite 10.6 5.5 17.9 6.2 4.5 8.4
I worked onsite for the majority of my time, with some telework 11.4 6.1 19.0 14.8 11.7 18.0
I worked onsite for all hours 10.5 5.4 17.8 11.3 8.9 13.6
I generally didn't work at this time (e.g. was on leave) 0.0 0.0 2.6 0.3 0.0 1.2
Missing or Nonresponse 3.8 1.1 9.4 9.7 7.4 12.3

39. While teleworking during the pandemic, to what extent have you been satisfied or dissatisfied with the ability to complete the following activities? (Select one answer in each row.)

39a. My ability to complete my own work tasks

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Very Satisfied 61.4 52.3 70.6 54.7 50.8 58.6
Somewhat Satisfied 15.2 9.0 23.4 16.2 13.2 19.2
Neither Satisfied nor Dissatisfied 3.7 1.0 9.2 2.7 1.6 4.1
Somewhat Dissatisfied 7.3 3.2 13.8 4.5 2.8 6.9
Very Dissatisfied 1.8 0.2 6.3 1.7 0.7 3.4
No basis to judge/Not applicable 6.7 2.8 13.1 10.8 8.3 13.3
Missing or Nonresponse 3.8 1.1 9.4 9.4 7.2 12.1

39b. My ability to supervise program staff

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Very Satisfied 55.1 45.7 64.4 43.6 39.8 47.4
Somewhat Satisfied 20.3 13.2 29.0 19.8 16.7 22.9
Neither Satisfied nor Dissatisfied 5.7 2.1 11.8 6.3 4.4 8.5
Somewhat Dissatisfied 9.7 4.8 16.8 5.8 3.8 8.4
Very Dissatisfied 1.8 0.2 6.4 2.9 1.5 5.0
No basis to judge/Not applicable 3.7 1.0 9.2 12.1 9.6 14.7
Missing or Nonresponse 3.8 1.1 9.4 9.5 7.3 12.2

39c. Program staff's ability to complete their work tasks

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Very Satisfied 49.6 40.2 59.0 44.6 40.8 48.4
Somewhat Satisfied 30.8 22.1 39.5 21.5 18.3 24.7
Neither Satisfied nor Dissatisfied 3.7 1.0 9.2 5.6 3.8 8.0
Somewhat Dissatisfied 5.6 2.1 11.7 5.2 3.3 7.8
Very Dissatisfied 1.8 0.2 6.4 2.0 0.9 3.8
No basis to judge/Not applicable 4.7 1.6 10.5 11.4 8.9 13.9
Missing or Nonresponse 3.8 1.1 9.4 9.7 7.4 12.3

39d. Maintaining personal connections among staff

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Very Satisfied 33.3 24.4 42.2 33.3 29.7 36.9
Somewhat Satisfied 36.1 27.1 45.1 24.7 21.3 28.0
Neither Satisfied nor Dissatisfied 9.6 4.7 16.8 5.2 3.9 6.8
Somewhat Dissatisfied 8.8 4.3 15.7 13.2 10.3 16.1
Very Dissatisfied 4.7 1.6 10.7 4.2 2.5 6.5
No basis to judge/Not applicable 3.7 1.0 9.2 9.9 7.6 12.5
Missing or Nonresponse 3.8 1.1 9.4 9.6 7.4 12.3

39e. Our ability to coordinate within our agency

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Very Satisfied 49.3 39.9 58.7 40.8 37.1 44.5
Somewhat Satisfied 24.2 16.4 33.4 20.1 16.9 23.2
Neither Satisfied nor Dissatisfied 11.2 6.0 18.7 9.4 7.1 12.1
Somewhat Dissatisfied 5.0 1.8 10.7 7.8 5.5 10.5
Very Dissatisfied 2.0 0.2 6.8 2.2 1.0 4.2
No basis to judge/Not applicable 4.6 1.5 10.4 10.0 7.6 12.3
Missing or Nonresponse 3.8 1.1 9.4 9.8 7.6 12.5

39f. Our ability to coordinate with stakeholders outside our agency

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Very Satisfied 37.5 28.4 46.6 32.4 28.9 35.9
Somewhat Satisfied 23.3 15.7 32.3 20.1 16.9 23.2
Neither Satisfied nor Dissatisfied 8.6 4.1 15.5 11.1 8.5 13.7
Somewhat Dissatisfied 6.6 2.7 13.0 7.5 5.3 10.1
Very Dissatisfied 2.0 0.2 6.8 3.5 1.9 5.7
No basis to judge/Not applicable 17.5 10.8 25.9 15.9 13.1 18.7
Missing or Nonresponse 4.7 1.6 10.6 9.6 7.3 12.2

40. Thinking about your own preferences, to what extent would you say that you supported, or will support, use of telework by staff in your program(s) at the following times? (Select one answer in each row.)

40a. Before any changes resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Very great extent 45.0 35.6 54.3 28.6 25.3 31.9
Great extent 18.4 11.6 26.9 18.0 15.1 21.0
Moderate extent 16.7 10.3 25.0 16.9 14.0 19.8
Small extent 7.5 3.3 14.2 14.7 11.6 17.8
No extent 4.7 1.6 10.7 7.3 5.2 10.0
No basis to judge/Not applicable 3.9 1.1 9.6 5.0 3.5 6.9
Missing or Nonresponse 3.8 1.1 9.4 9.4 7.2 12.1

40b. While OMB's directive to maximize telework during the COVID-19 pandemic is in effect

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Very great extent 72.2 63.8 80.6 58.5 54.6 62.3
Great extent 16.4 10.1 24.7 16.1 13.4 18.8
Moderate extent 6.7 2.8 13.2 6.7 4.7 9.2
Small extent 0.9 0.0 4.9 2.9 1.5 5.1
No extent 0.0 0.0 2.6 1.4 0.7 2.5
No basis to judge/Not applicable 0.0 0.0 2.6 4.8 3.3 6.8
Missing or Nonresponse 3.8 1.1 9.4 9.6 7.3 12.2

40c. In the future, if OMB's directive to maximize telework is suspended

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Very great extent 37.2 28.1 46.2 33.5 29.9 37.1
Great extent 16.7 10.3 25.0 21.3 18.1 24.5
Moderate extent 17.5 10.8 26.0 13.6 10.8 16.3
Small extent 13.3 7.5 21.3 9.3 6.9 12.2
No extent 9.6 4.8 16.8 7.4 5.4 9.8
No basis to judge/Not applicable 1.9 0.2 6.6 5.4 3.9 7.3
Missing or Nonresponse 3.8 1.1 9.4 9.5 7.3 12.1

41. How have the following factors facilitated or hindered the use of telework for your program(s) during the COVID-19 pandemic? (Select one answer in each row.)

41a. Your agency's telework policy prior to the pandemic

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Greatly facilitated 28.1 19.6 36.6 31.8 28.2 35.3
Somewhat facilitated 20.7 13.5 29.5 20.5 17.2 23.7
Neither facilitated nor hindered 14.1 8.2 22.2 16.4 13.5 19.4
Somewhat hindered 8.8 4.2 15.8 5.7 4.3 7.4
Greatly hindered 17.0 10.6 25.3 7.5 5.5 9.9
No basis to judge/Not applicable 6.5 2.7 12.9 8.3 6.3 10.8
Missing or Nonresponse 4.8 1.6 10.8 9.8 7.5 12.6

41b. Modifications to your agency's telework policy (including those made through COOP) during the pandemic

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Greatly facilitated 49.4 39.9 58.8 46.4 42.5 50.3
Somewhat facilitated 25.2 17.4 34.4 20.3 17.0 23.6
Neither facilitated nor hindered 11.5 6.1 19.2 10.4 8.0 12.8
Somewhat hindered 2.8 0.6 7.9 1.7 0.8 3.3
Greatly hindered 0.9 0.0 4.8 1.2 0.5 2.5
No basis to judge/Not applicable 5.5 2.1 11.5 9.6 7.4 11.8
Missing or Nonresponse 4.7 1.6 10.7 10.4 8.0 13.2

41c. The commitment to telework demonstrated by your agency's top leadership prior to the pandemic

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Greatly facilitated 18.4 11.6 27.1 24.4 21.2 27.5
Somewhat facilitated 8.6 4.1 15.5 18.1 15.1 21.0
Neither facilitated nor hindered 13.5 7.7 21.5 17.8 14.8 20.8
Somewhat hindered 23.3 15.7 32.4 10.6 8.1 13.5
Greatly hindered 25.7 17.9 34.9 10.0 7.7 12.7
No basis to judge/Not applicable 5.7 2.1 11.9 8.9 6.7 11.4
Missing or Nonresponse 4.7 1.6 10.7 10.3 7.9 13.1

41d. The commitment to telework demonstrated by your agency's top leadership during the pandemic

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Greatly facilitated 58.0 48.7 67.3 58.6 54.7 62.4
Somewhat facilitated 23.9 16.3 33.1 16.3 13.2 19.3
Neither facilitated nor hindered 8.7 4.1 15.7 5.3 3.7 7.3
Somewhat hindered 2.8 0.6 7.9 2.0 0.9 3.8
Greatly hindered 0.9 0.0 4.9 1.0 0.5 1.8
No basis to judge/Not applicable 1.0 0.0 5.1 6.7 5.0 8.8
Missing or Nonresponse 4.7 1.6 10.7 10.1 7.8 12.8

41e. The commitment to telework prior to the pandemic demonstrated by the person you report to

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Greatly facilitated 30.5 21.8 39.1 24.9 21.8 28.0
Somewhat facilitated 15.3 9.1 23.5 18.6 15.6 21.6
Neither facilitated nor hindered 21.0 13.7 29.9 19.7 16.6 22.8
Somewhat hindered 10.3 5.3 17.5 8.5 6.2 11.3
Greatly hindered 11.6 6.3 19.1 7.7 5.5 10.4
No basis to judge/Not applicable 7.5 3.3 14.2 10.5 8.1 12.9
Missing or Nonresponse 3.8 1.1 9.4 10.1 7.7 12.8

41f. The commitment to telework during the pandemic demonstrated by the person you report to

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Greatly facilitated 60.5 51.3 69.7 57.6 53.7 61.4
Somewhat facilitated 20.5 13.4 29.3 14.5 11.6 17.5
Neither facilitated nor hindered 9.5 4.7 16.8 6.5 4.8 8.6
Somewhat hindered 0.9 0.0 4.9 2.1 0.9 4.0
Greatly hindered 1.9 0.2 6.5 1.2 0.5 2.3
No basis to judge/Not applicable 2.9 0.6 8.2 7.6 5.8 9.8
Missing or Nonresponse 3.8 1.1 9.4 10.6 8.2 13.4

41g. The nature of your program's activities (i.e., extent to which tasks can be completed via telework)

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Greatly facilitated 55.3 46.0 64.7 39.2 35.5 42.9
Somewhat facilitated 24.8 17.1 34.0 20.9 17.6 24.2
Neither facilitated nor hindered 4.8 1.6 10.7 9.7 7.6 12.3
Somewhat hindered 7.5 3.4 14.1 8.0 5.9 10.7
Greatly hindered 3.7 1.0 9.2 5.6 3.8 8.0
No basis to judge/Not applicable 0.0 0.0 2.6 6.4 4.7 8.5
Missing or Nonresponse 3.8 1.1 9.4 10.2 7.9 12.9

41h. Your agency's equipment and technology

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Greatly facilitated 39.1 29.9 48.3 33.4 29.9 37.0
Somewhat facilitated 32.4 23.6 41.2 23.4 20.0 26.8
Neither facilitated nor hindered 5.6 2.1 11.8 8.5 6.6 10.8
Somewhat hindered 14.5 8.5 22.5 10.5 8.1 13.3
Greatly hindered 4.6 1.5 10.4 7.7 5.4 10.4
No basis to judge/Not applicable 0.0 0.0 2.6 6.4 4.7 8.5
Missing or Nonresponse 3.8 1.1 9.4 10.0 7.7 12.7

41i. Availability of telework training or instructional materials

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Greatly facilitated 47.7 38.3 57.1 29.9 26.5 33.4
Somewhat facilitated 27.5 19.2 35.9 22.5 19.2 25.8
Neither facilitated nor hindered 5.7 2.2 12.0 19.5 16.3 22.7
Somewhat hindered 8.7 4.2 15.5 6.2 4.3 8.7
Greatly hindered 4.6 1.5 10.4 2.1 1.2 3.4
No basis to judge/Not applicable 1.0 0.0 5.1 9.6 7.4 11.8
Missing or Nonresponse 4.7 1.6 10.7 10.1 7.8 12.9

41j. Access to technical support to address technology issues

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Greatly facilitated 44.1 34.8 53.4 30.8 27.4 34.1
Somewhat facilitated 28.0 19.5 36.5 24.4 20.9 27.8
Neither facilitated nor hindered 8.7 4.1 15.6 9.6 7.5 11.8
Somewhat hindered 9.7 4.8 16.9 11.7 9.1 14.8
Greatly hindered 4.6 1.5 10.3 6.3 4.2 8.9
No basis to judge/Not applicable 0.0 0.0 2.6 6.9 5.1 9.0
Missing or Nonresponse 4.9 1.7 10.8 10.4 8.0 13.3

42. Thinking of the staff that work for your program(s), to what extent, if at all, do the following generally describe where your staff have worked during the COVID-19 pandemic? (Select one answer in each row.)

42a. Teleworked or worked remotely

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Very great extent 83.7 75.4 90.1 54.8 50.9 58.7
Great extent 9.7 4.8 16.8 13.3 10.4 16.3
Moderate extent 1.0 0.0 5.1 9.7 7.4 12.5
Small extent 0.9 0.0 4.9 5.5 3.7 7.7
No extent 1.0 0.0 5.4 3.6 2.4 5.2
No basis to judge/Not applicable 0.0 0.0 2.6 3.4 2.1 5.2
Missing or Nonresponse 3.8 1.1 9.4 9.6 7.4 12.3

42b. Worked onsite

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Very great extent 4.0 1.1 9.9 10.9 8.4 13.3
Great extent 4.7 1.6 10.6 8.5 6.3 11.0
Moderate extent 3.9 1.1 9.5 12.0 9.2 14.7
Small extent 38.7 29.6 47.8 34.0 30.2 37.7
No extent 43.1 33.7 52.4 21.1 18.3 23.9
No basis to judge/Not applicable 1.9 0.2 6.6 3.6 2.3 5.3
Missing or Nonresponse 3.8 1.1 9.4 10.1 7.8 12.8

42c. Took administrative, weather, or safety leave, specifically

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Very great extent 6.6 2.7 13.0 5.2 3.5 7.3
Great extent 3.7 1.0 9.2 4.9 3.3 6.8
Moderate extent 12.6 7.0 20.2 10.5 8.2 12.8
Small extent 51.3 41.9 60.7 29.0 25.5 32.5
No extent 20.0 12.9 28.8 33.5 29.8 37.3
No basis to judge/Not applicable 2.0 0.2 6.8 6.9 5.0 9.3
Missing or Nonresponse 3.8 1.1 9.4 10.0 7.7 12.8

43. Based on your own experience, or your understanding of working onsite during the COVID-19 pandemic, to what extent do you agree with the following statements? (Select one answer in each row.)

43a. Work spaces and other necessary facilities were sufficiently clean and sanitized

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Very great extent 24.1 16.4 33.1 28.5 24.9 32.1
Great extent 21.4 14.1 30.2 22.1 18.7 25.4
Moderate extent 12.4 6.8 20.2 15.2 12.2 18.1
Small extent 10.8 5.6 18.3 5.8 4.0 8.0
No extent 3.8 1.1 9.4 3.0 1.7 4.8
No basis to judge/Not applicable 23.8 16.1 32.9 15.0 12.9 17.2
Missing or Nonresponse 3.8 1.1 9.4 10.5 8.1 13.3

43b. Face masks were available, as needed

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Very great extent 33.1 24.3 42.0 38.4 34.5 42.2
Great extent 14.8 8.8 22.9 17.6 14.6 20.6
Moderate extent 14.9 8.8 23.0 8.8 6.7 11.4
Small extent 6.7 2.8 13.3 6.0 4.1 8.4
No extent 10.3 5.3 17.6 4.9 3.4 6.6
No basis to judge/Not applicable 16.3 9.9 24.6 14.1 12.0 16.2
Missing or Nonresponse 3.8 1.1 9.4 10.2 7.9 13.0

43c. Other personal protective equipment (e.g., gloves, robes/gowns, etc.) was available, as needed

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Very great extent 29.0 20.5 37.5 26.1 22.7 29.4
Great extent 18.1 11.3 26.6 14.7 12.0 17.3
Moderate extent 11.8 6.4 19.2 10.6 8.1 13.6
Small extent 7.7 3.4 14.6 7.8 5.7 10.4
No extent 7.6 3.4 14.4 9.8 7.4 12.5
No basis to judge/Not applicable 22.0 14.6 31.0 20.4 17.5 23.3
Missing or Nonresponse 3.8 1.1 9.4 10.7 8.3 13.6

43d. Hand sanitizer was available, as needed

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Very great extent 37.7 28.6 46.8 39.6 35.7 43.5
Great extent 21.5 14.2 30.5 21.6 18.3 24.9
Moderate extent 7.3 3.2 13.8 8.7 6.6 11.2
Small extent 7.8 3.5 14.7 6.1 4.2 8.4
No extent 4.7 1.5 10.5 2.0 1.1 3.4
No basis to judge/Not applicable 15.3 9.1 23.5 11.7 9.8 13.6
Missing or Nonresponse 5.8 2.2 12.1 10.4 8.0 13.1

43e. It was possible to maintain social distancing while onsite

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Very great extent 39.2 30.0 48.4 32.4 28.7 36.1
Great extent 23.5 15.9 32.5 22.2 18.9 25.5
Moderate extent 4.6 1.5 10.4 12.7 9.9 15.5
Small extent 6.8 2.8 13.3 7.2 5.1 9.7
No extent 3.8 1.0 9.3 2.2 1.3 3.5
No basis to judge/Not applicable 17.5 10.8 25.9 12.8 10.9 14.8
Missing or Nonresponse 4.7 1.6 10.7 10.5 8.0 13.0

43f. Employees received temperature screening before entering agency facilities

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Very great extent 3.8 1.1 9.4 15.3 12.2 18.4
Great extent 2.9 0.6 8.0 6.3 4.4 8.8
Moderate extent 1.0 0.0 5.1 4.9 3.2 7.2
Small extent 1.0 0.0 5.4 3.6 2.2 5.6
No extent 54.0 44.6 63.4 39.5 35.7 43.3
No basis to judge/Not applicable 33.6 24.7 42.5 20.3 17.7 23.0
Missing or Nonresponse 3.8 1.1 9.4 10.0 7.7 12.8

44. Based on your own experience, to what extent have employees at your agency who were exposed to confirmed case(s) of COVID-19 been asked to do the following? (Select one answer in each row.)

44a. Take sick leave

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Very great extent 10.9 5.7 18.4 15.0 12.3 17.7
Great extent 9.9 4.9 17.2 6.9 5.1 9.2
Moderate extent 4.4 1.4 9.8 6.5 4.6 8.8
Small extent 7.0 3.0 13.4 9.2 7.0 11.9
No extent 13.8 7.9 21.7 14.5 11.6 17.4
No basis to judge/Not applicable 50.3 40.9 59.7 37.6 33.9 41.3
Missing or Nonresponse 3.8 1.1 9.4 10.3 7.9 13.1

44b. Take administrative leave

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Very great extent 9.0 4.3 15.9 10.8 8.3 13.4
Great extent 5.0 1.7 10.9 6.3 4.5 8.6
Moderate extent 6.0 2.3 12.3 7.1 5.1 9.5
Small extent 9.1 4.4 16.2 7.6 5.6 9.9
No extent 12.8 7.2 20.5 18.0 14.9 21.1
No basis to judge/Not applicable 53.4 44.1 62.8 39.7 36.0 43.4
Missing or Nonresponse 4.7 1.6 10.7 10.5 8.1 13.3

44c. Take Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) or CARES Act leave

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Very great extent 7.1 3.1 13.7 10.4 8.1 12.8
Great extent 7.1 3.1 13.7 5.7 4.0 7.7
Moderate extent 5.9 2.3 12.0 5.5 3.9 7.7
Small extent 6.9 3.0 13.2 6.6 4.8 8.9
No extent 18.7 11.8 27.4 18.8 15.5 22.0
No basis to judge/Not applicable 49.6 40.2 59.0 42.6 38.7 46.4
Missing or Nonresponse 4.7 1.6 10.7 10.4 8.0 13.2

44d. Take annual leave

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Very great extent 7.7 3.4 14.6 9.2 7.0 11.7
Great extent 6.7 2.8 13.2 5.2 3.4 7.4
Moderate extent 5.1 1.8 11.1 5.1 3.4 7.4
Small extent 4.3 1.4 9.7 6.3 4.6 8.4
No extent 18.2 11.4 26.7 25.3 21.7 28.8
No basis to judge/Not applicable 52.3 42.9 61.7 37.8 34.2 41.5
Missing or Nonresponse 5.7 2.2 12.0 11.1 8.5 13.7

44e. Work onsite as long as asymptomatic

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Very great extent 2.0 0.2 6.8 3.7 2.3 5.5
Great extent 1.0 0.0 5.1 4.0 2.4 6.1
Moderate extent 0.0 0.0 2.6 3.1 1.9 4.7
Small extent 1.0 0.0 5.1 3.9 2.5 5.9
No extent 38.0 28.9 47.1 39.7 35.8 43.6
No basis to judge/Not applicable 54.3 45.0 63.7 35.7 32.1 39.2
Missing or Nonresponse 3.8 1.1 9.4 10.0 7.7 12.7

44f. Continue to work, but do so remotely

  SSA Government-wide
Question
Choices
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Estimated
Percentage
Lower 95%
Confidence Interval
Upper 95%
Confidence Interval
Very great extent 20.4 13.2 29.2 18.2 15.1 21.3
Great extent 7.5 3.4 14.1 12.6 9.8 15.5
Moderate extent 6.3 2.6 12.5 10.3 7.9 13.2
Small extent 6.8 2.8 13.4 5.6 4.0 7.6
No extent 5.8 2.3 11.9 9.9 7.8 12.0
No basis to judge/Not applicable 49.4 40.0 58.8 33.2 29.7 36.7
Missing or Nonresponse 3.8 1.1 9.4 10.2 7.8 12.9