Slovak Supreme Audit Office finds digitalization delays at Social Insurance Agency

The Supreme Audit Office (NKÚ) of the Slovak Republic has reported significant delays in the digitalization of processes within the Social Insurance Agency. An audit covering the period from 2022 to the first half of 2026 found that despite electronic communication being available to clients, internal operations remain heavily reliant on paper and manual labor.

Specifically regarding pension processing, the audit highlighted that the current workflow involves 62 practical steps. The agency processes between 150 and 400 pension files daily, with departments reportedly moving physical files between one another using shopping carts. The NKÚ noted that manual activity accounts for up to 77 percent of the pension granting process, which relies on outdated systems and a limited group of specialists proficient in specific programming languages.

The Social Insurance Agency acknowledged the audit findings and noted that several problematic areas identified are already being addressed through an ongoing digital transformation. However, the agency disputed the NKÚ’s assertion that digitalization has been long-delayed, claiming that progress has actually accelerated in recent years.