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.
Blog comments
If a mother is receiving ssi
If a mother is receiving ssi for her child but the child has never lived with her is it fraud and what should you do to report it
In reply to If a mother is receiving ssi by Annoymous (not verified)
Hi there,
Hi there,
It may not be considered fraud if they are using the money for the child's benefit, however I could not say if this case would or would not be fraud.
I have a neighbor who is out
I have a neighbor who is out signing sayin she needs money and she is on ssi and gets food stamps she is married and her husband works and she got about 4 people living with her and she doesn't report it at all
In reply to I have a neighbor who is out by rosie (not verified)
Hi Rosie,
Hi Rosie,
You can file an anonymous tip by calling the SSA fraud hotline.
My friends husband has been
My friends husband has been on disability for 6 years and was unable to work or drive. Now that they are getting a divorce, he can now drive once again, but claims he is unable to work yet.
Today, by total chance, I saw him exercising at the gym, rigirously on a bike next to me (he doesn't know me). I took several pictures and I have a video of him exercising and looking right at me.
In the past, he claimed his back was too hurt to unload a dishwasher. This is a clear scalm on our system. What can we do to get this guy off of disability, as he can clearly work.
In reply to My friends husband has been by Jeremy (not verified)
Hi Jeremy,
Hi Jeremy,
That may not be fraud, as it's very difficult to determine what a person would be able to do and what they would not be able to do with their condition without being an occupational specialist. You may want to contact the SSA regarding this if you suspect fraud.
I know someone who is a payee
I know someone who is a payee for someone else SSI check.But, is not spending the money as provided for . How do I report them without being known and have someone do a surprise visit to the home ??
In reply to I know someone who is a payee by Jean (not verified)
Hi Jean,
Hi Jean,
You can file an anonymous tip by calling the SSA fraud hotline.
Is using illegal drugs
Is using illegal drugs grounds for fraud? Is receiving rent grounds for fraud while on SSI?
In reply to Is using illegal drugs by Anonymous (not verified)
It may constitute fraud.
It may constitute fraud.
I know a young woman
I know a young woman personally that said to my face and I have witnessed on multiple occasions sit on a stool and drink alcohol at a local store ,she is not suppose to be driving her car to the store or anywhere because she has seizures from lupus and she gets a disability check for this.
then looks at me ans says ,your not going to tell anyone are you ????
she drives all of the time.
In reply to I know a young woman by no way jose (not verified)
HI there,
HI there,
You may want to contact the SSA regarding this, you can contact them at 1-800-772-1213.
Is there any type of cash
Is there any type of cash reward for reporting disability fraud?
In reply to Is there any type of cash by Sam (not verified)
Hi Sam,
Hi Sam,
There is no cash reward.
My neighbor upstairs class to
My neighbor upstairs class to have a bad hip,knee and foot on her one side preventing her from working. But yet the women jumps across the rooms, carries heavy furniture around her apartment, she runs a refab business, and stomps across the floor so hard it shakes stuff off the underside of her floor. When she moved in here I was talking to her and she was running up and down stairs the whole time, stretching high and carrying heavy stuff. Now I have a bad hip also and when it gets to acting up I can't move. So there is no way this women has issues she claiming with what goes on with her. My questions will you investigate if I report her for doing more then what I know her claim and condition would ever allow?
In reply to My neighbor upstairs class to by Kevin (not verified)
Hi Kevin,
Hi Kevin,
We aren't affiliated with the SSA, so we could not do that. You would have to contact the SSA's fraud hotline.
my ex wife threw my twins out
my ex wife threw my twins out on Nov. 24, 2016. On Nov.9th 2017 we finalized custody of 3 children. We share joint custody with our 16yrs.old residing with her and the twin 14 yrs old are residing with me. She claimed disability on all three children. How can I Put a stop to her claiming money for which she does not deserve and I was told that due to her disability I can claim the twins disability and they can have this help them when they go to college.
In reply to my ex wife threw my twins out by Dave (not verified)
Hi Dave,
Hi Dave,
You may want to speak with a SSA representative regarding that.
I know some is overseas
I know some is overseas earning $150.000 a year in sales as a Remax Realtor and collect SSD $1.200......Is this fraud?
In reply to I know some is overseas by Cecilia (not verified)
Hi Cecilia,
Hi Cecilia,
It may not be, in some cases you can work and collect SSDI at the same time.
Is this a fraud my cousin
Is this a fraud my cousin makes more then $ 40.000 a year an d she receives 1200 in SSD?
In reply to Is this a fraud my cousin by Tania (not verified)
Hi Tania,
Hi Tania,
It could be if your cousin isn't reporting that additional income.
In reply to Hi Tania, by Eric
This earning is overseas ..
This earning is overseas ...does she has to report it to the USA government?
In reply to This earning is overseas .. by Tania (not verified)
Hi Tania,
Hi Tania,
She may, but if you have any specific questions, you should contact the SSA directly.
My Good friend told me that
My Good friend told me that her boyfriend that she lives with at least 5 nights a week sends she astranged wife of at least 6 years like $1100 or $1200 a month and she does not claim that money as income to SSDI. In fact the wife has moved to Puerto Rico to live with her parents at least 5 years ago yet she still claims she lives in Baltimore. The Boyfriend and his Estranged wife are Frauding SSA and the State of MD and the Federal Government because they do not claim the money she receives from him on taxes and they pretend the live together for tax reasons. My concern is that since my friend and now I know about this can we get in trouble along with the Husband and Wife get caught doing this ? My friend does not want to report it only because she doesn't want to lose her boyfriend for kf he were to find out that she or I told then their relationship would be over. He says he does this because otherwise he would owe more money to her....meaning his wife. Please let me know if my friend and I can get into trouble for knowing all this and not reporting it. Thanks
In reply to My Good friend told me that by Maggie (not verified)
Hi There,
Hi There,
You may not get in trouble for knowing this, however you can always leave an anonymous tip at the SSA fraud hotline.
i know a woman who has 2
i know a woman who has 2 degrees in drafting...never worked a job as a drafter..says she still has fibromyalgis after 20 years says she dont have to do anything because she is a workers comp person but she settled in 1999-2ooo...why cant she work..when all she has to do is sit at a table..or why did she waste taxpayers money 2 times and never use the degree
In reply to i know a woman who has 2 by kionna (not verified)
Hi Kionna,
Hi Kionna,
If you suspect fraud you can call the SSA Fraud hotline and leave a report.
I live with someone who is
I live with someone who is fighting for benefits and says it’s b/c of her hips and back...when I first moved in she would occasionally use a cane or walker but since her husband has passed she hasn’t needed it one time I see her make herself sick by just drinking and not eating she’s been diagnosed with narcotic withdrawals and all what do I do ? I know she can work because she can do everything else but when she goes to hearing she uses the can and acts like she’s in pain it’s my word against hers?
In reply to I live with someone who is by Jim (not verified)
Hi Jim,
Hi Jim,
I'm sorry to hear about that! It's very difficult to establish that a person can or cannot work without being a doctor or vocation expert.
I know someone who does not
I know someone who does not work and due to moderate vision impairment. She can still see well enough to type and write etc. However, she uses her money on drugs and is dating a guy with a rap sheet longer than my arm. They fight constantly and air their dirty laundry on eachother online, including busting eachother out for said druguse and diseases transmitted via needles. I feel their situation needs to be looked at (he is parole for various felonies), however I do not want these crazy people to know who reported them. He has multiple assault charges and violations of EPOS on his record so I do not know that my personal safety can be assured. Thanks for any advice anyone could offer.
In reply to I know someone who does not by drug use (not verified)
Hi there,
Hi there,
You may want to contact the SSA regarding this, you can report such things anonymously.
What if I hired someone to
What if I hired someone to work for me and they are collecting social security disability. This individual has been cleaning my house, and even charging me for work not done, if she waited outside my house before I got home, she is charging me between $10 and $20 dollars to clean my house and she is also providing daycare for a senior next door and has been doing this for over a year.
In reply to What if I hired someone to by mls (not verified)
Hi there,
Hi there,
this may not be fraud as it is possible to receive disability benefits and work within certain limits.
My sister is capable of
My sister is capable of working she goes shopping rides Harley with her fiancé who she lives with he makes a lot of money she has not reported it she put apartment in her name she is out playing with her grandson buying wigs going fishing going to concerts her Facebook shows all this it even says she is married is she committing fraud
In reply to My sister is capable of by Ronda (not verified)
HI Ronda,
HI Ronda,
I could not say! If you suspect fraud, you may want to contact the SSA regarding this.
I don't know which is
I don't know which is the fraud this guys is doing. I'm not sure is SSD or VA disability. The point is this guy with advice of a lawyer go to the court without shave, very bad dressed and start to cry in front of the judge and said he has PTSD, also he spent one or two week in a mental facility only to have proofs of his PTSD. This guy is an actor. Now, he hasn't worked since
2011. He takes his wife to the job, the kids to the school, sleeping late, doing nothing with the taxes of all Americans that work very hard. They spent the money in the casino every Friday. Also he has a handicap placard, if you see him walk nothing is wrong with him. So the government need to check very hard this kind of situations. How a person can cheat the system like this.
In reply to I don't know which is by Dany (not verified)
Hi Dany,
Hi Dany,
I could not say that is fraud, as it's difficult to tell without being a doctor or vocational expert whether or not someone is unable to work due to their mental state.
Do benefits follow a person
Do benefits follow a person to another state? I know a woman who gets benefits from Illinois under an address that she's does not live at. She lives in Indiana and has her friend get her checks. We received some paper work for her in the mail. My wife is an MD. She sent paperwork to our home. Asking for her "DR" to sign off the on. My wife and I were stunned. At 1st we did know why we were get this request. Then afterwards we figured out what happened.
We confronted her and got some deceptive answers.
Does anything here sound worth reporting?
In reply to Do benefits follow a person by Harvey (not verified)
Hi Harvey,
Hi Harvey,
They often do--this may be completely legal! It will depend on if she reported the move to the SSA.
Someone is using my fathers
Someone is using my fathers ss in Fresno ...he lives in DC to collect disability benefits. How should he proceed?
In reply to Someone is using my fathers by Rene Vincit (not verified)
Hi Rene,
Hi Rene,
That is horrible! I'd report that to the SSA immediately.
former nfl player morlon
former nfl player who lives in nv is collecting fraudulent checks and is not disabled if you look on his facebook u will see him working out and is not disabled
In reply to former nfl player morlon by fraud morlon g… (not verified)
Hi there,
Hi there,
We're not affiliated with the SSA--you'll need to visit ssa.gov to report any kind of fraud.
I know someone who is drawing
I know someone who is drawing disability for their knees and hands and yet they are a sitter for the elderly. I know for a fact they work 40-50 hours a week and get paid $15.00 cash money. I just don't understand how this is a fair system This week alone she brought home $950.00 TAX FREE money
In reply to I know someone who is drawing by Debra (not verified)
Hi Debra,
Hi Debra,
I'm sorry to hear that! You can actually work while receiving disability benefits so long as you're not earning more than $1,180 per month.
I was wonder if my kids
I was wonder if my kids father trying to get disability and ends up getting it but also lied and say he taking care of his kids to get more money, which is a lie because his rights were taking away this month is that fraud. Can I report him
In reply to I was wonder if my kids by Anonymous (not verified)
Hi There,
Hi There,
You can report him. The more physical evidence you have the better your chances are.
I know someone who's
I know someone who's getting disability because of his back and he is working for a construction place in Carbondale don't know exactly where it is or who it is but I know for sure he's working and he might be even getting paid under the table is this considered fraud
In reply to I know someone who's by Ashley (not verified)
Hi Ashley,
Hi Ashley,
You are still able to work while on disability. If you know for sure he is not reporting income to the SSA, the could be grounds for fraud.
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