Avoid Accusations of Fraud When Receiving Benefits

Submitted by Shane on

Among the benefits of hiring a qualified Social Security disability attorney to help you with your disability case is the advice he or she can give you about how to steer clear of an accusation of fraud after your claim for disability benefits is approved. Unfortunately fraud cases are not uncommon and they cost the taxpayer a substantial amount of money. Therefore, the Social Security Administration is charged by the federal government with regularly reviewing each recipient’s status on a regular basis. In an effort to ensure timely review of each recipient’s status and to pay for investigation into cases of suspected fraud, Congress has increased funds for those purposes this year.

It pays to understand what sorts of situations are considered fraud by the Social Security Administration. Here are a few situations you must be sure to avoid.

Work Status. If you work while receiving disability benefits, you must report your hours and your income to the Social Security Administration. You must never attempt to conceal the fact that you work or falsify the numbers of hours you work.

Income Limits. If you are receiving disability benefits, you must report your earnings to the Social Security Administration. The agency allows you to work while receiving disability benefits, but there are limits to the income you can make and still receive benefits. In 2024, the monthly limit for a disabled person who is not blind is $1,550 per month. For a blind person, the limit is $2,590 per month. You must never conceal the fact that you make over the minimum income limit.

Residence. If you are receiving SSI benefits and you move overseas, you cannot continue to receive these benefits. If you move abroad and are receiving SSI benefits, you must notify the agency and stop receiving your SSI benefits.

Receiving Other Disability Benefits. If you are eligible for worker’s compensation or for other private, state, or federal disability benefits, your payments from SSI or SSDI may be reduced. You must tell the Social Security Administration if you apply for another type of disability benefits, if you receive a lump sum settlement due to your disabling condition, or if your previously reported benefits change or stop. Never conceal the receipt of other disability benefits, regardless of the source of those benefits.

Change of Status. If anything changes in your personal, work, or living situation, you must notify the Social Security Administration. Examples include: moving, changing your marital status, losing custody of a child for whom you have been receiving benefits, the death of a spouse or child for whom benefits are being received, being convicted of a crime, changing your name, etc. Basically, if anything changes after you are approved for disability benefits, let the agency know, as this could affect your fully insured status.

Social Security disability benefits are provided as a safety net for people who have nowhere else to turn. When their situations improve, some disability recipients are tempted to keep their monthly SSI or SSDI checks to improve a minimal standard of living. It’s understandable, but it’s a mistake that can cost them dearly.

Blog comments

Nancy (not verified)

If you are on disability

If you are on disability (SSDI), can you get a roommate to help share living costs, such as rent and utilities? I am struggling very much to afford everything on my own. I won't be able to afford my place for much longer. Do you think SSDI would have an issue with me getting a roommate to help alleviate some of my bills?

Wed, 09/21/2016 - 02:38 Permalink
Bryan

In reply to by Nancy (not verified)

Hi Nancy,

Hi Nancy,
SSDI is not income based, so if you are receiving those benefits you may have the flexibility to do so without being penalized for it.

Wed, 09/21/2016 - 09:25 Permalink
Fraudulent peo… (not verified)

I realize that Fraudulent

I realize that Fraudulent people know how to work the system & get by with doing so---does Social Security realize this?
My sister has lived her whole life with her hand out, working the system taking advantage of everything, welfare, state assistance, housing programs; HUD & government programs, loved ones, food shelters, free state medical...ect...hardly working ever & still wrecking her credit living way above her means & never paying bills or handling responsibilities. Then she got on social security disability ---she is able to work just doesn't want to. She gets disability & works part time only working the amount of hours, making only the limit she can without losing or affecting her disability checks. Her medical conditions are broader line diabetic-no insulin needed or even pills, and a claimed panic attack condition that is also bogus. She has taught her children to live this way as well---and now her 30 year old son is now on disability too. She openly admits to her family that she is 100% able to work but say why should she. She also encourages people to get on disability without needing it...telling them how: what to do & what to say.
I think the fraudulent people are smarter than social security think they are!

Fri, 09/23/2016 - 22:05 Permalink
Adrian (not verified)

I know someone who taking

I know someone who taking advantage of ssi

Wed, 09/28/2016 - 13:11 Permalink
Marissa vincent (not verified)

My mother is revicing ssi and

My mother is revicing ssi and she got remarried to and he also gets ssi because he is crippled they leave tougher and has never reported to the ssi office that they are married and she never changed her name she is still going under her ex husband last name and she is not as sick as she claims to be she is able to do everything on her on I don't think she needs ssi BC she lies bout her sick and never reported she got remarried what can I do bout this

Fri, 09/30/2016 - 16:55 Permalink
citizen (not verified)

I know a couple that live at

I know a couple that live at that both are on SSD they own four houses they live in one and rent the rest out and they own 2 cars . And he worked last year mowing the grave yards and is wifeis on SSD she went to 3 different states trying find a doctor that would say she couldn't work any more she was a nurse. Everyone that rents off them are on Hud . the one that lives at sells drugs but the cops or state police here won't do anything about it I was told that is how he pays his rent

Tue, 10/11/2016 - 10:19 Permalink
Unknown (not verified)

How do I go about turning

How do I go about turning someone in for working and using her Mother s social security number so she wouldn't get caught

Wed, 11/30/2016 - 21:11 Permalink
Help!!! (not verified)

Any idea what would happen if

Any idea what would happen if I am going to receive money from being left in a will, and my daughters father is actually my roommate. We are not a couple, haven't been for years. He is on Supplemental Social Security due to losing both legs after being very sick with Septic Shock. We live in NH and I do work fulltime. Would like to have any idea of what could happen, seeing we are NOT married, not a coulle, but do live in the same apartment

Fri, 12/02/2016 - 21:10 Permalink
Bryan

In reply to by Help!!! (not verified)

Hi there,

Hi there,
if your roommate is paying an equal share of his housing costs, then your inheritance may not affect him.

Mon, 12/05/2016 - 10:38 Permalink
Anonymous (not verified)

There is a man at 17 th st. I

There is a man is the address on the house his name is jon n he is on disability n is as long drugs out that house n buying the drugs with the disability money..that needs to be dealt with.

Wed, 01/04/2017 - 19:28 Permalink
Anonymous (not verified)

How do you report somebody

How do you report somebody that's on mental disability but smokes crack Kush shoots methamphetamines

Sat, 01/07/2017 - 19:07 Permalink
Sidney (not verified)

How do you report someone

How do you report someone that gets SSI and was living in Alaska which was receiving more money and now living back in Oklahoma and is not going to report cause she wants to receive more money for living in Alaska.

Mon, 01/09/2017 - 18:54 Permalink
Bryan

In reply to by Sidney (not verified)

Hi Sidney,

Hi Sidney,
You can send evidence of fraud to the SSA at their address here:
Social Security Fraud Hotline
P.O. Box 17768
Baltimore, Maryland 21235

Tue, 01/10/2017 - 09:21 Permalink
Jeff hinsob (not verified)

I know a guy who can get out

I know a guy who can get out and cut wood and do everything he wants to do and is as able to be out working as well if not beyter than my mself.. He has several kids and all he foes with his life is run the roads smoking weed and using meth daily. Its time we tax payers put a stop to this..

Wed, 01/11/2017 - 12:02 Permalink
Bryan

In reply to by Jeff hinsob (not verified)

Hi Jeff,

Hi Jeff,
You may want to contact the SSA regarding this, you can reach them at 1-800-772-1213 or by going to their website at www.ssa.gov

Thu, 01/19/2017 - 11:06 Permalink
Leeaya (not verified)

How can i report someone who

How can i report someone who doesn't have full custody of my child who is trying to receive benefits

Tue, 01/17/2017 - 19:38 Permalink
Bryan

In reply to by Leeaya (not verified)

Hi Leeaya,

Hi Leeaya,
That person may still be eligible for benefits even though they do not have full custody of your child.

Wed, 01/18/2017 - 09:39 Permalink
Rita (not verified)

Will someone lose there

Will someone lose there benefits if they a arrested for domestic battery, identity theft(using credit card without permission, theft by deception?

Mon, 01/23/2017 - 11:10 Permalink
Bryan

In reply to by Rita (not verified)

Hi there,

Hi there,
They may not be eligible for benefits while they are incarcerated.

Mon, 01/23/2017 - 14:07 Permalink
Anonymous (not verified)

Someone is telling Social

Someone is telling Social Security that they live somewhere and they don't what do you do

Mon, 01/23/2017 - 19:58 Permalink
Mimi Smith (not verified)

Vikkie Hall worked at As Time

Someone I know worked at As Time Goes By for 4 years and got paid cash

Wed, 03/08/2017 - 00:27 Permalink
Anonymous (not verified)

I have the person information

I have the person information and I don't want him to go to jail for v working and getting these benefits

Wed, 03/08/2017 - 12:34 Permalink
Bryan

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

Hi there,

Hi there,
They may not be arrested because they are working and receiving benefits, in fact both SSDI and SSI recipients can work and still receive benefits, though there are some restrictions.

Wed, 03/08/2017 - 15:02 Permalink
Christie boyce (not verified)

I have a friend who is

I have a friend who is recovering benefits her name if and she works she has nothing work with her except she is a drug addict. She goes to gym every day and cleans offices fir cash.

Sat, 04/08/2017 - 13:18 Permalink
Anonymous (not verified)

You need to check on someone I know

You need to check on someone I know for fraud. She admitted that she lied about her physical examination to obtain a check.

Sun, 04/23/2017 - 20:59 Permalink
Bryan

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

Hi there,

Hi there,
You may want to contact your local SSA office regarding this, we are not affiliated with the Social Security Administration or the federal government, and we do not have the ability to investigate allegations of fraud.

Mon, 04/24/2017 - 14:15 Permalink
Wayne (not verified)

A friend of mine is currently

A friend of mine is currently disabled, (I know he is disabled and I don't disagree with it even though he can physically out work me any day but he has both hips replaced) he is not married on paper and falsely reports to the social security office that he lives alone and has no real property other than a pickup truck and a few nominal belongings but I know for a fact that this is not true at all
He's been living with his common law wife for close to 30 years and she lives in the same house with him. She owns the house that they live in together. 4 years ago her father died and left everything he owned to her mother. Two years ago her mother died and left every thing to her. Any other time I would be not worried about something like this but the thing that I can't stomach is the fact that she, and my friend didn't report the extra income and property to the social security system and my friend is still receiving full benefits and I think that is fraud. My friend now owns 4 new farm tractors, several thousand dollars worth of farm machinery, 6 nice vehicles, 4 beautiful homes (two of the homes that they own collect rent each month) over 1100 Acres of land with 5 barns and 30 registered black Angus cattle. Also a savings account and a checking account with over $150,000, combined total money. He hires workers to help with various farming work (in which he pays them with pain pills that his doctor prescribes to him but rarely does he take for himself) (but each month he goes to the doctor to get the pills refilled, so he takes a couple himself on the day before to insure that the doctor finds them in his system)
But the thing that bothers me is that he and his woman lie like dogs to the social security office and tell them that he lives alone and she lives in the house that her parents lived in until they died and that he only has one vehicle and only has social security benefits as income. But the truth is that she had everything put into her name and they both lie and say that they do not live together.
In reality she buys everything with the money that her parents left, they both collect the rent money from the two houses that she /they own and he makes more money in a year and owns more property and material things than I could afford in my entire life.
That is fraud of the lowest kind in my opinion and I want to report it but I don't want them to know that I am the one who reported them.
I've filed two complaints online but had no response and the social security office in my county is too lazy to go to the people personally and investigate but then again if my name ever came out I'd deny that I reported to the social security office so I guess nothing will ever happen and another fraud person will be sucking the system dry. I have all their information such as birth date, address, name, phone number etc. But I'm not going to hold my breath

Fri, 04/28/2017 - 18:25 Permalink
Bryan

In reply to by Wayne (not verified)

Hi Wayne,

Hi Wayne,
If your friend is on SSDI benefits, this may not be fraud as those benefits are based on work history and don't have any restrictions on income or marital status.

Tue, 05/02/2017 - 08:49 Permalink
Chelsea (not verified)

In reply to by Wayne (not verified)

My mom and dad have been

My mom and dad have been taking my SSDI check certain months before I can reach it in the mail and immediately and with my knowledge or permission cashing it in there bank accounts and not withholding my money from me. They even took half my settlement. I am really struggling and have no money because they will hold it over my head. And never return it as they are millionaires and I live in $800 a month. My dad has lied and committed fraud slot with losing about my rent and where I live lived so he could have me pay him and then he sold the house while I was gone and profited $100,000 with my things in it and car . I'm decistated. How do I stop this? Get my money back? Get a lawyer for what he did to my house and everything I owned knowing I would be back and continued to lie while he said if I sell your house I'll give you 10 percent in commendation for all your work and money put into home. He only made sure that I never found out details and what went on. Someone please help me my family is so cruel and I need them to know I have rights and they are not able to do this. What can and should I do now???

Sat, 11/18/2017 - 09:14 Permalink
Bryan

In reply to by Chelsea (not verified)

Hi Chelsea,

Hi Chelsea,
You may want to contact the SSA regarding this as they may be able to put a stop to this, you can contact them at 1-800-772-1213.

Mon, 11/20/2017 - 09:53 Permalink
Nicky (not verified)

Hello I was wondering if I am

Hello I was wondering if I am able to report someone who is on social security and there doing drugs?

Sat, 05/06/2017 - 03:02 Permalink
Jose (not verified)

yes my neighbor she has a

yes my neighbor she has a full year old child who has medical problems she drove in his eye husband works at a company that they built Nissan cars they he makes $1,200 a week she takes her check buys drugs with it marijuana where then they go around the neighborhood asking neighbors for food go to local food banks but they make she gets back a thousand something dollars a month and he makes $700 a month then they got their brother live in the house with the dogs so security

Tue, 06/20/2017 - 12:56 Permalink
Marguerite (not verified)

How can I report a person who

How can I report a person who is getting paid by the government 2 care 4 her sons but they don't live in the home with 1 of them

Wed, 07/12/2017 - 20:06 Permalink
Eric

In reply to by Marguerite (not verified)

Hello,

Hello,

Any kind of physical evidence that proves that her children don't live with her. The more you evidence have the better.

-Eric

Thu, 07/13/2017 - 09:27 Permalink
Ward Fretwell Jr (not verified)

I have a payee,and she hasn&

I have a payee,and she hasn't given me my SSI check for two months,she's keeping it for herself,what can I do about it,I have no food,place to stay.

Wed, 07/12/2017 - 22:37 Permalink
Eric

In reply to by Ward Fretwell Jr (not verified)

Hi Ward,

Hi Ward,

I am so sorry to hear that. I would recommend calling the SSA right away. 1-800-772-1213.

Best Wishes,
Eric

Thu, 07/13/2017 - 09:28 Permalink
Karmiya (not verified)

In reply to by Eric

Hi. How can I report how a

Hi. How can I report how a hospital in CA (Cedar Sinai) is just literally creating files and twisting words a patient says and creating false , fraud files. The state of CA even has a life line (free phone) that says "if you have been off work for 12 months and are disabled contact us and we will help you get social security ". They ruined my life in that hospital and although I got SSA. I'm traumatized looking at the things they twisted around . It was the most damaging experience ever and you can't go to mental health for mental health as they say forget about it. They make histories follow you and I have a serious goal to get off SSA. I'm nervous just file and it all is pulled before I'm ready as I'm w ptsd and lots of issues from Cedar Sinai 2007 and all the mental doctors after.

Thu, 07/13/2017 - 12:48 Permalink
Eric

In reply to by Karmiya (not verified)

Hi Karmiya,

Hi Karmiya,

That's a pretty serious accusation. I would recommend just gathering enough evidence as you can as possible and you can the call the SSa and leave a report.

-Eric

Fri, 07/14/2017 - 15:01 Permalink

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