Social Security Takes Fraud Seriously
Reading Time: 1 MinuteLast Updated: August 19, 2021
One out of five Americans receives benefits from Social Security, including elderly retirees, people with severe illnesses, and widows and children of deceased wage earners.
With so many of our country’s most vulnerable citizens depending on us, we take our responsibility of providing them with a measure of financial security seriously.
One way we do that is by making a priority our many efforts to pursue those who would cheat the system and take money away from those who need it most.
The agency’s benefit programs are far-reaching and complex, which means that preventing, detecting, and combatting fraud, waste, and abuse is an ongoing challenge. Although we can’t prevent every instance of fraud any more than law enforcement can prevent all crimes, we aggressively investigate potential instances of fraud and pursue prosecution of those who commit it.
Our Office of Anti-Fraud Programs (OAFP) uses many tools to help predict where fraud may occur so we can identify it as quickly as possible. OAFP works alongside the Office of the Inspector General, and Disability Determination Services in the Cooperative Disability Investigation (CDI) program. CDI units investigate and resolve questions of fraud in our programs. There are stiff penalties: We seek the maximum punishment allowable under the law to restore money stolen from the American people. As a result, fraud affects only a very small percentage of our overall payments.
You can help protect your investment in Social Security. Take time to learn all the facts on how we work to prevent fraud. Remember, if you suspect fraud, report it or call the fraud hotline at 1-800-269-0271.
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Tags: fraud, social security, SSA
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Phil Gambino, Assistant Deputy Commissioner, Communications
Assistant Deputy Commissioner for Communications
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Concerned F.
When I filed for my Social Security benefits (I turn 65 in Sept) I answered the disabled adult child section and as a result I was told by Social Security that my disabled daughter (who has received SSI for a disability that was diagnosed before she was 22) had to go on my SS record and that she would be getting more money. The issue is that we were told that the new application which we were forced to submit would cut off her from her Medicaid that she had because of her disability and that Medicare would not start for 24 months because the SSA had to determine once again that she was disabled. So now she has to have a gall bladder operation and we don’t know if the filing of the application cut off her Medicaid immediately on Sept. 1. We were also told that the Part B Premium would be deducted from her SS benefit immediately. This makes no sense in that she will not have Medicare benefits for at least two years. Her disability is bipolar disorder and if she cannot afford her medications or even to see her psychiatrist, this could be a disaster. I have tried repeatedly to contact the person who took the new application for clarification on the Part B Premium but he has not returned my phone calls. I am ready to go to my Congressman with this issue because it appears to be a very dangerous rule implemented by the SSA. I would appreciate being contacted by a supervisor from the North Dallas Office to clarify this horrendous decision.
R.F.
Generally, eligibility for Medicare benefits begin with the 25th consecutive month of entitlement to disability benefits (SSDI). Please review our Program Operations Manual (POMS) for more important information on this matter, specific to your daughter’s claim. In addition, current law requires individuals receiving SSI benefits to apply for all and any other benefits they may be eligible to receive. Please contact Medicaid for additional information in regards to eligibility requirements based on your daughter’s new income amount.
For security reasons, we do not have access to personal records via this blog. However, we understand your frustration and strongly suggest that you contact your local office again. You can request to speak with the office manager to discuss your situation. Also, remember that when you file the application for benefits for your daughter, you will receive an official determination of your claim from Social Security, which will provide you appeals rights, if in case you wish to seek legal advice to verify our decision. We hope this information helps!
Black b.
I know of a friend who gets ssi but cheats the system. She says she gets it for all these reasons like anxiety and depression. She was put on an antidepressant but never took it and threw it away. She’s fine and always goes out and parties and goes to places without any problems. She’s just a lazy piece of cheap. The doctors and ssi people still thinks shes on her medication but she never was. Is there any justice in this life for the people who actually need it?
R.F.
Thank you for contacting us. If you suspect or know of someone committing fraud against Social Security, report it.
Wanda
I commence to collect SSI in 1991. I had admitted myself in the hospital when I was expecting my third child and commence to see a psychiatrist but later things seemed to be going wrong. I call it a shower. Opportunist taken advantage of that. But it has not stop. Now each time someone was to apply for Social Security benefits they go and give me a terrifying terrorist downsizing harassment so that I could look bad and they get approved for the income by using my name. I get depress, enforced to lose work and all the negativity in the list in order for someone else to get what they want. I am so frustrated with this ongoing habit. And when we is honor some service the others defense is that it is just a one mentally ill, and one crazy and every sick of me. After they done doing their goodies. I mean like when does this vicious harassment stops. They bark about you in your presence and no one respect you not even people that you service with just as landlords. And police can just go and shoot people and just say to not worry only one mentally ill. JAJA FUNNY STUFF.
Nonya B.
The system is a joke. I know someone whos mother had a lot of addictions. She told her son, to fake mild retardation and she would give him gifts. Now she died of a drug over dose and he continues the story with his father and brother testifying fir him. In his 30 years, he has not worked a day in his life and all his bills are paid. He smokes weed (illegal here) daily, sells his prescription pills to people, and uses food stamps that are meant for the starving (which he has sold many times for cash). Meanwhile, i work as much as i can, just to pay outrageous bills from bad luck, and i barely feed my son and I. Yet, if I want to complain, my personal info is scattered everywhere so many people can retaliate against me and my son. No thank you!
Black b.
I know exactly how you feel! Its ridiculous! I know people who actually work for their food assistance, and since its only a part time job, welfare automatically thinks they dont need it and cut their food assistance down to nothing. And they even have to take classes or find anothet job. But, i know a girl, whose on ssi, abd gets a lot in food and cash assistance just because she has a child. And no questins asked, what so ever. She doesnt have to do a thing, but sit on her lazy arse all day, and party from night till morning most of the time. Shes not even disabled, and goes to bars and places, and is just fine. She pretended to take medication, but just threw a pill away a day to make it look like she was taking it. She even acknowleged that she uses one of her family members food assistance as well, because, in case, “if its free, then why not?” Pathetic right? Well, she has been reported, and i hope disability reviews her case soon and will obviously see the truth that shes milking the system. She said the only reason why she applied for disability was to see if she could get it. Otherwise, she said shed still be working. She also said shes getting a hundred dollars a month from her brother living with her, and disability doesnt even know that or the fact that shes trying to work under the table. Its crazy how shes gotten away with this for so long.
Jazmine H.
Yes I am new to Ssi I’m getting it for my son and I’m not sure how to reported at the end of the mouth about how much my man brings home and I want to make sure I’m doing things right and not wrong when it says monthly dose it mean like his last pay check or what he brought home in all his pay checks? Please let me know I will be so greatful I just want to make sure I’m doing this right and not wrong
R.F.
Thank you for your question Jazmine. You can report wages by visiting, calling or writing your local Social Security Office. Generally, we use the worker’s most recent pay stubs. You should ask about our options to use the automated toll-free SSI Telephone Wage Reporting Service or the free SSI Mobile Wage Reporting Smartphone app.
Jazmine H.
Okay so I am doing it right thank you so much and I do use the Ssi mobile it is amazing thank you so much for letting me know and taking time for answering my question Thank you and have a great day
Sarah M.
My daughters dad had been collecting her benefits since 2006 up until yesterday when I found out (she has lived with me since birth) I recently did the application to become her representative. Will he have to pay back what he took and will my daughter get back pay since 2006? She is not disabled she is just a beneficiary because he is disabled.
..
Sarah, thank you for your question. When we select a new payee, a beneficiary becomes his or her own payee, or a beneficiary’s entitlement ends, we notify the former payee to return to SSA any money saved for the beneficiary unless the payee made other plans with SSA for handling it. For Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) For Representative Payees, please see: https://www.ssa.gov/payee/faqrep.htm#&a0=-1
Hui S.
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Javier T.
For years ive been on SSDI and for years I believe my inlaws who are illegally in this country have been working in my social and filing taxes and ive been investigated for suspected fraud! Who can I call to stop them from using my social security number? Please help me.
Terri G.
My elderly neighbor lives with her son; both from Iraq. I saw her letter from the Social Security office informing her that, as a non-citizen, she would receive SS benefits for only six years. Why is she getting any at all? She didn’t put a dime into the system. This stupidity is one thing that is draining the SS funds. If people come to the United States for some reason and are not citizens, they should come with money and not live on handouts from our government. I don’t like or trust her arrogant son and I’m keeping my eyes on him. He paid cash for his house, drives a Jaguar, and lies about everything.
marilina p.
i beleive that you lie about it. you hate those peoples, he has to wait 5 years as a green card holder in order to receive benefits any benefits.maybe they have 5 years being legal, DONT HAVE TO BE CITIZENS OF USA.
William N.
Someone is my payee and is taking all my money and giving me nothing, I’m about to lose my apartment, what do I do..
D.B.
Hello William. A representative payee is required to keep records of all payments received and how they are spent or saved. Usually, we will send a “Representative Payee Accounting Report” once a year. The payee can mail the paper form to us or use the online version.
If you think a representative payee is misusing your benefits, tell us right away. We will investigate all allegations of misuse, gather facts and evidence, and make a decision on whether misuse has occurred. You will receive a letter from Social Security telling you what we found. If we find misuse, Social Security may name a new representative payee for you or send the benefits to you directly. We will then take action to recover any misused money.
If you have specific questions, or want to make an appointment, please call 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. to speak to one of our representatives. Generally, you’ll have a shorter wait time if you call later in the day. Or, you can contact your local office.