Social Security Disability Benefits Fraud

Submitted by Daniel on

Social Security Disability is a great benefit to those who truly need assistance due to a severe medical condition that prevents them from working for at least a year. However, sometimes people violate the law and fabricate a medical condition. Detecting a fraud in the Social Security system is a challenging process, but it is one that is necessary in order to maintain the integrity of the program. Determining whether someone is trying to take advantage of the system can be a difficult task, so before reporting an alleged fraud, consider the long journey ahead and all that goes into pinpointing fraudulent activity.

If you suspect someone is violating the law and is, in fact, fraudulently collecting disability benefits:

  • You need to know the reason why the person has been approved for benefits. If you are unable to determine this, research will need to be conducted to determine the truth before accusations are made.
  • You need to be aware that even though you see this person, you may not fully understand how the person’s impairment causes difficulties in daily living.
  • Some people receiving Social Security Disability suffer from mental or psychological disorders; these are not often easy to pinpoint as an outsider, and it may be difficult to judge how these conditions could interrupt the daily activities.

Typically you would have to know someone quite well in order to determine whether or not he or she is taking advantage of the system. Making strong accusations about someone receiving disability benefits is touchy ground, and something that you would not want to do lightly. When in doubt, do not be afraid to ask questions and look into the actions of the person. This can greatly help you determine where the truth lies. If you do still truly suspect someone of committing a fraudulent act, you should consider reporting that individual.

  • You should begin by contacting the toll-free Social Security Administration Fraud Hotline at (800) 269-0271.
  • Remember to provide as much information as you can. This includes the name, address, birth date, phone numbers, and Social Security number (if you know it) of the person suspected of committing fraud. The more information you provide, the sooner the investigation can begin. You should explain in detail to the SSA exactly in what type of fraudulent activity that you suspect this person to be involved.
  • Do not report anything that you do not know for sure. There are penalties for reporting false information, so stick with the facts.
  • Be certain that you understand the situation surrounding the person’s disability. Work may complicate the person’s condition more than you know. Some people are unable to work because they have to be medicated frequently throughout the day. There are also many individuals on disability who have to make trips to the hospital on a weekly or even daily basis. Other individuals may suffer from a psychological or mental condition that makes them appear quite normal, but they may, in reality, be struggling deeply on the inside. You must be fully aware of their circumstances to be able to judge if they are fraudulently collecting benefits.
  • If you feel uncomfortable telephoning regarding your concerns, you can complete an online fraud reporting form, or mail in your findings to the Fraud Hotline at:

Social Security Fraud Hotline
P.O. Box 17768
Baltimore, Maryland 21235

When working properly, the Social Security Disability program is a wonderful asset. To those individuals suffering and unable to work, or even waiting out the last stage of their lives, it is often a much-needed benefit. Unfortunately, some people take advantage of a good thing and use it improperly, as is the case with fraudulent behavior. While reporting this kind of activity is important, it is also a serious leap to take. Before you report your suspicions, you should realize that the most important thing is to know all the facts, and to move forward only if you are certain you have a definite case of fraudulent conduct.

Additional Resources

Blog comments

Frieda (not verified)

What if you suspect that the

What if you suspect that the death of someone who died, who was collecting disability, wasn't reported?
Is this even possible?

Sat, 07/29/2017 - 09:46 Permalink
Bryan

In reply to by Frieda (not verified)

Hi Frieda,

Hi Frieda,
Yes, that can happen, you may want to contact the SSA regarding this, if you have an obituary or any other evidence that this person has died, you may want to send that to them as well.

Mon, 07/31/2017 - 08:32 Permalink
renee (not verified)

i know some one that got dis.

i know some one that got dis. because of bad knees but she can carry heavy boxes around on food giveaway kitchen tables upstairs to a apt. shovel snow doesnot report her mony she has sved for her death and has some to give her kids recieved money when her parents died and a settlement that she has told me this he self

Sat, 07/29/2017 - 13:33 Permalink
Bryan

In reply to by renee (not verified)

Hi Renee,

Hi Renee,
While this person may have bad knees, it may be enough from stopping them from working while allowing them to do these things occasionally. This may not be fraud as SSDI benefits do allow people to save money and it has less restrictions than SSI benefits.

Mon, 07/31/2017 - 08:34 Permalink
Jen (not verified)

I wanna know why you would

I wanna know why you would tell someone there names isnt given out when they report someone for fraud. About 10 years ago I reported someone and my name was given to that person. I was harassed and my life was threatened. I ended up taking this person to court to get a PPO and when the judge asked them why they were harassing me. They admitted to frauding Social Security.
I know someone right now who is and I am afraid to turn them in because of this reason

Sat, 07/29/2017 - 13:41 Permalink
Bryan

In reply to by Jen (not verified)

Hi Jen,

Hi Jen,
I'm sorry to hear about that!
You are under no obligation to give your name when you report someone, and it may have been easy for them to figure out who reported them( especially if they had only told a few people about what they were doing).
You can send a report of fraud without any identifying information in it to the SSA here:
Social Security Fraud Hotline
P.O. Box 17768
Baltimore, Maryland 21235

Mon, 07/31/2017 - 08:37 Permalink
Kevin (not verified)

That is now considered a

That is now considered a felony.. Because of more 2 priors..he has more than 2 priors..he hasn't reported he is in jailed and has lied for insurgency to obtained public defender atty..claims no income

Sat, 07/29/2017 - 13:44 Permalink
Bryan

In reply to by Kevin (not verified)

Hi Kevin,

Hi Kevin,
You may want to contact the SSA at 1-800-772-1213 regarding this.

Mon, 07/31/2017 - 08:38 Permalink
Denise (not verified)

How do I report someone who

How do I report someone who receives 90 pain pills every month and does nothing but sell them? I know his full name and the general area of where he lives.

Sun, 07/30/2017 - 13:26 Permalink
cricket02 (not verified)

Where do I report an employer

Where do I report an employer that has paid an employee's car payment that was on regular ss retirement while working, but didn't want to go over the amount to where they would have their ss amt reduced? also, they are paying all their salary to their spouse now so they can draw full ss and build up the spouses amount when they retire.

Mon, 07/31/2017 - 12:01 Permalink
Lynn (not verified)

I can see clearly now!!!!! It

I can see clearly now!!!!! It is no wonder that SSID is so widely abused today. The guilty parties of this abuse have so many protections....it is ludicrous! I am convinced that an individual who told me they were receiving disability is fraudulently abusing the system, but I have to prove that?????? Reporting someone is a difficult and time consuming task, and then nothing will get done. Time for me to get a twitter account and report it to the MAN! LOL

Mon, 07/31/2017 - 16:45 Permalink
Mistin (not verified)

My sister is on ssi

My sister is on ssi disability but is working full-time but won't call and report she's working. She claims to have mental disorders but not on meds. She also lost all of her kids due to this. I think it is crap she's getting ssi disability for being disabled.

Mon, 07/31/2017 - 21:36 Permalink
chelle (not verified)

I know someone who is

I know someone who is currently trying to get SSDI. She has a full-time job working for the state and has great pay and benefits but just doesn't want to work. If I could report her without anyone knowing it was me I would in a second. She has an office job yet claims she cant sit in the chair all day yet she can sit in a chair all day at her house drinking wine and snorting pills. She is a drunk and just doesn't want to get her ass out of bed in the morning because she is hung over. I used to live with her so I know for a fact what she is capable of doing and what she does do. She claims the ride to work is too long so they moved her closer to her job so she didn't have to travel as far! She has no complaints about anything when she is home sitting all day lifting her glass of wine. She mows her lawn, stacks her wood, cleans her house, she has no problem riding in the car for hours to go on vacation yet she cant ride in the car 45 minutes to get to work. Everyone who knows her or has spent any time around her feels the same way but nobody wants to get involved so she will probably get approved so she can sit home and drink wine all day at the governments expense! Workman's comp follows people around to see what they do on a daily basis when they file a claim the government should do the same unless it is clearly obviously that someone has a disability. The only reason this person has trouble getting out of bed in the morning is because she is hung over has nothing to do with her claim of having fibromyalgia. I know her well enough that I am almost positive nothing is wrong with her she claims fibromyalgia because there is nothing that anyone can say otherwise and she knows it. I wouldn't be one bit surprised if she looked it up online figured out what people complain about to get diagnosed and went to her doctor and said everything that she figured out online so she can get a huge bottle of narcotics every month to go with her wine! Its really sad that she will probably get away with it and collect a check every month yet there are people out there that probably deserve SSDI that get denied! I almost forgot to mention that she does go and work for someone else for the day getting paid cash and she never complains when she gets done working for him for the day which is sitting in a chair doing paperwork all day like she does at her normal job. This girl just doesn't want to work!

Wed, 08/02/2017 - 13:10 Permalink
Eric

In reply to by chelle (not verified)

Hi There,

Hi There,

I am sorry to hear that, but unfortunately Social Security fraud can happen.

-Eric

Wed, 08/02/2017 - 17:09 Permalink
Penny (not verified)

If parents never been married

If parents never been married and mother receive disability for child but child live with father and he uses child as dependent on taxes is that fraud? If so on who behalf mother or father?

Thu, 08/03/2017 - 01:34 Permalink
Bryan

In reply to by Penny (not verified)

Hi Penny,

Hi Penny,
That may not be fraud if the mother is using those benefits for the child, however I really could not comment on the taxes as we are not tax experts.

Thu, 08/03/2017 - 10:15 Permalink
Curious (not verified)

Is it considered fraud for a

Is it considered fraud for a person to file for disability and get approved for it while giving them the wrong household that she resides at. Her mother is sick ,her father is a double amputee and they take care of her 2 small children. While she actually lives with her boyfriend and his mother while using her kids food stamps to feed herself instead of it going into the household in which her kids live at which is the address she uses for her residents. Household income where her residents is actually very well off where her parents home income is considered poverty.....

Thu, 08/03/2017 - 18:29 Permalink
Bryan

In reply to by Curious (not verified)

Hi there,

Hi there,
If you suspect fraud, you may want to contact the SSA, you can do so by calling them or by sending a letter here:
Social Security Fraud Hotline
P.O. Box 17768
Baltimore, Maryland 21235

Fri, 08/04/2017 - 09:08 Permalink
Robin (not verified)

My cousin has two disabled

My cousin has two disabled kids that have been placed with family members by cps since april and she wont be getting them back anytime soon but has still been receiving both of their benefits. Will the family members caring for the kids get the benefits for them if reported?

Thu, 08/03/2017 - 23:48 Permalink
Bryan

In reply to by Robin (not verified)

Hi Robin,

Hi Robin,
The SSA may be able to re-assign the payees for the children, you may want to contact them about the children's change in custody so that they can make the necessary arrangements.

Fri, 08/04/2017 - 09:09 Permalink
Anonymous (not verified)

I have a friend who has been

I have a friend who has been on ssi now for almost twenty years. She suffers from a so called anxiety disorder. She really only worked two years of her life. But she sure is a social butterfly. She never misses a party or event or a festival or concert. She doesn't go to therapy and isn't on any meds. Don't you think if you had such bad anxiety that you couldn't work you would be on some type of meds or something. Doesn't the government ever check up on people like this who are clearly abusing the system?I have severe ptsd and I work through it everyday and hold down a job and pay taxes. Paying someone money to lay around all the time just doesn't seem right. I think it is more like a form of enabling in this case.

Fri, 08/04/2017 - 10:04 Permalink
Bryan

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

HI there,

HI there,
If you suspect fraud, you may want to contact the SSA regarding this, you can send a letter with evidence of fraud to the SSA here:
Social Security Fraud Hotline
P.O. Box 17768
Baltimore, Maryland 21235

Fri, 08/04/2017 - 15:00 Permalink
Anonymous (not verified)

I know someone who gets SSI

I know someone who gets SSI because he is slow and has a slow mind can't take care of himself but his mom depends on him to watch his two younger brothers. He is 16 with a mind of a 14 year old and his brothers are 7 and 9 and the 9 year old has ADHD and bipolar. The 16 year old watches them everyday

Sat, 08/05/2017 - 01:08 Permalink
Bryan

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

Hi there,

Hi there,
That may not be fraud as the child is not doing something that makes money, in addition caring for family members may not be counted as work in some circumstances.

Mon, 08/07/2017 - 09:35 Permalink
perry (not verified)

what if the person uses there

what if the person uses there money to buy beer all day and fights everyone in the house is that a good reason to report someone because that's his only income and every month he just restock on liquor and attempts to fight everyone

Sun, 08/06/2017 - 19:51 Permalink
Harris (not verified)

can someone who receives

can someone who receives child support also receive
SSI disability check.
how do we go about getting the information on SSI medical information for his child that the mother filed for?

Mon, 08/07/2017 - 12:36 Permalink
Bryan

In reply to by Harris (not verified)

Hi Harris,

Hi Harris,
That would depend on your state's criteria, you would need to get written permission from the person receiving SSI or their guardian to get access to their medical information.

Mon, 08/07/2017 - 16:10 Permalink
Pam (not verified)

I had an aunt that was

I had an aunt that was receiving SSI, her sister reported to SSI that she had 3 cars, and a life insurance policy and her property was worth over 200k, they pulled her SSI and made a repayment. My aunt did not own 3 cars had no life insurance policy and was living with another sister, can my aunt get in trouble if proven she made false statements to SSI

Mon, 08/07/2017 - 18:26 Permalink
Eric

In reply to by Pam (not verified)

Hi Pam,

Hi Pam,

Yes, if your aunt knowingly made false reports to the SSA she could get into serious trouble.

-Eric

Tue, 08/08/2017 - 09:07 Permalink
Leslie (not verified)

I know someone that is

I know someone that is getting SS check every month but smoke weed and work under the table can report that anonymous?

Tue, 08/08/2017 - 09:07 Permalink
just me (not verified)

a girl turned down a full

a girl turned down a full time job offer that she applied for because she would lose her disability. she is no more disabled than me and i lost my job and have mental issues but i could work because i am medicated.so is she .

Tue, 08/08/2017 - 10:53 Permalink
Bryan

In reply to by just me (not verified)

HI there,

HI there,
That may not be considered fraud as neither the SSI or SSDI disability programs require someone to take a job if offered.

Tue, 08/08/2017 - 13:41 Permalink
Susan (not verified)

What if I know someone who

What if I know someone who receives the disability payment because a person is mentally disabled but the disabled has been in jail for several months and the third party is continuing to collect benefits and using them personally? And, it is also their child?

Tue, 08/08/2017 - 14:43 Permalink
Bryan

In reply to by Susan (not verified)

Hi Susan,

Hi Susan,
SSDI benefits for children, dependents, and family members are not stopped if a person is incarcerated, but the person who is incarcerated would not be eligible for benefits for that month.

Tue, 08/08/2017 - 14:56 Permalink
Susan (not verified)

In reply to by Bryan

The recipient has been in

The recipient has been in jail since February and is still in jail.
If the person who oversees the payments and is using them not to the benefit of the disabled recipient, who would be responsible for repayment- the disabled person (who is not able to handle money etc), or the representative payee?

Tue, 08/08/2017 - 15:15 Permalink
Bryan

In reply to by Susan (not verified)

Hi there,

Hi there,
In the case that the person who is receiving benefits is assigned a payee, they payee may be held responsible.

Tue, 08/08/2017 - 16:00 Permalink
Michael (not verified)

What can do about a issue

What can do about a issue with my child's mother not showing receipts on weather she using my child monthly payments on her my child has a condition called spina bifida that's the reason she receives monthly benefits I the one buying diaper wipes close and and i keep my receipts every time buy my child stuff

Tue, 08/08/2017 - 15:32 Permalink
Diane (not verified)

I know someone that is

I know someone that is working under the table, making a lot more money than her disability check. Has a nice home, nice car, personal trainer, goes out and parties etc....she puts a lot public on her Facebook for many to see. Will she eventually get caught?

Wed, 08/09/2017 - 05:41 Permalink
Bryan

In reply to by Diane (not verified)

HI Diane,

HI Diane,
Generally people who are committing fraud in such a way are very easy to find because they make no attempt at hiding it.

Wed, 08/09/2017 - 09:25 Permalink
Diane (not verified)

In reply to by Bryan

So instead of getting myself

So instead of getting myself involved with reporting her should I just let herself get caught?

Wed, 08/09/2017 - 11:20 Permalink
Bryan

In reply to by Diane (not verified)

Hi Diane,

Hi Diane,
You can send evidence to the SSA anonymously by sending a letter without any information identifying you here:
Social Security Fraud Hotline
P.O. Box 17768
Baltimore, Maryland 21235

Wed, 08/09/2017 - 12:32 Permalink
Monique (not verified)

Do you know how to report a

Do you know how to report a person that is taking someone elses ssi benefits and using them for them for their own purposes. I have a disablility and am unable to communicate via phone, so I am trying to find a way to report my sisters husband. she is legitimately unable to work and this guy is using her and everytime she gets her money he takes her card and spends her money.

Wed, 08/09/2017 - 10:04 Permalink
Bryan

In reply to by Monique (not verified)

Hi Monique,

Hi Monique,
You can send a letter with evidence of this to the SSA here:
Social Security Fraud Hotline
P.O. Box 17768
Baltimore, Maryland 21235

Wed, 08/09/2017 - 10:41 Permalink
Anonymous (not verified)

If I know someone who was

If I know someone who was getting SSA for her children but one of the children went to prison and she never reported it and she kept recieving the benefits for about two years while he was locked up I don't want him to get in trouble should I report her ?? Please help she was receiving it for two children to and one was still out and she never gave him a dime of his money even after he graduated and was about to receive his last check she kept his too and lied saying he never got it she is a unstable person I don't want her wrong doings to effect them

Fri, 08/11/2017 - 20:49 Permalink
Eric

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

Hi There,

Hi There,

When someone goes to prison that is on either SSI/SSDI that needs to be reported as those benefits would pause while they were incarcerated. Once released they can receive benefits again. They may be considered Social Security fraud.

-Eric

Mon, 08/14/2017 - 08:59 Permalink

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