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

Donna (not verified)

My fathers wife collects

My fathers wife collects disability for an undiagnosable pain condition and is addicted to pain killers. She embezzled $700,000 from my father when he was unconscious.

Isn't it necessary for someone to have no money in the bank in order to qualify for SSI? How can someone collect SSI with all this money in the bank!? and why am I paying taxes for this ?!

Fri, 01/19/2018 - 23:24 Permalink
Eric

In reply to by Donna (not verified)

Hi Donna,

Hi Donna,

I am sorry to hear that. You can call the SSA fraud hotline and leave an anonymous report.

Mon, 01/22/2018 - 09:14 Permalink
Brooke (not verified)

Hi I have a question I know

Hi I have a question I know someone who has dialisis 3 Times a week and she goes down to the beach with other people and sells stuff and she pays under the table but I don’t want her to know

Sun, 01/21/2018 - 07:32 Permalink
Melody (not verified)

Is it considered fraud if a

Is it considered fraud if a mother of a child who is 20 now to keep cashing her SSI checks for her own personal use. The young adult no longer lives with the mother and had not for some time

Sun, 01/21/2018 - 21:39 Permalink
Eric

In reply to by Melody (not verified)

Hi Melody,

Hi Melody,

If she is cashing her child's checks with out her knowing and using it for her own expense, it could be considered fraud.

Mon, 01/22/2018 - 09:19 Permalink
Karen (not verified)

I know someone that gets SS

I know someone that gets SS says he's blind but he owns his own Hot Tub delivery company! How can you be blind and deliver hot tubs in a big truck? Was told his lawyer found him a good Dr to vouch for his blindness!!!!

Mon, 01/22/2018 - 08:19 Permalink
Eric

In reply to by Karen (not verified)

Hi Karen,

Hi Karen,

You are able to work and collect SSD benefits, however their monthly income cannot exceed the 2018 SGA limit.

Mon, 01/22/2018 - 09:23 Permalink
sonya (not verified)

what if you want to report

what if you want to report someone and they have threatened you and you want to do it anonymously? what is the purpose of reporting and you don't want to cause problems or afraid? Also if you have proof for instance paperwork you can mail?

Mon, 01/22/2018 - 11:10 Permalink
darlene mcpherson (not verified)

I have a brother who is the

I have a brother who is the payee for another brother who receives his disability check every month for years. My brother is a vet and receives a check every month that pays for his care at a personal care home and receives money every month to cover his needs I just discovered that my brother is the payee and wonder what he does with he money. Is there a way to investigate I fear he is keeping it for himself. My brother does have a gambling problem, Help!

Mon, 01/22/2018 - 11:49 Permalink
Eric

In reply to by darlene mcpherson (not verified)

Hi Darlene,

Hi Darlene,

I am so sorry to hear that, but if you speak with a SSA representative they may be able to help you with your situation.

Mon, 01/22/2018 - 16:43 Permalink
Gal (not verified)

Hello, my aunt currently

Hello, my aunt currently receives disability every money and she also receives money from Indian Trust every month and recently she received $1000.00 from Indian Trust, if she receives this money from Indian Trust is she still allowed to get disability and she currently has $10,000.00 in her bank account.

Tue, 01/23/2018 - 16:03 Permalink
Bryan

In reply to by Gal (not verified)

Hi Gal,

Hi Gal,
If she is receiving income based SSI benefits, then that may be considered fraud. You may want to contact the SSA regarding this.

Tue, 01/23/2018 - 16:58 Permalink
Kevin bacon (not verified)

I wanted to know if 2 people

I wanted to know if 2 people live together and both get ssi, but they are both listed at separate addresses and work under the table is that fraud?

Tue, 01/23/2018 - 20:30 Permalink
Lee (not verified)

My my ex-husband put his

My my ex-husband put his girlfriend as the payee which I understand is his choice to choose who is the payee but it showed up when I applied for food stamps that I was getting the money so in fact he said that the ex girlfriend was the mother of our child which is false is that not a violation how can I Rectify it and does proving it then make me the payee?

Tue, 01/23/2018 - 22:40 Permalink
Bryan

In reply to by Lee (not verified)

Hi Lee,

Hi Lee,
I'm sorry to hear about that! You may want to contact the SSA with documentation that you are the parent of your child, and also ask to be removed as payee.

Wed, 01/24/2018 - 09:38 Permalink
Tracy (not verified)

Hi my ex boyfriend is living

Hi my ex boyfriend is living with his girlfriend and she is on SSI she cleans houses under the table , there is nothing wrong with her and she receives money from the state and my ex boyfriend makes $60,000.00 a year and she didn't report to the state that he lives with her . He just bought a brand new Jeep Cherokee and they wine and dine like celebrities and she flashes all her stuff on Facebook !! She needs to be investigated ASAP !! I've called her in but nothing is being done about it !! This loser is abusing the system and needs to be locked up in jail !!!

Wed, 01/24/2018 - 09:54 Permalink
Bryan

In reply to by Tracy (not verified)

Hi Tracy,

Hi Tracy,
I'm sorry to hear about that! You may want to contact the SSA regarding any suspected fraud.

Wed, 01/24/2018 - 15:46 Permalink
Debbie (not verified)

I know a person that is

I know a person that is collecting SSI. He also got a settlement from his work that he did not report. He's also got a Nother settlement from a car accident that wasn't reported. He also has done snowplowing on the side. He has also worked for a landscape company. He has had so many unnecessary surgeries due to the fact that he has caused body injury to himself by driving tractors, four wheelers . What do I do

Thu, 01/25/2018 - 09:03 Permalink
amy farrens (not verified)

I am a representative payee

I am a representative payee for someone who is receiving benefits from SSD/SSI and he recently reported that I am spending his money. I have proved to the DCF that I am not but SSA thinks differently, I was threatened with a subponae if I don't turn in the payee card I am responsible for. He went out of his way to say that I was spending his money three times. This is a mentally disabled person saying such thing about me and SSA says that he's missing $1,ooo. It is possible that child support services may be taking part of his benefits. One thing for sure, I am done helping a helpless person who cries wolf. I will drop as his payee and make him suffer the way I been suffering as to help him with his needs and rent and phone payments, his cash for necessities and his wants. I can help him anymore!

Thu, 01/25/2018 - 15:09 Permalink
Bryan

In reply to by amy farrens (not verified)

Hi Amy,

Hi Amy,
I'm sorry to hear that! You may want to make sure you can provide information about how the benefits were used.

Thu, 01/25/2018 - 16:36 Permalink
Amy Farrens (not verified)

In reply to by Bryan

I use the spreadsheet based

I use the spreadsheet based on the spending in Direct Express and a journal of all his spending and have the beneficiary sign the receipts of payments made with his Direct Express card. Still he goes off the deep end saying that I am spending his money. Like I say, I can't help him anymore.

Fri, 01/26/2018 - 10:22 Permalink
Eric

In reply to by Amy Farrens (not verified)

Hi There,

Hi There,

I am sorry to hear that. You can go to your local SSA office and they can assign someone else to be a payee.

Mon, 01/29/2018 - 09:00 Permalink
Patrice (not verified)

I know a person who use there

I know a person who use there ss check to buy drinks and weed - weed isn't legal in his state. I thought that money was supposed to use for things such as food, living expenses, etc

Fri, 01/26/2018 - 12:57 Permalink
Eric

In reply to by Patrice (not verified)

Hi Patrice,

Hi Patrice,

Using Social Security benefits constitutes fraud. You may want to call the SSA fraud hotline to leave an anonymous report.

Mon, 01/29/2018 - 09:03 Permalink
Rene Lopez (not verified)

I have a concern. I have a

I have a concern. I have a son who is deaf and lives with his mother and she is his payee. Something doesn't seem right.
She can't keep a stable home for my son . She has had 5 different addresses in just over a year. I recently found out she had a DWI and my son spends a lot of time with her mother.I pay child support as well and have payed her bills and sent her money besides child support. My concern? Is she really using this money for his needs and I have suspicion her mother is the payee as well. She has nothing under her name and with the constant address change and phone numbers makes me feel something is going on. Is there someone I can talk to?

Fri, 01/26/2018 - 16:57 Permalink
De (not verified)

I know someone who receives

I know someone who receives disability and sells her medication bought by disability for profit.Also, she's renting her home to her grandson for four months now. Where and how do I report this?

Fri, 01/26/2018 - 23:00 Permalink
Dave Franklin (not verified)

What if the recipient is in

What if the recipient is in jail for a period of time and collecting payments?

Sat, 01/27/2018 - 03:54 Permalink
Eric

In reply to by Dave Franklin (not verified)

Hi Dave,

Hi Dave,

Social Security benefits are supposed to pause when someone on them becomes incarcerated.

Mon, 01/29/2018 - 09:07 Permalink
Sam (not verified)

How do you report someone who

How do you report someone who is drawing a physical disability check and is self employed? They fish nets in the river and they crawfish behind their house in their own ponds. And he does all this with no help. I also have pictures of him dragging 2 different deers out of the woods by himself. And climbs in tree stand thay are like 20 amd 30 feet in the air. If someone supposedly has a bad back, how can he do all this by himself?

Sat, 01/27/2018 - 14:41 Permalink
Can i report? (not verified)

retired veterinarian and

retired veterinarian and owner of practice who is on disability and has not been practiing for 7+ years Fired his dr and has been working the last week. Can i report him? or because he fired the dr is he able to work? Also he is trying to sell the business and i think plans to work until its sells. Please advise. thank you

Sun, 01/28/2018 - 09:10 Permalink
Eric

In reply to by Can i report? (not verified)

Hi There,

Hi There,

You are able to work and collect Social Security benefits, that alone does not constitute fraud.

Mon, 01/29/2018 - 09:10 Permalink
Anita (not verified)

How do I find out if my ex

How do I find out if my ex-husband is collecting social security benefits for a disability I know he is faking?

Mon, 01/29/2018 - 14:15 Permalink
Jennifer (not verified)

My boyfriends ex is currently

My boyfriends ex is currently collecting ssi for their disabled son, only the son lives with his dad full time. His ex doesn’t pay child support or has anything to do with him.

Tue, 01/30/2018 - 03:17 Permalink
Jim (not verified)

I know of someone that was

I know of someone that was granted ssdi and works at a home business doing home inspections.

Tue, 01/30/2018 - 14:29 Permalink
Eric

In reply to by Jim (not verified)

Hi Jim,

Hi Jim,

People on disability benefits may be able to work and keep their benefits. That alone does not constitute fraud.

Wed, 01/31/2018 - 09:30 Permalink
angie (not verified)

What if someone is cashing

What if someone is cashing their daughters check and signing her name. She is 17 and hasn't seen a dime or cashed a check ever...is that fraud

Wed, 01/31/2018 - 00:54 Permalink
albert (not verified)

my x-wife is on ssi and is

my x-wife is on ssi and is getting 3000.00 plus a month from me and dose not report it .

Wed, 01/31/2018 - 11:31 Permalink
Eric

In reply to by albert (not verified)

Hi Albert,

Hi Albert,

You should always report all additional income to the Social Security. You may want to contact someone at the SSA regarding this.

Thu, 02/01/2018 - 09:03 Permalink
christina (not verified)

i know someone who is

i know someone who is receiving dis ability benefits for a medical condition that prevents her from working, but she runs a daycare out of her home with about 10-12 kids and gets paid cash. so does her mother in law who lives in the house above her. this has been on going for years. How am i able to find out if her disability benefits allow such thing and if this is illegal or not. i'm afraid to report.

Wed, 01/31/2018 - 12:22 Permalink
Eric

In reply to by christina (not verified)

Hi Christina,

Hi Christina,

You are able to work and collect Social Security benefits, that alone does not constitute fraud.

Thu, 02/01/2018 - 09:06 Permalink

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