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.
Blog comments
Can someone lose their
Can someone lose their benefits if they are doing illegal drugs? I know someone who does and also has lost a script for one of his factors of getting disability in the first place because of failing a drug test.
In reply to Can someone lose their by Daisy (not verified)
Hi Daisy,
Hi Daisy,
Drug or alcohol use may not make someone ineligible for benefits, depending on the factors surrounding their disability ( for example, if their disability was caused by drug or alcohol abuse)
What if you know someone,that
What if you know someone,that has a little part of his finger cut off,but still can work,but does not want to.Just wants to milk the system,he also collects workmans comp,social security does not know about.What do you do about it
In reply to What if you know someone,that by Sue (not verified)
Hi Sue,
Hi Sue,
If they are receiving SSDI benefits, their workman's comp claim would not affect their eligibility for benefits. Additionally, this person may be receiving benefits for a condition other than the partial loss of a finger that may not be readily apparent.
I know someone that gets
I know someone that gets disability for headaches and dizzy spells but has been posting on Facebook his lawn care business that he is trying to start up. He said he has made $500 so far in the last couple of weeks.
In reply to I know someone that gets by clinton iowa (not verified)
Hi Clinton,
Hi Clinton,
This person may be able to work in a limited capacity, and depending on the type of benefits they receive, all they might need to do is stay under any limits on their income (as earning too much would indicate they no longer have a disabling condition) and report that income to the SSA.
Should I report someone who
Should I report someone who isn't claiming 3,000+ dollars a month in income? Also- they asked their employer to cut back their hours so they can receive the full amount of SSI. This doesn't seem right when they were capable of working the hours before.
In reply to Should I report someone who by Susan (not verified)
Hi Susan,
Hi Susan,
If they're reporting their income to the SSA, they should be just fine. Also, they do have the option to choose how much or how little that they work while receiving SSI benefits.
My ex husband now gets
My ex husband now gets disability (from what I have heard) and I'm not 100 percent sure that he isn't claiming our two boys on his disability and receiving money for them...he had never been involved in their lives they have never lived with him...is there a way I could check on that?
In reply to My ex husband now gets by Kelly (not verified)
Hi Kelly,
Hi Kelly,
You may need written permission from your ex husband to obtain that type of information from the SSA. You can, however, ask the SSA about your child's auxiliary benefits claim- if your ex had claimed them, they may have that information available.
what if someone is claiming
what if someone is claiming benefits and living in another country
In reply to what if someone is claiming by Diana (not verified)
Hi Diana,
Hi Diana,
That is not fraud, it is possible to receive benefits while residing in another country, however there are exceptions, such as North Korea.
Can someone collect rent from
Can someone collect rent from 2 apparments each month and receive a monthly check from SS.
In reply to Can someone collect rent from by Marie (not verified)
Hi Marie,
Hi Marie,
They can! If they are on SSDI benefits, then unearned income does not count against their benefit amount in any way.
How do I find out if my ex
How do I find out if my ex-spouse has filed a disability claim for my child? I suspect she is in the process of filing and has not informed me.
In reply to How do I find out if my ex by John (not verified)
Hi John,
Hi John,
You may be able to contact the SSA and ask if there is an open disability claim for your child, you can contact them at 1-800-772-1213
I know someone who gets SSI
I know someone who gets SSI but works cleaning houses under the table. Is this fraud? She's also over adult grandson ssi he works out daily and is always buying drugs. Os this considered fraud?
In reply to I know someone who gets SSI by Jennifer (not verified)
Hi Jennifer,
Hi Jennifer,
If she is reporting the income to the SSA, then she is not committing fraud. Additionally, it may not be fraud to work out while on SSI, there are many disabilities that are not physical in nature that qualify for SSI.
If someone is considered
If someone is considered disabled by the state of California and is told he cannot work because he claims that sitting/ standing for too long hurts his injury and receives SSI and has received SSI for several years, puts a home made business under their spouses name and does ALL of the work, the spouse just has the business under their name, from home to make thousands of money a month is that considered fraud? Mind you, this home business requires lots of sitting and standing because it is a vinyl business which means sitting infront of a computer for long periods of time designing the things people want made and then standing cutting everything out and then going to install the purchased items on business Windows, cars, etc.
In reply to If someone is considered by Radiant (not verified)
Hi Radiant,
Hi Radiant,
You may want to let the SSA know, you can report them here:
http://oig.ssa.gov/report
what if someone is using
what if someone is using their disability check to buy drugs and resell them? to make double the money?
In reply to what if someone is using by Lizzy (not verified)
Hi Lizzy,
Hi Lizzy,
That may be fraud, I would contact the SSA and let them know about this. You can submit a report here:
http://oig.ssa.gov/report
I know someone who gets
I know someone who gets disability for a foot injury that happened years ago. He still uses crutches occasionally, and you can physically see that his foot was in an accident. He doesn't work, and refuses to try and find a job. But he's very capable of working. He's built a tree house, redone a shed into a photo studio, drives a standard vehicle, mows the lawn. I feel he should be working. He could easily get a desk job.
In reply to I know someone who gets by Anonymous (not verified)
Hi There,
Hi There,
Even though this person may appear to you to be able to work, it's very hard to see the whole story. It's very possible that he does not have the skills to work at a desk job. Also, being able to do projects around the house does not translate to being able to work, as it's possible to do these things once and lack the ability to repeat that type of work over and over again.
Yes what to do about this
Yes what to do about this fraud with my brother i work full time and his as all kinds of things running a business and he is on ssi he as a home and 4 trailers you pull behide your truck and 3 trucks hows this work i cant dont that evening working full time what can i do ..and the one trailer is a boat
In reply to Yes what to do about this by kevin (not verified)
Hi Kevin,
Hi Kevin,
If you feel that you must report this, you can do so completely anonymously by mailing a letter with the relevant information, without return address (or identifying information)here:
Social Security Fraud Hotline
P.O. Box 17768
Baltimore, Maryland 21235
What about someone who is on
What about someone who is on disability says he can't work but builds motorcycle makes motorcycle parts sells T-shirts. And who also uses drugs?
In reply to What about someone who is on by Mike a (not verified)
Hi Mike,
Hi Mike,
He may be able to run his own business and also receive Social Security benefits, if he is reporting the income to the SSA. Unless his drug use directly contributes to his disability, the SSA may not consider that an issue.
Ok so my brother passed away
Ok so my brother passed away 4 years ago, my nephew receives Social Security beneficiary money every month but it goes to my nephews mom. Here's the thing my nephew lives with my parents, she is an addict that can't and has never tried to provide for her son. My parents pay for everything for my nephew, she has received thousands and thousands of dollars that is supposed to be used to help raise my nephew but she literally has used maybe 1000 dollars towards him in the past 4 years. Is there anyway to get that money to my parents instead of her so that it can actually be used for what it's meant for instead of feeding her addiction?
In reply to Ok so my brother passed away by Jared (not verified)
Hi Jared,
Hi Jared,
I would contact the SSA immediately at 1-800-772-1213. You can tell them that your nephew's money is being misused and he needs to have a new representative payee assigned.
If I signed an affidavit for
If I signed an affidavit for someone applying for ssi benefits fraudulently, and I come clean and I report it, will I get into trouble?
In reply to If I signed an affidavit for by Lynn (not verified)
Hi Lynn,
Hi Lynn,
You can always report this information to the SSA anonymously here:
http://oig.ssa.gov/report
I know someone that told me
I know someone that told me personally that he has faked mental problems to receive ssi , he told me when the ssi doctor asked him what is your name , he didn't says anything and he kept nodding his head to make it seem like he doesn't understand and that he suffers from severe mental probelms that he can't even understand what is your name and also he told me he makes strange sounds and strange moves, like jumping out of a sudden to give the ssi doctor the impression that he ia crazy, that is what he told me personally and he was laughing when he told me that which made even more angry, I work my ass of to pay taxes and this person fakes insanity to get payed and he does also receive money for home care services which his sister does for him , they have given him 160 hours in a month to be taken care off and that money goes to his sister which lives with him , so 750 dollars from ssi and almost 1000 from homecare !!!!! Is this fair???? Really? i work for one month and I don't make that and he sits at dunkin donus everyday laughing and making jokes about how stupid the government is to believe him , this is not fair at all, and I know even if I report him nobody is going to do anything , this is a shame , someone I know infront of my eyes stealing my money and he is just 33 and has never worked in the US , please tell me a serious thing to do , He is committing a crime and he should be punished for that or at least cut those benefits from him
In reply to I know someone that told me by Jan yalda (not verified)
Hi Jan,
Hi Jan,
you can report that to the SSA by going here:
http://oig.ssa.gov/report
What if someone is in jail
What if someone is in jail and has been from December 2015 till present date. Looking at 10-25 years. Is still receiving his check. I've reported it already but he's still receiving it.what to do next
In reply to What if someone is in jail by jennifer (not verified)
Hi Jennifer,
Hi Jennifer,
If that person is in jail but has not been convicted yet, then they still will be eligible for benefits up until their first month after conviction.
One of my neighbors has said
One of my neighbors has said that he is on disability because of his back. Since he moved in, he has worked extensively on his deck, painting and planting things under and around it. In March 2016 I happened to notice him digging dirt from an open area behind our condos, putting it in a large pail and then hauling the dirt up to his condo. He did this at least five or more times in order to build a barrier of some type on the side of his deck. I actually took a video of him hauling up several pails of dirt. I am not sure if he is getting SSI for just his back issue, but if not it certainly does not seem he currently has a back problem. I hesitate to report him as not certain if there could be other issues and unfortunately do not have any way to find out. Would it be a good idea to report him?
In reply to One of my neighbors has said by Janice Rigsby (not verified)
Hi Janice,
Hi Janice,
It's true, your neighbor could be receiving disability for things other than his back. In addition, even if he did have a back issue, it's possible that doing the activities that he is doing now would not be possible for him to do on a regular basis for work, but are things that he is able to do for occasional maintenance. I would not be able to say if it's a good idea for you to file a report, but there's definitely a bit of doubt there as to if it is a good idea at all. It's very hard to say someone does or does not have a disability just by appearances.
I know a person who is on
I know a person who is on full disability! She says she can't work cause of her back and has had back sergey.but yet she can still weed her garden.rack her leafs and sweep her side walk with a push broom.it really make me angry. I work every day wire or not.
In reply to I know a person who is on by Josh (not verified)
Hi Josh,
Hi Josh,
It's very difficult to say that this person is not disabled because they may be able to do those things as part of their regular home maintenance, but would be unable to work due to their condition. It's very possible that those activities are the most that this person can do.
someone I know is a payee for
someone I know is a payee for a homeless man that goes to our church. she now has a new car and is staying on the beach right now. she doesn't have the finances to do this. he got a big settlement from ss. what can someone do?
In reply to someone I know is a payee for by valerie grice peters (not verified)
Hi Valerie,
Hi Valerie,
I would contact the SSA immediately, this person (and the SSA) may be being taken advantage of. You can call them at 1-800-772-1213, or you can find a local listing of SSA offices here:
http://www.disability-benefits-help.org/social-security-disability-loca…
I know someone that is
I know someone that is working "under the table" running his own construction and tree work crew. He has now filed for disability due to physical health issues. He is still working but trying to be cautious and not get caught. Is this considered disability fraud? He has not yet been approved for disability benefits. Thanks.
In reply to I know someone that is by polly (not verified)
Hi Polly,
Hi Polly,
It may not be fraud to file for disability and keep working, however if he is attempting to hide the fact that he is working from the SSA and is earning more than the substantial gainful activity limit of $1,130 a month, then he may be committing fraud.
I have a neighbor who
I have a neighbor who receives SSI Disability benefits because of a bad back and manic depression. He "was" an auto Mechanic and obviously couldn't do his job with a bad back. He fought for the benefits and finally won, only now he works full time under the table at a friend's auto shop, doing less physical activity but still receiving payment for his work. He also supplements his income by fixing relatives and friend's cars in his drive way. He obviously needs the SSI $ and the cash for his 5 days a week job to support his adult children and their children since no one else wants to get a job in the house. Is this NOT fraud?
In reply to I have a neighbor who by Ann Flaneggen (not verified)
Hi Ann,
Hi Ann,
I would not be able to say if it is fraud because it's entirely possible that your neighbor is reporting this income to the SSA and that he is working within the limits that the SSA has set for him.
If a child receives
If a child receives disability , but is in a school program living there on campus does the check go to the school or the parent .... Cause the mom is spending all his money
In reply to If a child receives by Tommy (not verified)
Hi Tommy,
Hi Tommy,
Those benefits are intended for the child, as such the mother may be committing fraud. You can file a report about this on the SSA's website, right here:
http://oig.ssa.gov/report
I know some one who is
I know some one who is spending their whole check on drugs,as a matter of fact the drug dealer has his card right now and I can prove it
In reply to I know some one who is by Kody kunzi (not verified)
Hi Kody,
Hi Kody,
That's no good! You can file a report about this with the SSA right here:
http://oig.ssa.gov/report
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