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
I'm currently 21, and my
I'm currently 21, and my mother was approved for disability about a year ago. She received her backpay in a lump sum, then I got a call from SS saying that I was going to receive my own backpay for child benefits. I gave them my bank account information over the phone and all was confirmed. My mother changed the bank account information on paper right before my dad and I took it to my bank to get notarized. I was completely unaware of this. A few months later, my mother, an SS worker and I were on the phone together and the worker said the lump sum went into an account, which was obviously not mine. My mother acted extremely excited until the worker said to me "You should get an attorney, that's not your mother's money." My mother argued with her saying that's not how it works until the SS worker ended the call. I was 18 at the time and didn't understand to the full extent of what happened, until my dad confessed to me that he was aware it was wrong. Is what my mother did right? Shouldn't I have gotten the lump sum because I am now an adult and that money was supposed to be spent on me regardless?
In reply to I'm currently 21, and my by Jess (not verified)
Hi Jess,
Hi Jess,
It may be that you had a claim to that money, as that backpay was absolutely intended for you, regardless of the origin of the money ( your mother's disability claim, in this case).
What if I have knowledge of a
What if I have knowledge of a person collecting SSDI for a son she refuses to raise or have anything to do with while her grandmother maintains a "caregiver agreement" so that he gets his needs met?
In reply to What if I have knowledge of a by Concerned Soci… (not verified)
Hi there,
Hi there,
I would contact the SSA to have them change the child's representative payee so that the child can receive the benefits that they are entitled to.
Ok I was working for a guy
Ok I was working for a guy and his wife is now owner of the company and he works for the company and getting ssa and he is the one that was paying me and he didn't what should
In reply to Ok I was working for a guy by Steven (not verified)
Hi Steven,
Hi Steven,
Depending on what type of disability benefits that they are collecting, this may not be fraud. Both SSDI and SSI recipients can work part time, however there are restrictions.
What if I report someone and
What if I report someone and ssi doesn't find enough evidence to prove fraud, do I then have problems?
In reply to What if I report someone and by Mary (not verified)
Hi Mary,
Hi Mary,
If you've made the report in good faith, then you may be just fine.
If SSDI received a letter
If SSDI received a letter containing information indicating benefits were owed, but SSDI provides documentation that based the information provided, funds are owed to SSDI and the situation is actually the other way around. WOULD IT BE CONSIDERED FRAUD if a new letter with different amounts is then sent to SSDI claiming the same benefit amount was once again owed by SSDI. There's no explanation why the information changed and nothing to substantiate said claim. In other words, if they manipulated information so the outcome was in their favor, is that considered fraudulent practice?
In reply to If SSDI received a letter by Mae (not verified)
Hi Mae,
Hi Mae,
I'm really not sure what you're asking exactly, but the SSA may change benefits amounts and backpay amounts based on information presented to them.
I wanted to report this
I wanted to report this person I know, I dont usually do stuff like this but im very upset that there are people out there that absolutely need disability and can't get it but then there are other people that get it and they dont need it.. they just spend it on nonsense. Anyway this person dont pay any bills, she just lives off other people and she just bought something for $400 that was a complete waste of money and her money goes on other things thats not important.
In reply to I wanted to report this by Sue (not verified)
Hi Sue,
Hi Sue,
To file a report, you can do so here:
http://oig.ssa.gov/report
My own brother is on
My own brother is on disability because he lost his leg. ( He has a prosthetic leg now) But every day he takes his new truck and trailer and goes scrapping. He lifts washers and dryers, filing cabinets, etc on to this truck. He doesn't believe he can get in trouble or get caught. Must be nice to get paid for not taking care of yourself.
In reply to My own brother is on by Kmf (not verified)
Hi there,
Hi there,
That's really unfortunate! However, it is possible to work while on disability, within certain restrictions. If you would like to file a report, you can do so here:
http://oig.ssa.gov/report
What if you know that a
What if you know that a family member is charge of their MR daughters SSI check and takes 500.00 of her check for the household account and keeps 75.00 in the bank and gives her 150.00 a month for what nots, but the 75.00 never grows in case she needs clothes, shoes, a coat. I feel she is being taken advantage of because she has a sister that lives in this house and doesn't work and has a baby to raise. I think this girl with MR us buying things that this baby needs and with her illness won't say no.
In reply to What if you know that a by Grace Brown (not verified)
Hi Grace,
Hi Grace,
That might be fraud. How is the check being spent? If it's being spent on household needs it may not be fraud. But if the mother is neglecting her daughter's needs, it would be fraud!
How can they get someone that
How can they get someone that has worked for cash for over 10 years and has recieved disability and medicare and the business she has worked for the owner says he will deny even paying her if she gets turned in,I worked for the man about 4 months just off and on when one of his employees was out and he needed help i know she gets paid and also over heard him say he would deny it what can they do then?can anything be done? and would it be worth the time even saying anything?I know for a fact with her disability and her cash she earns she makes over 2000 a month more than that some months cause if they sale a lot they get a bonus and in December he gives all his employees 600$ as a bonus for Christmas,can anything be done to him would he have consequences to pay?any advice would be helpful on what I should do
In reply to How can they get someone that by sherry (not verified)
Hi Sherry,
Hi Sherry,
She could be actually earning up to $1,130 per month and still qualify for disability benefits. Are you sure that she isn't reporting the income? If she isn't you can report this a fraud at https://oig.ssa.gov/report
I was just wondering I have a
I was just wondering I have a neighbor who told me that she is getting her husbands ssi checks while he is in jail. Is that legal?
In reply to I was just wondering I have a by Jess (not verified)
Hi Jess,
Hi Jess,
If he's been in jail for more than 30 days, that's definitely disability fraud.
What if someone is a drug
What if someone is a drug addict and is using this money to support their habbit, will reporting this stop their benefits?
In reply to What if someone is a drug by KJ (not verified)
Hi KJ,
I know a guy that was in jail
I know a guy that was in jail almost all his life so when he was in he got schooling to be a master plumber but when he was in jail he lifted weights the hole time so that messed all his joints up so he gets disability and has a plumbing business .so how do I report fraud ?????????
In reply to I know a guy that was in jail by double d (not verified)
Hi Double D,
Hi Double D,
This person may not be committing fraud if this person receives those benefits through SSDI, and does not do any work at the business. Owning a business and getting income from it while on SSDI is not fraud.
What if someone starts a
What if someone starts a business with the funds? And with food stamps? With all the comments I've read... it seems that's reporting would be pointless
In reply to What if someone starts a by This that (not verified)
Hi there,
What if someone is living off
What if someone is living off there son who is receiving ssi because of his disability and doesn't report the income he makes from buying and selling cars or trucks. The son doesn't see any of his money due to his father using it for other reasons. The son is 19 years old now but still doesn't see his check
In reply to What if someone is living off by Rickey (not verified)
Hi Rickey,
Hi Rickey,
That might be fraud, especially if the SSI checks are not used for the son! I would recommend reporting this fraud.
How can a married couple,
How can a married couple, that live together, report different addresses to the SSA just to receive Medicaid and possibly others free benefits and get away with it?
In reply to How can a married couple, by Kathy Knox (not verified)
Hi Kathy,
Hi Kathy,
That may be fraud, and you can report it here:
http://oig.ssa.gov/report
If someone is living mostly
If someone is living mostly in Puerto Rico and only coming back to the states for a month and then goes back to PR and they are collecting SSD is this fraud?
In reply to If someone is living mostly by Maureen Hensling (not verified)
Hi Maureen,
Hi Maureen,
This may not be fraud as Puerto Rico is a territory of the United States, and as such its citizens may be eligible for SSDI or SSI benefits.
I have a cousin who has been
I have a cousin who has been collecting social security for years. She bakes professional cakes, works at a nail salon and takes care of the elderly all for money under the table. Drives a brand new car and new house, yet tells the government she is mentally retarded. All of her business ventures are all over her social media, while hard working tax payers have to struggle just to put food on the table. How can I report her if I do not know her social security number?
In reply to I have a cousin who has been by Fresh (not verified)
Hi Fresh,
Hi Fresh,
You may be able to send the information to the SSA here:
Social Security Fraud Hotline
P.O. Box 17768
Baltimore, Maryland 21235
I have long suspected that
I have long suspected that this woman was quite capable of working. For over 25 years now, she has abused the system. When she was let go from her job, she was given $30,000. She did not work. Instead, she tried to get pregnant for a married man. She then went to a fertility doctor and did get pregnant. She had told the man she had been taking the pill. He stopped seeing her immediately. She began receiving assistance. She rented an apt. on 19th St. that she could not afford. After 3 months of non-payment, the landlord was throwing her out. (She asked me to take out a 2nd mortgage and "lend" her $9000)! She eventually got a doctor to claim that she had some ailment (it changes every time I asked) because of a tear when she gave birth. When I questioned that--lots of women work after getting a "tear". She told me that she had to go to the bathroom constantly.
Strange, because I took her to lunch, dinner, and she would be eating and chatting for hours, and not have to go to the bathroom.
I am studying, doing research and traveling now. She knows enough to hack my FaceBook, and then my computer. I had asked her before why she did not get a job on the Internet, with such great skills. She said that her disability payments would stop.
I am now in South America. How might I report this person, who also began to get rent paid yearly by the child's father for over ten years, and still.
Thank you.
C. Giefer
In reply to I have long suspected that by C. Giefer (not verified)
Hi there,
Hi there,
You can file a report with the SSA here:
http://oig.ssa.gov/report
We moved our step son in w/
We moved our step son in w/ us in June b/c his mother went to jail. We just found out the grandmother has been receiving SSI for my stepson since then. We have him in a different state & have not received any of the money or anything for my stepson. We are in the process of getting the ssi money switched to us but we were told that could take up to 3 more weeks. What happens to all the months that went by where the grandmother was spending the disability money on herself & not the child? Even when he lived up there they did not have him in special programs or counseling. Doesn't that money need to be accounted for? And how will we prove that she hasn't sent any of the money down for the child?
In reply to We moved our step son in w/ by Deana P. (not verified)
Hi Deana,
Hi Deana,
The SSA may pursue the grandmother for any monies they have determined were made in error to the grandmother. You can send the SSA that information here:
http://oig.ssa.gov/report
I just saw someone answer
I just saw someone answer that a report cannot be anonymous because a SS# is required of the person reporting. This is not true. I was just on the online report form and it allows 3 options for filing status. If anonymous is selected then you can forgo all of your personal information. However, should the investigation require more information they are unable to make contact. Resulting potentially in loss of ability to provide adequate evidence.
In reply to I just saw someone answer by Marianna Gordon (not verified)
Hi Marianna,
Hi Marianna,
Thanks for sharing! It's true, there's no need to fear reporting as you can do it entirely anonymously!
I have not necessarily a
I have not necessarily a question but a scenario:
Subject: female
Age: 53
Diagnosis: brain tumor
Secondary: seizures
Intermittent disorientation
memory loss
chronic fatigue
Status: receives disability
Care giver: her son receives a salary compensation
Not sure what her care planned activity level is. What I do know is her care giver did live in the house but did nothing. He then moved out approx a yr and a half ago. He would visit once a week or less. He does not wash one dish mop one floor or drive her anywhere. She does not have a license to drive but drives herself everywhere.
I have been staying in her home for approx 5 months.
So I originally did things around the house to be helpful until I discovered someone was paid to do that (her son).
I don't know exactly what sort of agreement they have but I do know she takes a good sum of his earnings.
I have told her she is committing fraud, possibly embezzlement, and falsifying documents. She actually clocks him and out via her cell phone whether he is here or not .
In reply to I have not necessarily a by anonymous (not verified)
Hi There,
Hi There,
If a person is not providing the services that they are getting paid to provide, that may be fraud. You can report that to the SSA here:
http://oig.ssa.gov/report
What if the person is
What if the person is disabled but still sends the money to another country?
In reply to What if the person is by Bobbie (not verified)
Hi Bobbie,
Hi Bobbie,
That may not be fraud unless that person was obtaining that money by misrepresenting their condition to the SSA.
I know someone who has
I know someone who has collected for over 35 years and while she did lose her leg in a motorcycle accident 35 years ago, she still rides the motorcycle, she does all her own yard and construction work, she inherited over a million dollars from her mother and she runs a lucrative business under the table. SHE IS NOT in pain, she dos NOT take meds, she is not inn a wheel chair, she has a fake leg she wears every day and she is more active than most people with 2 legs. She has everything for free! How do i know? I lived with the person for 15 years! Miss MONEY BAGS! FREE EVERYTHING!!! ! I want to report this person so bad, she gets 30 grand a year from the government yet has a million dollar inheritance!! Plus she lives on 5 acres and grows pot!!
In reply to I know someone who has by Pipa (not verified)
hi Pipa,
hi Pipa,
You can send a report to the SSA here:
Social Security Fraud Hotline
P.O. Box 17768
Baltimore, Maryland 21235
What if someone has one job
What if someone has one job and has another and the same hours of the day? Neither job knows that she has another one
In reply to What if someone has one job by Chris420 (not verified)
Hi Chris,
Hi Chris,
Unless this person is also receiving disability benefits, they may not be committing any type of fraud depending on what type of jobs this person holds.
So if a mother is receiving
So if a mother is receiving child support with her child's name under one last name but receives medicaid, food stamps and ssi disability under a different last name, is this considered fraud?
In reply to So if a mother is receiving by Sunny (not verified)
Hi Sunny,
Hi Sunny,
This may not be fraud unless the mother was doing so in order to obtain money that she was not eligible for.
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