Social Security Disability Benefits Fraud

Submitted by Daniel on

Social Security Disability is a great benefit to those who truly need assistance due to a severe medical condition that prevents them from working for at least a year. However, sometimes people violate the law and fabricate a medical condition. Detecting a fraud in the Social Security system is a challenging process, but it is one that is necessary in order to maintain the integrity of the program. Determining whether someone is trying to take advantage of the system can be a difficult task, so before reporting an alleged fraud, consider the long journey ahead and all that goes into pinpointing fraudulent activity.

If you suspect someone is violating the law and is, in fact, fraudulently collecting disability benefits:

  • You need to know the reason why the person has been approved for benefits. If you are unable to determine this, research will need to be conducted to determine the truth before accusations are made.
  • You need to be aware that even though you see this person, you may not fully understand how the person’s impairment causes difficulties in daily living.
  • Some people receiving Social Security Disability suffer from mental or psychological disorders; these are not often easy to pinpoint as an outsider, and it may be difficult to judge how these conditions could interrupt the daily activities.

Typically you would have to know someone quite well in order to determine whether or not he or she is taking advantage of the system. Making strong accusations about someone receiving disability benefits is touchy ground, and something that you would not want to do lightly. When in doubt, do not be afraid to ask questions and look into the actions of the person. This can greatly help you determine where the truth lies. If you do still truly suspect someone of committing a fraudulent act, you should consider reporting that individual.

  • You should begin by contacting the toll-free Social Security Administration Fraud Hotline at (800) 269-0271.
  • Remember to provide as much information as you can. This includes the name, address, birth date, phone numbers, and Social Security number (if you know it) of the person suspected of committing fraud. The more information you provide, the sooner the investigation can begin. You should explain in detail to the SSA exactly in what type of fraudulent activity that you suspect this person to be involved.
  • Do not report anything that you do not know for sure. There are penalties for reporting false information, so stick with the facts.
  • Be certain that you understand the situation surrounding the person’s disability. Work may complicate the person’s condition more than you know. Some people are unable to work because they have to be medicated frequently throughout the day. There are also many individuals on disability who have to make trips to the hospital on a weekly or even daily basis. Other individuals may suffer from a psychological or mental condition that makes them appear quite normal, but they may, in reality, be struggling deeply on the inside. You must be fully aware of their circumstances to be able to judge if they are fraudulently collecting benefits.
  • If you feel uncomfortable telephoning regarding your concerns, you can complete an online fraud reporting form, or mail in your findings to the Fraud Hotline at:

Social Security Fraud Hotline
P.O. Box 17768
Baltimore, Maryland 21235

When working properly, the Social Security Disability program is a wonderful asset. To those individuals suffering and unable to work, or even waiting out the last stage of their lives, it is often a much-needed benefit. Unfortunately, some people take advantage of a good thing and use it improperly, as is the case with fraudulent behavior. While reporting this kind of activity is important, it is also a serious leap to take. Before you report your suspicions, you should realize that the most important thing is to know all the facts, and to move forward only if you are certain you have a definite case of fraudulent conduct.

Additional Resources

Blog comments

Sadie Dalgard (not verified)

A person that is receiving

A person that is receiving benefits is still using our address to receive their benefits, but they haven't lived here since before we bought the house in 2009. How do I get you to stop sending their mail here? The post office says they can't stop delivering it here because they don't have a forwarding address for this person. They also get food stamp benefits and notices keep getting sent here for that too. They have not reported the change of address to anyone. What is your suggestion to stop your notices for them from coming to our address?

Tue, 07/05/2016 - 12:54 Permalink
Bryan

In reply to by Sadie Dalgard (not verified)

Hi Sadie,

Hi Sadie,
We do not send any notices, and we are not affiliated with the SSA.
You may want to let the SSA know so they can reach out to this person and update their address. You can call the SSA at 1-800-772-1213 or visit the SSA website at www.ssa.gov

Tue, 07/05/2016 - 16:54 Permalink
Erica (not verified)

I know a person that bought a

I know a person that bought a semi truck to haul logs 5days a week gets paid under the table and party and gets high. Can anything be done?

Tue, 07/05/2016 - 13:28 Permalink
Bryan

In reply to by Erica (not verified)

Hi Erica,

Hi Erica,
If they're receiving SSI or SSDI and are not reporting the income, they may be committing fraud. You can send a letter with the information about suspected fraud here:
Social Security Fraud Hotline
P.O. Box 17768
Baltimore, Maryland 21235

Wed, 07/06/2016 - 09:57 Permalink
Anonymous (not verified)

My sister has a drug problem

My sister has a drug problem which led to my brother getting temporary custody a year and half ago of her 13 year old. During this time her husband ( child's step dad) passed. So now my sister draws s.s claims she can't work due to back problems. And that's fine. But I have two questions. 1. How can a step child draw a ss check? 2. Why is my sister getting these checks on the child when she hadn't had the child for a year and a half? Is this fraud? If anything shouldn't the person with custody and child receive that check for the child?

Wed, 07/06/2016 - 15:41 Permalink
Bryan

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

Hi there,

Hi there,
Step children can draw an SS check if they are considered the child of the person who qualifies for benefits, and I think this may be the case here. The SSA may also make the one parent of the child the representative payee, which may have also been what happened as well.
You can have the representative payee for the child changed, all you need to do is contact the SSA and let them know that the current payee is not using the funds properly.

Wed, 07/06/2016 - 15:55 Permalink
Derrick (not verified)

I know a family who's

I know a family who's adult duaghter is legally blind. I belive that she has an apartment under her name that her sister and kids are living in, yet the person who claims disability is living with her parents. Is this fraud? Should I report it officially? I suspect this becuase I am aware of some practices they did to game the system before, transferring money to parents accounts to hide funds allowing them to receive payments(larger?) from ssn. The sister has a different last name than the sister that is collecting. Also, the father that received the funds for his daughter has a green card.

Wed, 07/06/2016 - 16:14 Permalink
Bryan

In reply to by Derrick (not verified)

Hi Derrick,

Hi Derrick,
I really wouldn't be able to say as the person who is getting benefits may not be able to live in that apartment but may be stuck in a lease, or even outright owns the apartment, and they're letting their sibling's family live in it. If you do feel that you should inform the SSA, you can do so by sending them the information here:

Social Security Fraud Hotline
P.O. Box 17768
Baltimore, Maryland 21235

Thu, 07/07/2016 - 09:38 Permalink
John (not verified)

I have a co-worker that told

I have a co-worker that told me she was receiving disability benefits and when she started she said could only work 40 hours every 2 weeks otherwise benefits would be canceled. She has now taken a manager position and has been working 60 to 70 hours PER WEEK! should I report?

Thu, 07/07/2016 - 00:16 Permalink
Bryan

In reply to by John (not verified)

Hi John,

Hi John,
If your co-worker is earning less than $1,130 a month, she may not be committing fraud. I would not be able to say if you should report it, but you can file a report by calling the SSA at 1-800-772-1213

Thu, 07/07/2016 - 09:34 Permalink
jd. (not verified)

how would you be able to

how would you be able to catch a contractor who is collecting benefits, when there working a cash business?

Thu, 07/07/2016 - 09:45 Permalink
Bryan

In reply to by jd. (not verified)

Hi JD,

Hi JD,
We would not be catching them as we are not affiliated with the SSA and do not investigate allegations of SSI or SSDI fraud.
You can send a letter with any info you have to the SSA at here:

Social Security Fraud Hotline
P.O. Box 17768
Baltimore, Maryland 21235

The SSA may be able to investigate them after they receive a report.

Thu, 07/07/2016 - 09:49 Permalink
keith lynch (not verified)

My mom died mid june and I

My mom died mid june and I live out of the country, my niece signed her out .There has been no obituaries, i think they are still collecting my mom's social security cheques. is there anyway to find out and stop them ?

Thu, 07/07/2016 - 14:07 Permalink
Bryan

In reply to by keith lynch (not verified)

Hi Keith,

Hi Keith,
I am very sorry for your loss, I can imagine losing a parent is a very trying experience.
I would contact the SSA at 1-800-772-1213 and let them know your mother has passed, and they can get your mother's case closed out.

Fri, 07/08/2016 - 09:33 Permalink
Sally (not verified)

I know someone who collects

I know someone who collects for ptsd from supposedly being raped (this person has lied their whole life..so who knows). Fast forward 3 years and she just got knocked up. I mean really? You can't work cause of ptsd but you can still have sex

Thu, 07/07/2016 - 22:42 Permalink
Bryan

In reply to by Sally (not verified)

Hi Sally,

Hi Sally,
Yes, people who receive disability benefits can have families, it is not fraud for them to do so.

Fri, 07/08/2016 - 09:37 Permalink
Monica (not verified)

I know someone in my family,

I know someone in my family, That collects S.S.I. But he doesn't pay rent, He doesn't have any bills. HE spends all his S.S.I on Drugs. He Walks around every where he needs to go, He also Lefts up heavy things and He got his S.S.I. Due to his shoulders and other issues. I seen him do all kind of things that breaks all the rules of being on S.S.I. But He has been on S.S.I. For 7 years. Kinda funny how they claim they investigate people, When this Person has been doing all of this. When he can work and Do anything he wants. But Buy Pills from others from His whole check. So, How is it a Person does all this, Gets away with it!!!

Sat, 07/09/2016 - 05:56 Permalink
Bryan

In reply to by Monica (not verified)

Hi Monica,

Hi Monica,
It may be that noone has informed the SSA, and so they did not investigate. You can send them a letter with this information here:
Social Security Fraud Hotline
P.O. Box 17768
Baltimore, Maryland 21235

Mon, 07/11/2016 - 10:11 Permalink
Anonymous (not verified)

I know someone receiving

I know someone receiving disability plus her 2 sons as well but are lying about paying rent and they are not paying any rent at all. Living with a non relative that's Elderly and mooching of them. When I report this,will they go to jail or be forced to pay back money they received that wasn't counted for no rent.

Sun, 07/10/2016 - 02:23 Permalink
Bryan

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

Hi there,

Hi there,
It would depend on how severe the SSA and the law considers their fraud, but the SSA has been known to ask for repayment if they had overpaid someone.

Mon, 07/11/2016 - 10:13 Permalink
CHERYL (not verified)

I know someone who got it

I know someone who got it right fully so for 3 years and went off of it after getting better nd has been followed ever since by sis and the fed because she applied for a job while trying to get disability was that a criminal offense/

Sun, 07/10/2016 - 11:57 Permalink
Bryan

In reply to by CHERYL (not verified)

Hi Cheryl,

Hi Cheryl,
No, applying for a job while on disability may not necessarily be a criminal offense.

Mon, 07/11/2016 - 10:14 Permalink
cheryl (not verified)

In reply to by Bryan

bryan,

bryan,
the disability had not yet been attained and the individual did not know if they were going to obtain it so does that make it a criminal offense to apply for a job at the same time as filing for disability?

Mon, 07/11/2016 - 17:01 Permalink
Bryan

In reply to by cheryl (not verified)

Hi Cheryl,

Hi Cheryl,
No, the SSA recognizes that people, even while disabled, need income, and as such may not penalize people from trying to supplement their income

Tue, 07/12/2016 - 09:08 Permalink
cheryl (not verified)

In reply to by Bryan

why would the feds follow

why would the feds follow someone off of disability for years after the fact just short of when the expiration date of when they can go back on it expires?

Mon, 07/11/2016 - 17:04 Permalink
Bryan

In reply to by cheryl (not verified)

Hi Cheryl,

Hi Cheryl,
If federal representatives are following someone, then the situation they find themselves in may be quite severe, I'm not really sure why this person is being investigated by the federal government.

Tue, 07/12/2016 - 09:09 Permalink
B (not verified)

I know someone who is on

I know someone who is on disability for stress or some crap. Was working at a hotel and living with her boyfriend of two years who has a kid but his mom takes care of him and he still gets child tax for him.... How is it right that we report something we are suspicious of and the government doesn't do there jobs properly knowing how these people can get away with it. But if nothing is found we can get in trouble... That's tax payers money and we can get in trouble for reporting our concerns? i don't like paying for frauds to live.

Mon, 07/11/2016 - 17:15 Permalink
Bryan

In reply to by B (not verified)

Hi B,

Hi B,
The federal government may not penalize people for filing a report in good faith, but they may penalize people for filing reports maliciously.

Tue, 07/12/2016 - 09:11 Permalink
is this fraud? (not verified)

i know a person who has 2 of

i know a person who has 2 of her child on ssi because suposly they have adhd and one is behind on speech well she doesnt give them their pills how they told her too and the other one does not even goes to any therapy for his speech they sleep on the floor cause she never buys them anything also she lives with her none papers smalles son baby daddy and he works in construction gets paid every week she claims her self as single parent she is in housing as well and receives foodstamps and wic she always post on her fb all her expensive stuff she buys for her self and the baby daddy but her older 3 kids she never buys them anything thats becaise the ssi she gets its from them i thinks thats very messed up. i dont k ow maybe its just me.

Mon, 07/11/2016 - 18:44 Permalink
Bryan

In reply to by is this fraud? (not verified)

Hi there,

Hi there,
I would call your local social services office, they may help those children get better housing and conditions. You also may want to inform the SSA as well about this, you can do so here: http://oig.ssa.gov/report

Tue, 07/12/2016 - 09:14 Permalink
Sally (not verified)

I know someone who is getting

I know someone who is getting 100 who uses the money to buy expensive jewelry, spa services, expensive clothes, etc. She owns a trucking company. She has taken 30 cruises and can get around well enough to travel and shop. She has a business partner who is disabled due to two knee relacements, herniated disks and sciatica but yet drives the truck long distance (from Florida to Virginia and back) 5 days on and 5 days off. How can they be reported annomously?

Tue, 07/12/2016 - 00:14 Permalink
Bryan

In reply to by Sally (not verified)

Hi Sally,

Hi Sally,
I'm not sure what 100 is, but you can send a letter without a return address to the SSA here:
Social Security Fraud Hotline
P.O. Box 17768
Baltimore, Maryland 21235

Tue, 07/12/2016 - 09:15 Permalink
Jennifer (not verified)

What if a vet receiving

What if a vet receiving benifits from S.S. and Retirement, is also has a clause that allows him to receive help in his home through his bennifts, and the person who is receiving those bennifts is not doing there job in caring for this vet? To make it worst, it's his son and the vet himself gets nothing out of it. No one taking care of him, just an adult son with extra money in his pocket???

Tue, 07/12/2016 - 16:59 Permalink
Sally (not verified)

I know someone who collects

I know someone who collects for ptsd from supposedly being raped (this person has lied their whole life..so who knows). Fast forward 3 years and she just got knocked up. I mean really? You can't work cause of ptsd but you can still have sex

Tue, 07/12/2016 - 21:44 Permalink
Bryan

In reply to by Sally (not verified)

Hi Sally,

Hi Sally,
Having PTSD from past sexual trauma does not necessarily mean that a person is unable to start a family, nor does it mean that this person's eligibility for benefits is affected.

Wed, 07/13/2016 - 09:23 Permalink
jane soe (not verified)

In reply to by Sally (not verified)

She didn't lie about

She didn't lie about being raped and yes people with PTSD have sex its none of your business.

Thu, 01/19/2017 - 17:12 Permalink
Anonymous (not verified)

I know someone please someone

I know someone please someone report here she is committing ssi disability fraud she's a drug addict who is fooling the gov and needs to be stopped someone please stop her

Wed, 07/13/2016 - 01:52 Permalink
Bryan

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

Hi there,

Hi there,
You may want to send this information to the SSA, you can do so by sending a letter here:
Social Security Fraud Hotline
P.O. Box 17768
Baltimore, Maryland 21235

Wed, 07/13/2016 - 09:26 Permalink
meme (not verified)

You call and your on hold for

You call and your on hold for hour and a half who has that time ...if you are on the run and have active warrants do u still get your disability payments

Wed, 07/13/2016 - 13:39 Permalink
Bryan

In reply to by meme (not verified)

Hi there,

Hi there,
You may not be able to receive disability benefits with an active warrant, but if you satisfy the warrant by turning yourself, being arrested, or having the warrant dismissed by a judge, you may still be eligible.

Wed, 07/13/2016 - 16:03 Permalink
SarahLynn (not verified)

I know someone who gets iss

I know someone who gets iss becouse she claims to be blind.....like full on blind can't see nothing but drives..... if your disability so bad that you can't work how can you drive?
I want to turn her in but can't put my name in it

Wed, 07/13/2016 - 17:02 Permalink
Bryan

In reply to by SarahLynn (not verified)

Hi SarahLynn,

Hi SarahLynn,
The SSA does not define blindness as the inability to see, it defines it as having less than 20/200 vision in your better eye, so this person may still be eligible while being able to drive ( although with that level of vision I would say that driving isn't a good idea).

Thu, 07/14/2016 - 09:08 Permalink
Maria (not verified)

Back in 1991, I went through

Back in 1991, I went through a divorce trying to get child support. He had a court appointed attorney and to help him get income to pay his child support, he got him approved for SSI for Social Anxiety Disorder but I couldn't receive unless he wanted to pay it to me because it was a supplement. For over 18 years he has gotten a check every month and I've been paid maybe 1500$. He has ended up addicted to pain pills, drinks everyday and blows his check every month at a drug house. Good going! Luckily I didn't rely on him. I don't see a social anxiety if he goes around different people everyday and asks for rides.

Wed, 07/13/2016 - 18:24 Permalink
Bryan

In reply to by Maria (not verified)

Hi Maria,

Hi Maria,
I'm sorry to hear about that! However, we did not approve him for SSI benefits as we are not affiliated in any way with the SSA. If you'd like to send a report about fraud to the SSA, you can do so here: Social Security Fraud Hotline
P.O. Box 17768
Baltimore, Maryland 21235

Thu, 07/14/2016 - 09:10 Permalink
Anonymous (not verified)

I know someone that is,

I know someone that is, without question, physically disabled. However, while receiving county benefits and disability payments, he is working fulltime and being paid cash. He does not report his cash income. I feel like this is fraud, not only for disability, but also on the county level. Is it? And how would I report/who would I report this to?

Wed, 07/13/2016 - 20:06 Permalink
Anonymous (not verified)

In reply to by Bryan

If this turns out to be a

If this turns out to be a legitimate fraud, what kind of repercussions will this have? Will he have to only pay it back or is this something he could be incarcerated for?

Thu, 07/14/2016 - 09:41 Permalink
Bryan

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

Hi there,

Hi there,
It would really depend on severity and what your county's laws are about fraud.

Thu, 07/14/2016 - 09:47 Permalink

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