Avoid Accusations of Fraud When Receiving Benefits

Submitted by Shane on

Among the benefits of hiring a qualified Social Security disability attorney to help you with your disability case is the advice he or she can give you about how to steer clear of an accusation of fraud after your claim for disability benefits is approved. Unfortunately fraud cases are not uncommon and they cost the taxpayer a substantial amount of money. Therefore, the Social Security Administration is charged by the federal government with regularly reviewing each recipient’s status on a regular basis. In an effort to ensure timely review of each recipient’s status and to pay for investigation into cases of suspected fraud, Congress has increased funds for those purposes this year.

It pays to understand what sorts of situations are considered fraud by the Social Security Administration. Here are a few situations you must be sure to avoid.

Work Status. If you work while receiving disability benefits, you must report your hours and your income to the Social Security Administration. You must never attempt to conceal the fact that you work or falsify the numbers of hours you work.

Income Limits. If you are receiving disability benefits, you must report your earnings to the Social Security Administration. The agency allows you to work while receiving disability benefits, but there are limits to the income you can make and still receive benefits. In 2024, the monthly limit for a disabled person who is not blind is $1,550 per month. For a blind person, the limit is $2,590 per month. You must never conceal the fact that you make over the minimum income limit.

Residence. If you are receiving SSI benefits and you move overseas, you cannot continue to receive these benefits. If you move abroad and are receiving SSI benefits, you must notify the agency and stop receiving your SSI benefits.

Receiving Other Disability Benefits. If you are eligible for worker’s compensation or for other private, state, or federal disability benefits, your payments from SSI or SSDI may be reduced. You must tell the Social Security Administration if you apply for another type of disability benefits, if you receive a lump sum settlement due to your disabling condition, or if your previously reported benefits change or stop. Never conceal the receipt of other disability benefits, regardless of the source of those benefits.

Change of Status. If anything changes in your personal, work, or living situation, you must notify the Social Security Administration. Examples include: moving, changing your marital status, losing custody of a child for whom you have been receiving benefits, the death of a spouse or child for whom benefits are being received, being convicted of a crime, changing your name, etc. Basically, if anything changes after you are approved for disability benefits, let the agency know, as this could affect your fully insured status.

Social Security disability benefits are provided as a safety net for people who have nowhere else to turn. When their situations improve, some disability recipients are tempted to keep their monthly SSI or SSDI checks to improve a minimal standard of living. It’s understandable, but it’s a mistake that can cost them dearly.

Blog comments

Nicole (not verified)

I know someone working under

I know someone working under their spouses name isn't this considered fraud?

Thu, 07/20/2017 - 06:55 Permalink
Christopher (not verified)

I no someone who's been

I no someone who's been converted of a felony she is now serving 3 years in jail and have not reported it to the side office also her daughter is reserving her benefits without anyone knowing an she as well is reserving ssi for one of her kids I thank she is being the system by reserving check's for her child and getting her mother's as well while she locked up for bring drugs to inmates

Tue, 08/29/2017 - 22:22 Permalink
Bryan

In reply to by Christopher (not verified)

Hi Christopher,

Hi Christopher,
If you suspect fraud, you may want to contact the SSA regarding this. You can call them at 1-800-772-1213.

Wed, 08/30/2017 - 10:59 Permalink
Bryan

In reply to by Christopher (not verified)

Hi Christopher,

Hi Christopher,
If you suspect fraud, you may want to contact the SSA regarding this. You can call them at 1-800-772-1213.

Wed, 08/30/2017 - 10:59 Permalink
Kim (not verified)

I am aware of a guy who is in

I am aware of a guy who is in the process of getting SS. He has not yet approved. However, he works hard at his wife's bakery, she actually has a regular 9-5 job, and he goes to the bakery every day to work it. Everything is in his wife name. They have already purchased tickets for Hawaii over Christmas. They are planning on using the back pay from SS.

Sat, 09/30/2017 - 09:26 Permalink
Teresa Krayer (not verified)

When a person draws Social

When a person draws Social Security Disability and also rent money from renters are they suppose to report the rent money as income?

Mon, 10/02/2017 - 21:25 Permalink
Bryan

In reply to by Teresa Krayer (not verified)

Hi Teresa,

Hi Teresa,
They may need to do so, however SSDI benefits are based on work record, not income, so they may not need to in that case. If they're receiving income-based benefits, generally the SSA may want information about the person's income.

Wed, 10/04/2017 - 10:38 Permalink
Bryan

In reply to by Teresa Krayer (not verified)

Hi Teresa,

Hi Teresa,
They may need to do so, however SSDI benefits are based on work record, not income, so they may not need to in that case. If they're receiving income-based benefits, generally the SSA may want information about the person's income.

Wed, 10/04/2017 - 10:38 Permalink
Annette Ringley (not verified)

A person getting SSI Or any

A person getting SSI Or any kind of Disability Benefits are supposed to be drug free Correct? As in street drugs. Correct? What do you do if you know for a fact that a person or persons are using their benefits to support their drug Habit. And are fraudulently getting Benefits? By faking a mental illness or a body injury? Or even have a body injury that is not as bad as they pretend it to be to get benefits!

Thu, 10/26/2017 - 23:03 Permalink
Bryan

In reply to by Annette Ringley (not verified)

HI Annette,

HI Annette,
There is no SSA rule for people to be drug free while receiving benefits, however they may be ineligible if drug use/abuse contributed to their condition and they continue to use.

Tue, 10/31/2017 - 09:24 Permalink
kathy Butler (not verified)

I want to know how to turn

I want to know how to turn someone in for abusing ssi.i see them go to work everyday i know of people that have paid her i know she makes more then 6000 a month , she practically lives with her boyfriend and he pays for her living , she gets credit ON her taxes for HBC , i want to report her because this is my paycheck t when i retire if we do not start to turn this in there will be nothign left and you know thier not goign to take care of you

Thu, 11/02/2017 - 10:24 Permalink
Anonymous (not verified)

Is not reporting all assets

Is not reporting all assets considered fraud? There's a couple I know, the wife receives SSI, the husband works full time. Together they own seven vehicles (some new, some older) and only pay 4-$500 monthly rent. Are cars qualifying expenses for SSI?

Tue, 11/07/2017 - 02:27 Permalink
Deanna

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

This might be fraud. One car

This might be fraud. One car is fine (regardless of value), but anything extra usually puts a family over SSI income thresholds.

Tue, 11/07/2017 - 08:44 Permalink
Lene (not verified)

When my SSDI convert to SSI

When my SSDI convert to SSI retierment will I lose the benefit I receive for my minor child for whom I have been receiving benefits because I'm disable

Wed, 11/08/2017 - 21:56 Permalink
Sand (not verified)

My husband receiving

My husband receiving disability, he lied stated that he didn't have any money in the bank. He lied about what kind of car he was driving, he have a two Chase slate credit card one is $80,000 and the other is $6,000.00. Is this fraud

Sun, 11/19/2017 - 21:44 Permalink
Bryan

In reply to by Sand (not verified)

Hi there,

Hi there,
If someone knowingly mis-represents their finances to the SSA for the purposes of obtaining benefits, then they may be committing fraud.

Mon, 11/20/2017 - 11:31 Permalink
Glen Inman (not verified)

My boss is got a business in

My boss is got a business in his sister name and he drawing a disable check and running a trucking bussiness and making $7000.00 to $8000.00 a week how can i turn him in it in his sister name but he runs it cars his name is in mississippi he need to be turned in

Wed, 11/29/2017 - 13:02 Permalink
george (not verified)

how do i report some1

how do i report some1 collecting SS and working 2 jobs under the table

Sun, 12/03/2017 - 07:02 Permalink
Bryan

In reply to by george (not verified)

Hi there,

Hi there,
You can contact the SSA regarding this online and by telephone at 1-800-772-1213.

Mon, 12/04/2017 - 15:33 Permalink
MMSmith (not verified)

Hello,

Hello,
My boyfriend and I both receive SSI and have for some time, we've lived together since '93 and have been considered married by the Social Security Administration since we began receiving bebefits.
I struggle with obesity, severe anxiety, depression, and agoraphobia. I recently was hospitalized and underwent surgery for an incarcerated hernia. Then a couple months after I was hospitalized again for cancerous tumor that was found during my previous stay, and they performed a complete hysterectomy and had to repair the hernia again. He is plagued with chronic headaches, pedimahl seizures, manic depression, and other chronic ailments as well, and I believe he is bipolar.
We share a small piece of property that our home (acquired thru inheritance) and another, his moms (also aquired by the same inheritance) is on.
So, Recently, my case came up for review and it was approved. Now his has come up for recertification and in his letter it says he needs to bring in proof of all income and resources for himself and if married for his spouse also.
When he went in for his interview he was accused by the interviewer of running a handy man business and a salvage yard. He attempted to explain but was cut off. She gave him ten days to bring in all of our bank checking and savings statements and a motor vehicle print out of all the vehicles he has owned and sold. All the documents are to cover the period from October 2015 through November 2017, and include all likewise information for his spouse where applicable. She told him that I would need to come in as well when he brought back the requested documents.
All of that is no problem, we haven't owned any vehicles that were worth any thing and they were hauled away anyway, and the statements just had to be downloaded. The problems arose with printing them because thats two (2) banks, one (1) with two (2) checking accounts, and one (1) with a checking account and a savings account. Thats a total of twenty six (26) months for each account, and each months statement is three (3) to four (4) pages, which comes out to roughly four hundred and sixteen (416) pages. Then the amount of ink at twenty five (25) dollars a cartridge to print them all.
When he called the local Social Security Office to request an extension on his appointment his case worker snapped at him stating "if he didn't make it he would loose his benefits", finally she said she would call him back, but she never did.
Now we're left wondering if he is going to lose his benefits or what.
All of this because someone who has been stalking and harassing us for years, using various government agencies, at one point telling one agency he was a police officer, has filed a false report to Social Security on us! But how can we prove it?
Please tell us what we can do?

Thanks,
MMSmith

Mon, 12/11/2017 - 16:12 Permalink
Bryan

In reply to by MMSmith (not verified)

Hi there,

Hi there,
I'm sorry to hear about that! You may be able to provide those documents electronically to the SSA. In addition you may want to inform them of the person who had impersonated a law officer as that is a crime.

Tue, 12/12/2017 - 12:39 Permalink
Julie (not verified)

If a person who works as a

If a person who works as a reviewer for social security goes around and tells people around town that he doesn't believe that a social security recipient is disabled, does the social security recipient have any right to defend themselves in that situation?

Thu, 12/28/2017 - 01:39 Permalink
Maria (not verified)

My cousin has a son who get

My cousin has a son who get ssi check and the court order him to be put temporary institutes is like a resident program he been there 5 months and she been using his check pay her bills at home while he in there this is fraud she has pay that money back or go to jail doesn’t she she think is okay use his money for bills when she knows she wasn’t suppose use it he suppose move back home now he only 14

Tue, 01/30/2018 - 19:04 Permalink
Bryan

In reply to by Maria (not verified)

Hi Maria,

Hi Maria,
You may want to contact the SSA regarding this, they can investigate allegations of fraud.

Wed, 01/31/2018 - 15:55 Permalink
Sue (not verified)

I know of a lady that draws a

I know of a lady that draws a check for herself $2000 and gets a $1000 for her son(still in school senior). I just have a question? She told the man she lives with that she does not want her mail coming to his address because disability. Told him that her son is living with his sister and not her. Claims that disability will take his check, said they have not lived together for over 6 months. Told him that she uses her daughters address only to get her mail but they will not let her live there. Daughter let’s her get the mail there so that the the son helps pay her bills with the $1000 check he gets from her.

Tue, 02/13/2018 - 18:49 Permalink
Deanna

In reply to by Sue (not verified)

Hi Sue,

Hi Sue,
I'm sorry, I'm just a little confused by your question. Is her son living with her sister or her? If the son isn't living with her then someone else might be eligible to receive his payments and spend them on his behalf.

Thu, 02/15/2018 - 11:41 Permalink
Shana (not verified)

Hello, I know of someone that

Hello, I know of someone that collect disability smokes marijuana has a job collect child support from two kids and also has for adults living in the house that also work would that be disability fraud? If they are not being honest about the income coming in to the household and with drugs involved

Fri, 03/02/2018 - 12:12 Permalink
Eric

In reply to by Shana (not verified)

If they are receiving

If they are receiving disability benefits on top of their disability benefits and they are not reporting it. It could be considered fraud.

Fri, 03/02/2018 - 13:56 Permalink
Kevin concerne… (not verified)

My partner has been claiming

My partner has been claiming for over a year he is drinking alcohol is in aa but using his money unwisely should he be getting a payee.He is varry bad at budgeting his income conserned about his sobriety his sponsee wants him to stAy in the area I do love him but feel he should be examined for his spending.He neads aa and my support.what can I do?

Wed, 03/07/2018 - 06:19 Permalink
Eric

In reply to by Kevin concerne… (not verified)

Hi Kevin,

Hi Kevin,

You and your partner can schedule an appointment at your local SSSA office and they can assign a payee for him.

Wed, 03/07/2018 - 14:54 Permalink
Sharon martynuska (not verified)

I just told you about a fraud

I just told you about a fraud on sad go watch him Kevin gully camp hill pa stop this nowits a crime I cent do anything he can't either his a teal character in s nice sick woman with 3 dons and 3 children in disabled alone.tired if the fraud. Ok don't give my name hell hurt me ok bye

Tue, 06/12/2018 - 02:13 Permalink
Steven Smith (not verified)

I was wondering since i

I was wondering since i receive ssi if I got married to someone receiving ssdi will it mess with what we are getting

Fri, 11/09/2018 - 05:23 Permalink
rsg

In reply to by Steven Smith (not verified)

Hi Steven,

Hi Steven,

Marriage won't impact your spouses SSDI, but it may decrease or stop your SSI. SSI is based on household income and your spouse's SSDI will be included in that.

Fri, 11/09/2018 - 14:00 Permalink
Mary (not verified)

I have information about

I have information about family who used disability bat they fake inquiries

Fri, 01/04/2019 - 10:06 Permalink
Eric

In reply to by Mary (not verified)

Hi Mary,

Hi Mary,

The SSA will need physical evidence of this. You can call the SSA fraud hotline and leave an anonymous report.

Fri, 01/04/2019 - 11:48 Permalink
Anonymous (not verified)

I know this person in Texas

I know this person in Texas that is getting SSI and SSDI and this person is working but getting paid cash

Sat, 01/05/2019 - 01:59 Permalink
FloridGator (not verified)

My landlord and his ex wife

My landlord and his ex wife are separated, they have a 4apts in a building, he doesn’t sign the lease but she does, the checks that I write 475 a month go to him, the man says that this is his business his income, he’s told me in the past he cannot work due to bulging herniated discs. I’ve watched him shovel the sidewalk, mow the yard. Hack up the 4 foot weeds in his garden. He also spends hours in his basement carving wood, making dressers stuff for the church 3-4 hours a day when he gets going. He lives in apt 1. I’ve watched him carry The heavy ladder up and down the stairs. He left one afternoon walking to the store when he thought I was watching he grabbed his back like it was hurting in a lot of pain. Then as I let town a few block later he was walking perfectly normal. It’s amazing I’ve take. Some pictures watched him mow the yard a few hours. So the lease they write is never longer than 3 months. And when all 3 apts are rented he gets 1425, when he refers to it again as his business when I have the money I will take car if it. The ex never talks about paying for things it’s when my ex has the money. Is there some scam with the ability of his daily living and income when all the apts are rented out, and him selling furniture or making furniture for the church?

Fri, 01/25/2019 - 00:10 Permalink
rsg

In reply to by FloridGator (not verified)

Hi FloridGator,

Hi FloridGator,

If you suspect your landlord is committing fraud, you should report it to the SSA. You can do so anonymously on the SSA's website.

Fri, 01/25/2019 - 13:58 Permalink
Anonymous (not verified)

I know someone selling their

I know someone selling their prescription pills getting disability and getting paid under the table 1200 every 2 weeks

Sat, 07/11/2020 - 06:18 Permalink
Virginia Towery (not verified)

Robert Dunlap Sr passed away

Mr Dunlap Sr passed away trying to report his son an girl friend for fraud drwaing Mr Dunlap 'll for drawing Mr Dunlap Sr as check also they also have not pick up Mr dunlap ashes they live at

Thu, 07/16/2020 - 13:31 Permalink
rsg

In reply to by Virginia Towery (not verified)

Hi There,

Hi There,

We are not affiliated with the SSA. You can report suspected fraud online to the SSA!

Fri, 07/17/2020 - 14:55 Permalink
Deb (not verified)

If you know for sure someone

If you know for sure someone is doing heroin in getting disability in has not even got a place to live because they spend all there money on it and her husband's disability on drugs what can they do about it

Mon, 07/20/2020 - 17:16 Permalink

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