Social Security Benefits Fraud 

People with severe medical conditions rely on Social Security Disability to sustain them financially when they’ve been out of work for a year or more. However, there are dishonest persons in the world who will lie about medical conditions and break the law. It’s a difficult process to detect Social Security fraud, but it’s important to protect the program’s integrity. You must remember, however, that trying to determine if someone is committing fraud can be challenging, so before you turn someone in for SSDI/SSI abuse, you should be absolutely sure. 

Discovering a Fake Disability 

If you believe that someone is receiving disability benefits by fraudulent means: 

• Determine why the individual receives benefits. If you don’t know, you’ll need to do some research to find out before making any accusations. 

• Some people receive SSDI/SSI for psychological and mental disorders, which can be hard to observe. These conditions cause disruption to their daily activities, but might not be obvious to onlookers. 
• You should understand that just because you talk to this person regularly, you may not be aware of the full ramifications of their impairment and the difficulties it causes in his or her daily life. 

Before thinking about how to turn someone in for Social Security fraud, you need to know if they are abusing the program. In order to do so, you would need to know them very well. Strong accusations can ruin a relationship and are not something you should enter into lightly. If you have doubts, don’t be scared to look into their actions and ask questions in order to discover the truth. If you still believe they are committing fraud, you should think about reporting them. 

How to Report Social Security Fraud 

• Start by calling the Social Security Fraud Hotline toll-free at (800) 269-9271. 

• Be sure that you know the person’s situation surrounding their disability. Working may add additional complications to their condition that you don’t normally see. Many people are on disability because they need to go to the doctor daily or weekly. Others have to take medication repeatedly throughout their day. Individuals suffering from mental or psychological conditions may appear normal despite a daily inner struggle. Before judging if someone is fraudulently collecting benefits, you should be completely aware of their situation. 
• Give the operator all of the facts, including the person’s Social Security Number, phone number, birth date, name, and address. Also, explain how you believe the person is committing fraud. 
• If you don’t know something for sure, leave it out. You can be penalized for making false accusations, so just stick with what you know. 
• You may also complete an online fraud reporting form if you aren’t comfortable making the call. 

The Social Security Disability system is a great benefit to people when it’s running properly. It helps individuals who aren’t able to work due to physical or mental suffering. Unfortunately, like most good things, it can be ruined by those who seek to abuse it through fraud. While it’s important to report fraudulent activity, it’s a serious accusation. Before reporting your suspicions, be sure you understand the person’s circumstances and take action only if you’re absolutely certain.