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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Jose
Recently I went to the Orlando SS office to check on a problem about Medicare provider overbilling and after waiting 2 hours on a line outside and inside, was told by a CSR that they didn’t handle medicare claims in the office and that I have to call in other to give help.
Why they the have a person to work with medicare complaints locally instead of by phone that makes it very difficult to solve.
Lashawn U.
It would be interesting to have more robots than needed for certain tasks. Then each bot would have to decide to be part of that team or not.
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Mike
The real thief is the government.
If your retired at age 62 receiving Social Security and continue to work, they place a limit on how much you can make and have to pay them back SS money if you go over that amount. keeping the elderly at a poverty level.
Than if your working at 62 or 66 receiving Social Security they continue to take SS and medicare tax. Why ? your not getting anymore for your money, your already set at a fixed rate. So this is stealing millions of money from the elderly. Should be a class action suit to sue Social Security.
So yes they take fraud seriously, as long as it’s in there favor. The make you pay for medicare out of your SS check but you already paid in Medicare tax?
The real fraud is the government, They steal billions
and go after the little guy for $1
Brittany
My fiancé is 22 years old and as been in college since he got out of high school. He’s got CP and he’s been trying to get his checks from his mom since he turned 18. She doesn’t give him any money or help while he’s at college living on Dorm. He only at her house maybe 3 months a year. He’s had to take out loans and struggle thru college life while his mom spends his money on other things. He doesn’t even know how much he gets. What should he do?
Brittany
He’s more then capable of being his own payee. He’s half way through college to become a college English Professor. She even fills out her taxs and takes the money she gets on him and the money he spends at college. He has been begging her for the $600 she’s getting back from taxs that he spent at his college for tuition and book fees that he paid for by taking out loans.
Brittany
When he talked about us moving in together and getting married they flipped. Especially about him changing his address to mine and marrying me
Ray F.
Hi Brittany, your fiancé would have to provide us with a statement from his doctor if he would like to become his own payee. The statement should say that he is now mentally and physically able to take care of himself and that he is able to keep his finances in order. Your fiance can call us at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) Monday through Friday, between 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. to speak to one of our representatives. He can also contact the local Social Security office. For more information, visit our “FAQs For Beneficiaries Who Have A Payee” web page. Thanks!
william f.
My brother in law is taking money from his mother’s bank she is on ssi and so is he. He takes is entire check of $763 and buys pills on the street with them. He steels his mother’s pills course he is a drug addict. I work for a living and it bothers me that the cash that we pay each week goes to someone to buy drugs.
jesus C.
Dear social security I been taken advantage of since I been on ssi my bro supposed to be my payee but he never even wanted to be or get involved period it was my dad’s big idea to make him payee but he needs to get cut off so my dad’s been taking my checks and cashing them for himself I’m tired of not being able to buy me things I want and need and always looking and feeling like s**t and causes me to have suicidal thoughts and emotional disstress im sick of being taken advantage of enough is enough I’m not getting any younger I would also love to move away from him I wanna be free and happy again cuz i been really really unhappy for a long time so please help me get my sanity and happiness back please need your help badly
Ray F.
Hi Jesus Carlos, if you think your father is misusing benefits, you must report it immediately. If necessary, we may help you find a new representative payee for you or pay you directly. If you would like to become your own payee, we generally will need a statement from your doctor. The statement should say that you are now mentally and physically able to take care of yourself and that you are able to keep your finances in order. Please call 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) Monday through Friday, between 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. to speak to one of our representatives. Or you can contact your local Social Security office. For more information, visit our “FAQs For Beneficiaries Who Have A Payee” web page. Thanks!
C
I am not a US citizen and living outside US now back to my country, i was held by someone which is on SSI for 3yrs and didnt had the chance to report for FRAUD (2013) because he threatened me that somethings going to happen to me if i do that, so i keep my mouth shut. He’s physically fit to work since 2011 but still collecting disability benefits. when i decided to comeback here in my country Dec 7, 2014, he come with me, he didnt report to SSA that he’s going to leave US and last year he asked someone to forged his signature in the quarterly or annual report so the disability didn’t stop coming and still up to this day he’s still here in my country. I married him in US and stayed in US land for a year, but didn’t let me get a SS number and didnt report to change his status because its going to affect his disability pension. Am i qualified to file a report for fraud? Is there somebody from SSA can contact me thru email so i can give my report?
Ray F.
Thank you for contacting us C. Reporting is easy, safe and secure. If you suspect or know of someone committing fraud against Social Security, report it. If living abroad, you can also contact the local U.S. embassy or consulate for assistance.
C
Thank you so much for your reply, what you said was a big help for me. i already sent email at the FBU here in my country today and they replied to me at once.
Lex M.
I continually read what the government says is my responsibility , but the government never prints what their responsibility is! This article states, that social security takes fraud against the social security office seriously, but they do not care if people on social receives their benefits. The social security will just say that it is out of their hands- no investigation and no action. If an American moves to another country, the American will lose his ability to communicate with American government offices. US foreign embassies hire personnel in the country that they operate and an American cannot go to or call the embassy and speak to an American. The only people that an American can actually talk with is not American and there is a high probability that the people from that country are actually spies in the embassy.
Did you know that if you are an American living in another country that your mail from the US will be searched for checks from social security or dividend checks; the embassy will take the checks from the mail. Two years ago my social security checks were collected in the embassy for 7 months. Then the woman that had them in her draw died and the checks were forwarded to me. My December 2015 checks for me and my 14 year old son were probably taken by embassy personnel in Jakarta but the embassy says that they were not received from the US. 33 social security checks for other people were held at the embassy for distribution, Now I have reported that we did not get our checks but I do not expect social security to take any action for maybe 6 to 9 months. Amazing service!!!!! So tell me, “Does the US government actually have any responsibility?” NO- that is what I thought.
Kenneth c.
Totally agree, as I have found out in north carolna, what back pay I received, I letters alleging I was overpays 52,000$, and my attorney wax 28,000$. And my bank. Shows totally. The opposite, and also, now via phone they say I have never overpaid, then in told I have my back pay in of my two bank accounts, but I have one account only. I am told. Go to my local office, I do and , only to be later I never was there.even in may and June received no payments because an alledged2$ oversPent, now they say that Ingot my , my bank statements show I am telling the truth.then I was allegedly taken to court and. Filed and. Proven incompetent, my sister was my payee, I am not allowed have a new payee. After complaints being filed, about many of misconduct, still no investigations, filing is useless because they are thrown in the . I have. Physical evidence as well as , witnesses , I. Wonder how many my sister has paid to help make ne look dumb and why isshe’sbeen getting 698$ a since 2014, and as payee see maybe once ayear, Ssa in my eyes are corrupt, and hearted. My civil rights have been more than violated, and yet hunt for someone getting fraudulent money , but aint one soul who cares about us the victim
betty
My friend gets ssi for her kid but she lied about her living status. Will they take it away from her
Ray F.
Hi Betty, the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program is a needs-based program that pays benefits to disabled adults and children who have limited income and resources. SSI benefits can be affected by the beneficiary’s living arrangement. We also consider their total household income and available resources. If you suspect misuse of SSI, report it. Please call 1-800-772-1213 Monday through Friday, between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. to speak to one of our representatives. Or, you can contact your local Social Security office. Thanks!
Rojas5@netzero.net
If it was taken seriously , it would be addressed when reported. It’s a joke!
So many people do need it, but when you see the abuse it’s hard for the hardworking to sit back and watch nothing happen.