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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Chuck G.
My brother is 93 has Navy pension 22 years and S.S. , one day in Oct 2016, his daughter Had POA sent message on Facebook, I found a guy on internet and will be leaving 1st week of Nov 2016 and dropping her dad in a rehab he has bad ankles on both legs. I didn’t think it was true but it was, I stepped in found things out she took his money didn’t pay mortgage and other tax’s. I am 69 on S.S myself so just to get to where my brother is takes 1 hr and 40 miles. Well now it’s time to be POA and try to fix things so i am POA went to his home to get papers his X son in law is there and now his Granddaughter is there and police know about that drug trouble, so i say i need to get some papers for my brother the police they call and i am told to leave house showed papers but no good over a month ago this was , they say pay to evite.
Well $152 to start that so now back to running my brother in wheel chair to banks S.S . offices and the worse DAFS for his navy pay. So after getting my brother on phone with DAFS he tells them what account to put in and he still don’t get his checks was again i travel 160 miles get him on phone and the say all fixed this is 2/16/17 so i think ill check S.S he did get one check Jan 2017 so i take my brother there same day and find out on Feb 9th someone changed it again. they say they can’t stop check going out for march that he wont get. I am worn out my car don’t have heat i live in NJ and been running crazy trying to get him in a VA place nothing is easy i have to go in Feb 22nd about right lung and a growth. I have to go get brother on Feb 21st take him to S.S again lift a wheel chair force it in my back seat wow is that hard for me. I want them to stop the check going out not reward the person for getting sent to them RIGHT ??
R.F.
Hello Mr. Graves. We are sorry to hear of all of the inconveniences you and your brother are experiencing. However, it sounds like your brother needs help managing his Social Security benefits. A Representative Payee is different than having “Power of Attorney”. As a representative payee, you will be authorized to update information on your brother’s record. When friends or family are not able to serve as payees, Social Security looks for qualified organizations to be representative payees. Please reach out to the local Social Security office in your area. Or call our toll free number at 1-800-772-1213 for further assistance. Representatives are available Monday through Friday, between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. Thanks!
Chuck G.
My brother is 93 has Navy pension 22 years and S.S. , one day in Oct 2016, his daughter Had POA sent message on Facebook, I found a guy on internet and will be leaving 1st week of Nov 2016 and dropping her dad in a rehab he has bad ankles on both legs. I didn’t think it was true but it was, I stepped in found things out she took his money didn’t pay mortgage and other tax’s. I am 69 on S.S myself so just to get to where my brother is takes 1 hr and 40 miles. Well now it’s time to be POA and try to fix things so i am POA went to his home to get papers his X son in law is there and now his Granddaughter is there and police know about that drug trouble, so i say i need to get some papers for my brother capos are called i am put out over a month ago, they say pay to evite.
Well $152 to start that so now back to running my brother in wheel chair to banks S.S . offices and the worse DAFS for his navy pay. So after getting my brother on phone with DAFS he tells them what account to put in and he still don’t get his checks was again i travel 160 miles get him on phone and the say all fixed this is 2/16/17 so i think ill check S.S he did get one check Jan 2017 so i take my brother there same day and find out on Feb 9th someone changed it again. they say they can’t stop check going out for march that he wont get. I am worn out my car don’t have heat i live in NJ and been running crazy trying to get him in a VA place nothing is easy i have to go in Feb 22nd about right lung and a growth. I have to go get brother on Feb 21st take him to S.S again lift a wheel chair force it in my back seat wow is that hard for me. I want them to stop the check going out not reward the person for getting sent to them RIGHT ??
Barbara H.
Is there someone or number you can call if you feel that a person on SSI has been taken advantage of. My mother was taken advantage of by an tax account 2 years in a row. I only found about it because SSI sent my mother a letter asking for tax returns. After careful investigation I found out this person targets people on SSI. I have filed a report with IRS and have answered any questions they may have asked. But the tell me they cannot give me any infomation about what’s going on. And the worst part is this person is still out there open for business. And my mother is still begin investigated like she knowing had something to do with it. I would love to have someone that we can talk to someone that can explain what’s going on why this person looks like he just getting off Scott free. My mother has mental and physical disability who advocates for them.
Rebecca
Hello I need to know how to go about reporting someone for pretending to be me. I believe it was my brothers old payee, I have been my brothers payee going on two years now, someone called and pretended to be me saying I wanted to stop being his payee. Got to the bottom of it and handled to case for me to come into the office for now on but if only I can verify the voice they might have when that call was made. How can I go about this?
R.F.
Hi Rebecca, please continue working with your local Social Security office on this matter. Thanks!
Ethan
I need help
Lynn
My father is currently in the hospital. I am having to drive 2 hours to see him. His mental status is not very good but he does know who I am. I have all of his belongings. I have to reimburse myself for gas when traveling to see him. He does receive benefits every month. Do I need to worry about the health care providers if the ask me where the funds went if they decide to transfer him to another facility? Just a little concerned. Thanks
R.F.
Hi Lynn, if you’re referring to needing help with managing your father’s Social Security benefits, then you need to visit our “Frequently Asked Questions” web page. While most people receive their Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments directly, some need assistance in managing their benefits. Payments to these individuals are paid through a representative payee who receives the check on behalf of the beneficiary and provides for their personal needs. When friends or family are not able to serve as payees, Social Security looks for qualified organizations to be representative payees. Please consider talking with the hospital’s administrator about this important issue, or call our toll free number at 1-800-772-1213 and speak to one of our agents for more information. Representatives are available Monday through Friday, between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m.
richard d.
so on jan 3 2017 my mthly deposit came in aprox. 1am by 1:30am was withdrawn without my consent or my card from a atm in Hollywood florida called immediately to report to direct express which is a horrible company with very poor customer service no fax machine to expedite any correspondences all mail goes to a po box meaning time sensitive mail potentially could be sitting in a po box for days before being picked up now 10 buisness days later as per there policy which might i add makes 0 sense i should been replaces my stolen funds but no also false as im being told they did not receive my return letter and now will soon be homeless due to this incompetent company. their lvl 2 so called security team is useless.i ask my self how does the federal government allow for this to happen to americas most vulnerable makes no sense to me.there needs to be a complete investigation on direct express and comerica bank since its name is on back of card but once i called Comerica was told they can’t help me that they have 0 to do with direct express funny how that could be true as their name is on back of card.sad part seems federal government does not have disabled Americans best interest’s in mind for if they did a full investigation would happen cause with very little reasearch i found a direct express not even bbb accredited not that im surprised. and yet there is several hundred complaints against this failed company on bbb web site never mind. hundreds of complaints on other sites.in short if the federal government won’t help and protect it most vulnerable who will.
Angel
Just a littlle curious I m 18 and adopted and I get benefits but I’ve never seen a penny of it my whole life should I be worried or can somone explain how this works please e-mail me apodaca.angel@ymail.com
Jonny
I am rating 100% disable vet by veteran dr. and received compensation from VA, and was worked for federal government for many years, but now I get removed from my fed. job due to performance issue, am I qualified for disability retirement? If I do, do I still need a lawyer in this case, for what reason? The letter from VA to verify my disability, is not enough?
R.F.
Thank you for your question Jonny. Please keep in mind that the Social Security Act sets out a very strict definition of disability, much different than the requirements for other government programs including veterans benefits. Social Security pays disability benefits to people who are unable to work because of a medical condition that is expected to last one year or more or to end in death. In addition to meeting our definition of disability, you must have worked long enough–and recently enough–under Social Security to qualify for disability benefits. For more information and to see if you should apply for disability benefits, we urge you to contact your local office or call us at 1-800-772-1213 between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m., Monday through Friday and ask one of our representatives to assist you. Generally, you will have a shorter wait time if you call later in the day or later in the week. We hope this information helps you.
Rosa J.
I received a called from Social Security. January 2016. That my son has a lump sum of back money since 2005. I was told to report to the Social Security office with proper ID and bank book, with my son information. Social Security told me that they also have to gather the other children information. Before cutting my son his check. They finally gather the other children information and cut all children their checks. But, my son hasn’t receive anything. All Social Security tell me, we are working on it. I cant understand working on what. If Social Security told me once they cut all the children checks. All children get their benefits at the same time. Is now January 2017. And they tell me we working on it. Please somebody tell me what are they working on?. Because I already received a letter May 2016 . Of the break down.
Rosa J.
I received a called from Social Security. January 2016. That my son has a lump sum of back money since 2005. I was told to report to the Social Security office with proper ID and bank book, with my son information. Social Security told me that they also have to gather the other children information. Before cutting my son his check. They finally gather the other children information and cut all children their checks. But, my son hasn’t receive anything. All Social Security tell me, we are working on it. I cant understand working on what. If Social Security told me once they cut all the children checks. All children get their benefits at the same time. Is now January 2017. And they tell me we working on it. Please somebody tell me what are they working on?. Because I already received a letter May 2016 . Of the break down.