Inspector General Warns About New Social Security Benefit Suspension Scam
Reading Time: 2 MinutesLast Updated: February 21, 2023
Today, I am warning the public about fraudulent letters threatening suspension of Social Security benefits due to COVID-19 or coronavirus-related office closures. Social Security will not suspend or discontinue benefits because their offices are closed.
The Social Security Office of the Inspector General has received reports that Social Security beneficiaries have received letters through the U.S. Mail stating their payments will be suspended or discontinued unless they call a phone number referenced in the letter. Scammers may then mislead beneficiaries into providing personal information or payment via retail gift cards, wire transfers, internet currency, or by mailing cash, to maintain regular benefit payments during this period of COVID-19 office closures.
As of Tuesday, March 17, 2020, local Social Security offices are closed to the public due to COVID-19 concerns. However, Social Security employees continue to work. Social Security will not suspend or decrease Social Security benefit payments or Supplemental Security Income payments due to the current COVID-19 pandemic. Any communication you receive that says Social Security will do so is a scam, whether you receive it by letter, text, email, or phone call.
Social Security will never:
- Threaten you with benefit suspension, arrest, or other legal action unless you pay a fine or fee.
- Promise a benefit increase or other assistance in exchange for payment.
- Require payment by retail gift card, cash, wire transfer, internet currency, or prepaid debit card.
- Demand secrecy from you in handling a Social Security-related problem.
- Send official letters or reports containing personally identifiable information via email.
If you receive a letter, text, call or email that you believe to be suspicious, about an alleged problem with your Social Security number, account, or payments, hang up or do not respond. We encourage you to report Social Security scams using our dedicated online form. Please share this information with your friends and family, to help spread awareness about Social Security scams.
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Gail S. Ennis, Inspector General for Social Security
Gail S. Ennis, Inspector General for Social Security
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Timbo
See the official statement by Senator Chuck Grassley the Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee.
As stated by Chuck Grassley. “Section 2201. 2020 recovery rebates for individuals All U.S. residents with adjusted gross income up to $75,000 ($150,000 married), who are not a dependent of another taxpayer and have a work eligible social security number, are eligible for the full $1,200 ($2,400 married) rebate. In addition, they are eligible for an additional $500 per child. This is true even for those who have no income, as well as those whose income comes entirely from non-taxable means-tested benefit programs, such as SSI benefits.”
Cobyco
The government will be garnishing the stimulus and unemployment monies from Dead Beat Parents that owe money to their children. Watch them come out of hiding expecting $$$$$.
heather
will it be put on our direct express card
Timothy D.
Thank you for this information. Thank you for all that you all have been doing. May the living God bless you and your families.
William R.
Thank You for all support it’s nice to know that there are people that care ,God Bless You and your family at this very moment. AMEN
Myongsu F.
Thank you for updating
Sincerely,
Myongsu
Georgia
I am trying to find information as to whether the stimulus payment will negatively affect my monthly disability payment and my son’s monthly SSI payment. Will this be considered as income and lose us our monthly benefits for a month or two? In my son’s case, that amount of money could potentially cut his SSI payments completely as he is only allowed a certain amount of income to keep his benefits. I am sure there are thousands of people with the same fear.
We really need an answer.
William E.
If you are on SSI or ssdi and received a 1099 IRS form from 2019 you will receive a stimulas check.
Barton C.
You need to fix the glitch im reporting the numbers these unscrupulous ba@#%=ds are calling from.
It asks did numbers with no dashes and when you go to the next step adds dashes and rejects your complaint.
It odds on the OIG frauds reporting page.
PLEASE FIX THIS BECAUSE THEY ARE CALLING ME AS MANY AS 15 TIMES A DAY AND I’M SICK OF IT !!!!!
Joshua L.
I just applied for SSI disability, is that getting processed? I had the phone interview this past Monday, how long will it take to be processed?
V.V.
Hi Joshua, thank you for using our blog to ask your question. Typically, you can expect to hear a decision on your disability claim from three to five months after you submit your application, but it can vary depending on several factors, such as if we have all the information we need to process your application. Other factors include: the nature of your disability, how quickly we obtain medical evidence from your doctor or other medical sources, and if your claim is randomly selected for a quality assurance review of the decision.
A my Social Security account will allow you to check the status of your application online.