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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bonda n.
my hubby and i are both on ssi / disability, and we don’t pay taxes. but we are still waiting on our stimulus check. Can you tell me when we will get our checks
Vonda V.
Hi Bonda, thank you for your question. Treasury expects automatic payments for Social Security beneficiaries no later than the end of April and automatic payments for SSI recipients no later than early May. Hope this helps.
Julie
It’s so sad when the most vulnerable in our society are targeted. Infuriating. We talk with our resident’s family constantly about watching out for these things. Our senior care home (https://www.magnoliawa.com/) does everything we can to educate people about this, so thank you for watching out!
carl s.
We typically receive our doc sec checks on the 3rd wednesday of every month.
We have not received ours test which were due on the 15th of April. What is going on
debra f.
i have a question social security called on march30,2020 and said they call the next day march30,2020 and the asked questions about my daughters ssi like are paying bills serparty and then two days later sent me what i said on the paper its not what i said is this a spam please help me under stand this
Ann C.
Hi, Debra. For your security, we do not have access to private information in this venue. We ask that members in our Blog community to continue to work with our offices with specific questions. You can contact your local Social Security office for assistance. We hope this helps.
Raul R.
I just did a Appeal for my case . Will I still Get the I coronavirus stimulus ? I Received my last check in March 2020 . And don’t receive payment till decision made . Do I still qualify for coronavirus stimulus?
Amanda D.
What about people on ssdi do we get automatic deposit of the stimulus check?
Grace W.
For questions about the covid19 stimulus check, SSDI with direct deposit doesn’t have to file anything. You’ll get your check direct deposited. SSI beneficiaries need to go to https://www.irs.gov/coronavirus/non-filers-enter-payment-info-here
To get their money direct deposited. Hoping this helps the confusion. I’ve been watching irs and ssa for a couple of weeks now. This is there latest information as of 4/10/2020
Anonymous
I have a friend that is homeless and schizophrenic. He does not receive any type of government assistance. How can he apply to receive the stimulas check?
RD
Look this 2020 stimulus check can already be sent to Folks on Social Security Disability Insurance(SSDI) and/or Supplemental Security Insurance(SSI), and I happen to get both SSDI, for disability, and SSI, because my SSDI check is so small I need SSI to bring me up to the poverty level for a single person.
But I already get my SSDI and SSI checks direct deposited into my bank account, and some folks have direct express accounts as well for Social Security/SSI checks. But I already have a personal bank account and do not use Direct Express.
And the US Treasury Department is the one responsible for any government checks so why do folks on Social Security Retirement/SSDI/SSI need to give the IRS their direct deposit information(With A Tax filing) when the US Treasury Department already manages the Social Security/Supplemental Security Administrations’ direct deposit of Social Security/Social Security Disability/Supplemental Security checks.
Very few folks still get Mailed Social Security(S Retirement, SSDI, SSI) checks as that’s why the government created Direct Express or One can have the checks direct deposited into their bank of choice.
What you Gail S. Ennis need to be looking into is why so many Section 8 landlords are demanding photocopies of folks’ Direct Express cards. Because in the past when I had a Direct Express card, and not my own personal local bank account, My landlord(Their Agent) asked for and made a full photocopy of my Direct Express card and not 3 months afterwards someone 1500 miles away in another state tried to use that Direct Express card number.
And as a result of that I got rid of my Direct Express card and use a local bank and never Direct Express, and still to this day on my lease renewal there is still wording asking for Direct Express information, and the landlords are not required to store that information(Photocopies) in an encrypted format.
And do you Know that Homeless shelters are making some folks recite their full and complete Social Security numbers out loud and while in line to get in the shelter for the night. And I had my Social Security number stolen that way and used to fraudulently file for my 2008 Tax return. And I’ll never trust the IRS because the IRS was the one that made that fraud so easy to accomplish online. And to this very day I have to beg the SSA the IRS and any other Government agencies to never trust my Social Security number as an a over the phone/online method of identifying me.
But does the US Government have any special Stolen Social Security fraud status granted to folks that have ever had their Social Security number compromised and used fraudulently. Where are the federal regulations that forbid using anyone’s compromised Social Security number as an over the phone or online method of identification. Because the State governments sure like to use SS Numbers and Birth Dates and everybody and their dog can get at SS numbers and birth dates.
And I sure do not Want the US Treasury Department creating, on short notice, any online portal for folks to use to defraud me of not only any Stimulus Check but my SSDI/SSI checks as well. The US Treasury Department already has my Social Security/Supplemental Security administrations Direct Deposit info and I’ll not want any online portal that’s easily hacked jeopardizing my current Direct Deposit information.
Elderly/Disabled folks do not need to be dealing with Identity Theft along with Covid-19. And I have repeatedly requested the Social Security administration to not allow any online accounts with any Government agency to be created/able to be created by phone or online in my name and by ever trusting/using my compromised Social Security Number.
So for Stimulus checks, most Folks on Social Security Retirement, SSDI, SSI the US Treasury Department already have direct deposit via personal bank accounts or Direct Express. Because the Government created Direct Express for the express purpose on reducing Printed Social Security(Retirement, SSDI, SSI, etc.) Checks. And that probably includes VA Checks as well but I’m not a veteran.
Yee
Lol that’s in the bill for them to use our SSA info but the GOP is holding the money hostage just like the Democrats held the citizens hostage during the processing of the bill . It’s a game of tug a war for them ??♂️
supperdodo
I dont know what part people dont understand, social security is not paying the stimulus check ! The Treasury is ummm lets see it’s THE. ( I . R. S. ) we must file a tax return to get it. ! GET IT ? how ummm lets see a tax person ummm like h&R block if course for a fee ,, what is needed ummm lets see it’s called ssa-1099 that your supposed to have gotten in January of 2020 and people thats the whole truth so help me xxd and out of all this i call it a scam that we must do this for a stimulus check,,, am i depressed HELL YEAH I AM,, do i have aniexty hell yeah i do,, why cause this is all impossible to get done for some of us and im one of those us? This should have been handled better for all. People ,,,,, but Nooooooooo. Its scew us as always, thank you all
Rochelle
We do not have to file a tax return to get our stimulus check why are you telling people that they do
Rose J.
Will people receiving SSI SSA benefits will they be receiving a stimulus check as well
Vonda V.
Hi Rose, thank you for using our blog. The Department of the Treasury will soon provide information about economic impact payments under the recently enacted law, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, or CARES Act. Treasury, not Social Security, will be making direct payments to eligible people. Please do not contact Social Security about these payments as the agency does not have information to share. Instead, for the latest information, please visit http://www.irs.gov/coronavirus.