The Nation - News from Nov. 20, 1986

An estimated $1.16 million in Social Security benefits may be going to jailed felons each year, despite a federal law forbidding such payments, the government said. Richard P. Kusserow, inspector general of the Health and Human Services Department, said in an audit that checks totaling about $261,000 a year may be mailed to felons in county jails. An unpublished audit estimates that $900,000 in payments are sent to felons in state and federal prisons.