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.

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Blog comments

Beewdee (not verified)

My sister passed away in

My sister passed away in February 2015 and she wrote a will asking for me to care for her underage daughter because her dad was not in her life. I filed for social security benefits when my sister passed and received them to care for my niece for about 6months until my niece decided she did not like my rules of her comings, goings and school attendance. She moved with our older sister which is very irresponsible and allows our niece to do whatever she pleases. I continued to receive her benefits for her and had a set schedule to provide her a very generous amount every two weeks saving the rest. My older sister decided that because our niece moved with her she should receive the benefits to pay some of her bils. Knowing my sister had a history of mismanaging money i was dead set against turning over anything to her but after constant arguing and fighting with her and our niece I became so mentally distressed I gave up my right as the person receiving the funds for my niece and I contacted the SSI office to be removed. They started sending the funds to my sister and very shortly after the funds became available to her she began calling friends, her siblings (out other sister and our brother) and our nieces dad asking for money. Please tell how I can turn her in for mismanaging our nieces SSI benefits.

Mon, 08/22/2016 - 20:47 Permalink
Nang (not verified)

how can I report someone

how can I report someone using my address and my info to help themselves get ssi? I did not allow this person to do so. She move in with my uncle and he works and take care of her. Meanwhile she getting money and lie about paying me rent. I just don't want to get caught with my self and home involve.

Mon, 08/22/2016 - 21:14 Permalink
Anonymous (not verified)

I know a woman that collects

I know a woman that collects disability for her bad back. But she mows her own yard.and carries heavy loads. I have a worse back than her, but I get up and go to work every day and pay taxes so they can give some of it to her lazy ass! I know the right thing to do is to report her but I don't want to get involved by giving my own info out. I realise that there are people that work hard to investigate fraud, but the gov needs to understand and make changes that allows it's citizens to do the right thing while remaining completely anonymous.

Tue, 08/23/2016 - 16:08 Permalink
Bryan

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

Hi there,

Hi there,
You can send a letter without a return address or personal information to the SSA here:
Social Security Fraud Hotline
P.O. Box 17768
Baltimore, Maryland 21235

Tue, 08/23/2016 - 16:41 Permalink
Sondra (not verified)

I have 2 family members that

I have 2 family members that are married live together and report that they do not live together in order for her to receive ssi. I have 3 years of their income taxes proving they lived together and filled income taxes and living together. How do I report this?

Wed, 08/24/2016 - 05:36 Permalink
Bryan

In reply to by Sondra (not verified)

Hi Saundra,

Hi Saundra,
To report this completely anonymously, you can send a letter without a return address or personal information to the SSA here:
Social Security Fraud Hotline
P.O. Box 17768
Baltimore, Maryland 21235

Wed, 08/24/2016 - 09:18 Permalink
Joy Sneed (not verified)

I see fraud all the time, I&

I see fraud all the time, I'm an insurance agent. I can look across my street and see neighbors who are both on disability and teach others the way to do it. Right now her brother whose hardly worked a day in his life is on workers comp and suing his former employer cause he saw a bad accident. He tried trucking I think for a few months until he could find a way to get something for nothing. Their family is full of freeloaders getting disability checks. Her niece who had seizures(allegedly) bought a $250k house on disability back pay. Every one of them are exaggerating and lies to get disability and other benefits. Lies about how many in HH to get LIS, it is pathetic.

Wed, 08/24/2016 - 15:40 Permalink
Bryan

In reply to by Joy Sneed (not verified)

Hi Joy,

Hi Joy,
You can send any reports of SSA Disability Fraud to the SSA here:
Social Security Fraud Hotline
P.O. Box 17768
Baltimore, Maryland 21235

Wed, 08/24/2016 - 16:50 Permalink
Anonymous (not verified)

In reply to by Joy Sneed (not verified)

I think a lot more

I think a lot more investigations should be conducted as well,welfare rolls went down and ssi benefits went up,even when welfare only gave partial payments ssi gives whole checks per person,if a woman supposedly has a nervous problem and then has 5 children who are all hyperactive why should this house hold receive 5 full checks plus get thousands of money in back pay,now this woman owns a house and has been incarcerated in prison and mother kept children for checks,there are even drs who help people get on ssi,knowing young men who have never worked a day and have been receiving free money from young age to adult hood now,it is just not fair so investigations no they do not do them as often as needed,5 ssi checks in one house is ridiculous, i have worked all my life and now draw social security barely enough to live on,can not get foodstamps and very little help from state but those who get ssi get all free

Fri, 08/26/2016 - 01:09 Permalink
Bryan

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

Hi there,

Hi there,
I'm sorry to hear about all that! To report fraud, you can send a letter to the SSA here:
Social Security Fraud Hotline
P.O. Box 17768
Baltimore, Maryland 21235

Fri, 08/26/2016 - 13:19 Permalink
Anonymous (not verified)

What if someone was married

What if someone was married spouse deceased and they started recieving benefits. Got remarried and never reported and still recieves previous husbands benefits?

Wed, 08/24/2016 - 23:24 Permalink
Bryan

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

Hi there,

Hi there,
They may still be eligible for their survivor's benefits if they are over the age of 60 ( or 50 if they are disabled). Because of this, I cannot say that this person is committing fraud.

Thu, 08/25/2016 - 09:19 Permalink
Question (not verified)

So we have a family member

So we have a family member who is disabled but she is underage and the guardian is miss handling her checks. The guardian of the minor has lost houseing and food assistance and will not tell any where the minors check is going towards. What is my next step

Thu, 08/25/2016 - 00:39 Permalink
Bryan

In reply to by Question (not verified)

Hi there,

Hi there,
It may be a good idea to contact the SSA and ask them to change your family member's representative payee, so that the checks get sent to someone that you can trust to use the benefits for your family member's benefit.

Thu, 08/25/2016 - 09:20 Permalink
Anonymous (not verified)

Hello, where can I report, or

Hello, where can I report, or what can I do? my uncle is recibing he's mom's disability check, and he went to dump he's mom at he's sisters house, in tijuana mexico, she's been there for the last couple of months, she need medical attention, she's blind, shes not recibing her money at all. My uncle kept all her papers to come across to California, and he's recibing the money she gets from disability, please give me advice, I don't want to give my info..

Thu, 08/25/2016 - 16:28 Permalink
Bryan

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

Hi there,

Hi there,
You may want to contact the SSA and have them change your grandmother's representative payee so that someone who she trusts can receive the money for her. They can send the money outside the United States in certain circumstances, this one may be one of those circumstances.

Thu, 08/25/2016 - 16:37 Permalink
Linda (not verified)

I have a neighbor who is on

I have a neighbor who is on disability for a bad back,but he can work on cars and mow grass which involves going up and down hills ,actually running up the hill.I have a 10 minute video of him doing this..so he gets a disability check and the kids get a check for his disabity,while I have a bad back have to work.would like to turn him in, but if he found out it was me would make it hard to live beside him.

Mon, 08/29/2016 - 13:38 Permalink
Bryan

In reply to by Linda (not verified)

Hi Linda,

Hi Linda,
You can send a letter completely anonymously to the SSA here:
Social Security Fraud Hotline
P.O. Box 17768
Baltimore, Maryland 21235

Mon, 08/29/2016 - 13:55 Permalink
radicalred (not verified)

My granddaughter's

My granddaughter's mother is collecting SSI for my granddaughter. However, my granddaughter has not lived with her for almost 4 months (she lives with me now) and the mother is still getting the money. In fact, the mother refused to surrender my granddaughter's birth certificate and SS card and now I know why. Is this reportable fraud?

Mon, 08/29/2016 - 13:57 Permalink
Bryan

In reply to by radicalred (not verified)

Hi there,

Hi there,
It may be, however the mother can be the payee without having the child live with her. If they are collecting funds and not using or saving them for the child, they may be committing fraud.

Mon, 08/29/2016 - 14:03 Permalink
John (not verified)

I know someone who gets full

I know someone who gets full disability and is not supposed to be working but yet does. Has been a bartender and now works at motorcycle shop and also takes a lady to do her shopping and cleans for people. All cash. Also she goes to amusement parks and rides roller coasters. But her back and hip are what shes getting the benefits for.

Mon, 08/29/2016 - 15:33 Permalink
Bryan

In reply to by John (not verified)

Hi John,

Hi John,
To report this, you can send a letter to the SSA here:
Social Security Fraud Hotline
P.O. Box 17768
Baltimore, Maryland 21235

Mon, 08/29/2016 - 16:06 Permalink
Ellen (not verified)

My sister-in-law has back

My sister-in-law has back injury and she has always said she has a lot of pain and has to sit often but when I went to her house she was standing on a latter and other times I have seen her helping her husband remolding there house I don't know what to do she lives in Beloit Wisconsin there is a lot of times ripping dry wall down or she is standing on a latter too put lights on the ceiling if she injured her back she said she filed for disability because she got hurt at work and has a lot of pain when she moves around but what I have seen and my other family has seen I don't think she is not having that much pain if she can do that all day

Wed, 08/31/2016 - 23:21 Permalink
Bryan

In reply to by Ellen (not verified)

Hi Ellen,

Hi Ellen,
You can send a letter to the SSA to report this, you just have to send it here:
Social Security Fraud Hotline
P.O. Box 17768
Baltimore, Maryland 21235

Thu, 09/01/2016 - 09:35 Permalink
Candy B (not verified)

Is it fraudulent for my ex to

Is it fraudulent for my ex to be claiming our two children on his disability if he hasn't supported/provided them with anything since 2013? He is on and out of Jail so I don't have any current address for him...

Thu, 09/01/2016 - 11:23 Permalink
Bryan

In reply to by Candy B (not verified)

Hi Candy,

Hi Candy,
If your children have never received the benefits that are available to them under his disability benefits, you may want to contact the SSA and have their representative payee reassigned to someone who would be able to ensure they get those benefits. It may be fraud to collect those benefits without using them for the beneficiary.

Thu, 09/01/2016 - 13:29 Permalink
DD (not verified)

Can some one collect Social

Can some one collect Social security Disability and Compensation at the same time?

Fri, 09/02/2016 - 08:24 Permalink
Bryan

In reply to by DD (not verified)

Hi there,

Hi there,
Yes, someone can collect disability benefits and get workers' compensation at the same time without committing fraud. However, there are income limits for SSI, so workers' compensation may change SSI eligibility.

Fri, 09/02/2016 - 09:11 Permalink
Anonymous (not verified)

I think it's pis poor

I think it's that this person is getting social security and her dead beat son doesn't go to school and they collect money every month. But he can go out everyday and steel. And she's nothing but a lazy person. Why can't they work so many hours a month to volunteer somewhere. This needs to stop. And having to give are names to report it is total wrong. An the woman gets pain medication and sells it.

Sun, 09/04/2016 - 20:03 Permalink
Bryan

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

Hi there,

Hi there,
You can send a completely anonymous report in letter form, you can send the information here:
Social Security Fraud Hotline
P.O. Box 17768
Baltimore, Maryland 21235

Tue, 09/06/2016 - 10:51 Permalink
Charlene (not verified)

There is a woman who told me

There is a woman who told me that I should be working and not mooching off the government. She knows nothing about me; but, someone in our apartment office let her look at my file. She has reported me to the SS numerous times and I am not doing anything wrong.
Isn't it illegal for her to look at my files and make accusations?

Mon, 09/05/2016 - 19:59 Permalink
Bryan

In reply to by Charlene (not verified)

Hi Charlene,

Hi Charlene,
I'm not really sure about the legality of her taking a look at your papers, but the SSA may prosecute people who are reporting fraud in bad faith.

Tue, 09/06/2016 - 09:04 Permalink
Charlene (not verified)

In reply to by Bryan

Thanks, I have an appointment

Thanks, I have an appointment today with SSA.

Tue, 09/06/2016 - 11:07 Permalink
Anonymous (not verified)

I have a question for you, I

I have a question for you, I have a room-mate who gets disability every month and his "disability" is completely unreal, maybe it was years ago because of an incident in the military, but don't you re-evaluate people every so often? He is able to do ANYTHING a normal person can, and he proves that in a fitness center every day, by lifting very heavy weights. He uses the disability to sleep all day/night and do absolutely nothing constructive. I know of plenty of other REAL DISABLED people who are getting denied disability because you have people such as himself abusing the system. I NEED ANSWERS! It bothers me day in and day out that he is abusing a system that is actually needed in some people's lives.

Thu, 09/08/2016 - 09:01 Permalink
Bryan

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

Hi there,

Hi there,
We do no reevaluate people because we are not affiliated with the SSA and as such do not administer benefits. However, disabilities come in all forms and some are not apparent to the naked eye. It may be that your roommate's sleeping all day because it's a symptom of disability.

Thu, 09/08/2016 - 09:10 Permalink
Gil (not verified)

My neighbor the Freeloader

My neighbor the Freeloader (by your friendly neighbor)

Everything has a purpose in life. The purpose of a climbing vine is most likely to use a tree as support until it can no longer take its weight or absorb light and fall to the ground, to become nutrients to the land and future vegetation. A climbing vine has its part in the vegetation and land life cycles.

Humans on the other side, specifically those that make a living of abusing federal and state temporary financial aid programs, are not part of any life cycle. Although they are able, they do not contribute anything to any life cycle, community, or society. There are war veterans missing limbs that maintain jobs and contribute to society and my hat goes off to thank them for their service and sacrifice. 75-year-old senior citizens that although they may be retired are still contributing to society in one way or another; working, volunteering, helping to raise their children’s children, or taking care of the needier. These are not the people I want to tell you about.

The United States gives over 175 billion dollars from Social Security each year for those on disability with only 72,000 allegations of fraud reported to the Social Security office of the inspector general. 18 million people are currently under some type of disability benefit. The good news is that there were 330,000 new jobs available last month. The bad news is that there were 783,000 discouraged workers on the same month.

Let me tell you the story about my neighbor the “Freeloader”, (or your neighbor, as I am told by some of my friends and colleagues). In his mid-forties, one day he decided he wasn’t going to work anymore and was going to file for disability, Long Term Disability, Social Security benefits and Medicaid on the account of daily headaches and being bipolar. With the help of most likely a good ambulance chaser, his goal for the future and the rest of his life was met over 8 years ago.

During the last 8 years I have seen my “Disable” neighbor on the roof installing solar panels, satellite dishes, and even a wind generator. Very energy conscious, but now it looks more like trash than metal art. I’ve seen him fix boats and rig sailboat masts, recycle old AC unit parts to sell them on eBay, build a greenhouse where the roof collapsed a few days ago. Even replace his entire roof with new shingles. Every time his TV antenna needs adjustment, he climbs on the roof. He even buys, carry, and mixes his own concrete on his backyard and opens his own fence post holes. You should see him push the lawnmower and walk around operating a weed eater, like a pro. Lately he welded together and installed a very nice electric driveway door where there is no driveway. I know people who would hire that kind of handy work and skills in a minute.

Of course all these projects take place at night and mostly on the weekends in hiding. He has started three different business on the side with no success, and even worked for a car sales lot for cash commissions. At some point he decided to become a farmer and drilled his own water well, built planters, and a greenhouse for seedlings. After a few years the termites took care of that project. Later he decided to build a hen house which after the years and 6 hens later looks more like a pile of debris. Not bad for a disable person that has declared to the federal and state government unfit to drive to work and perform work and receives anywhere from $50,000 to $80,000 from Social Security and the State and who knows what else. Is all this worth spending time in a federal prison?

From selling motor vehicle fuel boosting systems to selling advertising tools to car sales lots are some of the projects I have also witness through the last 8 years. I even helped and threw in ideas in there not realizing this has all been very wrong, and not seeing the big picture, 175 billion dollars.

So, this is all good, may be he’s trying stay busy and not get into more trouble than he needs to, but the injustice of seeing someone who has declared to the federal and state government that they cannot drive, get to work, or perform work riding a motorcycle up and down the street, driving cars, buying fancy cars for his kids to go to college, while staying at home and work on useless projects, and all funded by the tax payer and the hard worker is very disappointing. To see someone in the community that does not contribute or volunteers a minute of their time to pick up a piece of paper from the street or volunteers on any of the annual community events, but has the time and energy to engage on all these projects is a very odd picture.

I just hope for all of our sake, and the sake of this country’s financial stability that people like these are not handing that example down to the younger generations. I just hope that their kids are going to school to become contributors to society and communities, and not become more anchors to the remaining few hard workers. Remember, we’re talking about a 175 billion dollars financial hole here.

I have always been very good about putting myself in the shoes of others and thinking about, what if I was disabled and could no longer work? I answer myself; there are so many things I’d be doing. I’d be teaching kids how to swim and fish anytime I could. I’d be the old man picking up every piece of debris of my street, mowing old neighbors’ yards, picking up leaves in the fall, organizing the community events, but of most importance removing those obnoxious vines that try to grow on trees.
Of course all this is based on observations I run into here and there, but how about the facts? What about what I don’t get exposed to? I am not a medical or legal professional to make determinations of who is fit and who’s not fit to work or drive, but my 85 year old mother with arthritis and my 60 year old blind in one eye colleague contribute more to society and the community than my neighbor the “Freeloader”.

Too bad I’m not a whistle blower, but it is time for these agencies to really do the math and get off their nice office chairs and get to work on investigating and enforcing this type of financial abuse to all hard working tax paying citizens of this great country.

Whining is easy when you run into problems, which is why I am a big believer that you should also come up with the solutions. So, here are a few thoughts: Annual Submission of Community Hours Activity Log, Annual Third Party Examinations and Conclusions, take part of Work Rehab Programs, Private Investigations and Statements from third parties.

Let’s get these people back into the community and the workforce, just like we do with young kids when their parents and the school system cannot keep them motivated to succeed. I know, I know, it cost money, but 175 billion dollars? Time for a reality check because this picture cannot end well. We are preparing our future to be a culture of freeloaders.

Sincerely,

Your Friendly Neighbor and Concerned Citizen

Thu, 09/08/2016 - 13:53 Permalink
Bryan

In reply to by Gil (not verified)

Hi Gil,

Hi Gil,
If you suspect your neighbor of fraud, you can contact the SSA here:
Social Security Fraud Hotline
P.O. Box 17768
Baltimore, Maryland 21235

We are not affiliated with the SSA nor are we affiliated with any federal or state government.

Thu, 09/08/2016 - 14:59 Permalink
Pete (not verified)

In reply to by Gil (not verified)

I agree 100% Gil. I came

I agree 100% Gil. I came across this article to see what I need to do to report someone who I have lots of proof is claiming disability (and laughs about it) who does not need it. The family is already currently trying to find ways for the wife to claim disability and for him to be able to claim pstd even though he does not have it. After reading this article, I don't want to attach my name to anything and am too scared to report under the chance he is able to trick the government further and then my ass will be on the line. If PA hired 24/7 undercover caseworkers to investigate each benifit paid out, I'd bet we'd still save three times more than what we pay out now while employing an investigative staff. I'm disgusted.

Sat, 09/10/2016 - 20:26 Permalink
Bryan

In reply to by Pete (not verified)

Hi Pete,

Hi Pete,
If you need to report this information to the SSA completely anonymously, you can send this information without a return address to the SSA here:
Social Security Fraud Hotline
P.O. Box 17768
Baltimore, Maryland 21235

Mon, 09/12/2016 - 10:31 Permalink
cerrie stroop (not verified)

hi my mother in law is on ssi

hi my mother in law is on ssi and has been living in another county using her old address for 5 years and has not reported it to the ssa is this fraud

Thu, 09/08/2016 - 15:59 Permalink
Nina ainsworthb (not verified)

What if I know someone that

What if I know someone that is getting Ssdi.. And they are using illegal drugs that using soical security money to pay for

Thu, 09/08/2016 - 21:05 Permalink
Jessie (not verified)

What if a person is applying

What if a person is applying in one state, but living on another state?

Fri, 09/09/2016 - 10:34 Permalink
Anonymous (not verified)

I know someone who had a

I know someone who had a brain aneurysm 20 something years ago. They have been on disability since. I have seen them dancing on many occasions. They also ride on the back of a motorcycle from new Jersey to myrtle beach, to new Hampshire etc. I am wonderin why they can do this but yet not work. I am paying taxes and not happy. Would you consider this fraud? No reason why they can't get a job in my eyes.

Fri, 09/09/2016 - 18:16 Permalink
Bryan

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

Hi there,

Hi there,
They can do this because they are physically able to do so. They may not be mentally able to work due to their condition.

Mon, 09/12/2016 - 10:28 Permalink

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