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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bernadette s.
WHAT ABOUT MY LAST NAME. JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE IF SOMEONE DESERVE HELP FROM SSI, THEY SHOULD BE ABLE TO GET IT. BUT IF SOMEONE IS FAKING ILLNESS SO THEY GET RICHER WITH THE AMERICAN MONEY, THEY SHOULD BE PUNISHED. FRAUD IS FRAUD AND I DON’T CARE WHO THE PERSON IS. BECAUSE SOMEONE HAVE CHILDREN IN THIS COUNTRY AND THINK THEY CAN GET AWAY WITH LYING TO GET MONEY IS WRONG. I SAY MY PEACE AND HOPE YOU CHECK THIS LADY UP. I KNOW I HAVE THE SAME AS HERS, BUT THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO NEED THE BENEFITS BETTER THAN HERS WHO DOES NOT NEED A DIME FROM THE GOVERNMENT. LIVING IN HAITI WITH ALL HER MAIDS AND CHEAT PEOPLE WHO NEED THE MONEY HERE IS WRONG.
Mike
I was wrong to indicate “this site” when I submitted my blog on August 20th.. I was meaning to say that the reporting system should weigh this when information on someone was reported. My apologies
Mike
Rose H.
just have a question if someone is receiving a monthly ssi check that means they cant work due to restrictions right? I need someone from fraud to contact me as I know first hand someone who has been working and collecting a ssi check
R.F.
Hi Rose and thank you for your question. Special rules make it possible for people with disabilities receiving Social Security or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) to work and still receive monthly payments and Medicare or Medicaid. Social Security calls these rules “work incentives.”
The law requires SSI beneficiaries to report their wages monthly, and that we monitor their work activity and pay them benefits accordingly. The amount of their SSI benefit is based, in part, on their income and available resources. Although the Social Security Act sets out a very strict definition of disability, we also have work provisions that can encourage people on disability to return to the work force and fulfill their desire to be productive.
Briana
My husband of 29 yrs & his 1st wife separated after 6 yrs. She agreed to divorce in 1983, 1 wk after10 yr anniversary. FLA awarded her $1,070/mo perm alimony, 1/2 all home costs & 1/2 of his then accrued pension on his $37,500 salary.
She worked 4 yrs total as receptionist yet receives over $2,000/mo SS disability. Now he is told she is eligible for:
A – 1/2 of his SS monthly retirement benefit now, even though HE can’t feasibly collect until 72 as raising our 6 yr old grandson w/out assistance;
B – her $2,000+/mo SS disability (she’s never had dependent) AND
C – his $1,070/mo perm alimony.
Her boyfriend of 32 yrs is, ironically, a FLA state employee.
Since ’83, she has continuously enjoyed a ZERO TAX OBLIGATION income, sole ownership of their former 3,000 sq ft (paid) lakefront home, 2 or 3 paid off cars & a small cash business. It costs a min $8,000 to again retain a decent, experienced FLA attorney to revisit this matter, always followed by the court order to reimburse her associated legal costs & fees. We live in the southwest.
She loves to brag that she would be stupid to get married. She’s right!
This is a broken, sexist system from word GO, & it is outlined in the SSA publication ‘What Every Woman Should Know’
Why IS the SSA brochure titled ‘What Every Woman Should Know’???
Mike
Mike on August 20, 2015 at 5:12 pm said:
The site can be a double edge sword. Anyone who has an ax to grind with you can use this as a vehicle to smear your name by submitting lies and non truths damaging your character and forcing you to defend your name provided your are innocent of any wrong doing. SS must vet these people to ensure the caller does not have a vendetta. Normally this occurs when people close to the person on disability has a grudge and knows enough about the person to fabricate wrong doing. If this is not done great harm could result
R.F.
Thank you, Mike, for your comments and concerns. Social Security takes protecting the public’s personal information very seriously. While we want to provide an opportunity for everybody to express their opinion freely, we also ask that participants in this blog respect the privacy of others as well as to conform to our comment policy. We do not have access to personal records in this blog. Our goal is to provide general information, educate our readers about our programs, answer general questions about Social Security and direct readers to the appropriate resources. Please Do NOT enter any personal information in this blog.
Mike
The site can be a double edge sword. Anyone who has an ax to grind with you can use this as a vehicle to smear your name by submitting lies and non truths damaging your character and forcing you to defend your name provided your are innocent of any wrong doing. SS must vet these people to ensure the caller does not have a vendetta. Normally this occurs when people close to the person on disability has a grudge and knows enough about the person to fabricate wrong doing. If this is not done great harm could result ev
Shelly S.
It’s disheartening to hear the Right Wing, GOP & teaparty harp about benefits like retirement and disability and all SSA awards as if they are undeserved entitlements that should not be paid. Then they get to add overpayments, whatever fraud exists and costs as if SSA is robbing them and “their children’s futures”. The worst thing I know is that the efforts SSA will continue to make to be efficient and watchful are undercut by what I saw at SSA’s ODAR in Region IX that was the most flagrant disregard for resources and claimants by management and some staff whose wasteful and illegal activities rivaled GAO, DEA and Secret Service employees who were caught stealing in terms of timekeeping and more: not working, not even present at work sometimes while being paid. That fraud, the misconduct of staff and management is impossible to report effectively to SSA’s OIG and it goes on and cannot be even reported without attacks on the messenger, period. As long as that kind of protection and permissive treatment of cheaters and time-keeping theives continues what hope is there? Protection of bad staff and mgmnt additionally ends up costing so much HR and professional time and pay to produce less than nothing, by attacking any whistleblowers as if that alone is an actual job.
Stracie
Why are people who have a New Jersey address and are on Medicare allowed to lie about their address? When they really live in Pennsylvania? Are the rates for insurance higher or lower?
Margaret K.
Re-checked the new website; it’s good. I found everything.
On another front, SSA is so concerned about fraud, it’s becoming very difficult for disabled to qualify. It’s reached the ‘beyond a reasonable doubt standard’ rather than the substantial evidence standard. One must have medical backing, but they can’t afford medical care. The ACA has been a godsend for some.
Harold W.
Left us seek peace!!!