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Routine Reviews by SSA Could Have Prevented Fraud

Taking money from the Social Security Administration is apparently not uncommon these days, but most people who commit fraud lie to the SSA about details of their case. They typically fail to mention income from a job, or overstate the extent of their disabilities. However, in some cases, those committing fraud use their family members to get money.

A 67-year-old New Hampshire mother was recently sentenced for accepting almost $50,000 for her disabled son, according to Concord Monitor. Normally, if he was under her care and she was his representative payee, the Social Security disability benefits could be managed by her. However, the issue is that he was not even living with her at the time.

Instead, her son was being taken care of by the state's social services. Clearly, his mother was not spending any of his money on him, which she should have told the SSA. The fraud on the SSA and taxpayers was committed from 2001 to 2008.

A conviction for SSA fraud typically carries a fine of about a quarter of a million dollars, along with up to a decade in prison. However, due to a plea agreement, she will only repay the money she took. She was also sentenced to home confinement for six months. She will likely have to construct a payment plan to pay back the money in installments. It appears unknown whether she has a job currently, and how she will pay back the money without the ability to leave her house for six months.

The mother is clearly at fault here for not notifying the SSA that her son no longer lived with her, but it is rather surprising that the SSA did not notice this case for seven years. A Continuing Disability Review is typical for anyone after a few years. The SSA performing such a routine check in this particular case may have prevented this woman from getting away with fraud for so many years.

If you or your loved one are suffering from a severe physical or mental disability, you should contact a Social Security Disability lawyer immediately to learn about your rights and determine eligibility. The process of securing Social Security Disability Insurance benefits and/or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) can be difficult and overwhelming. Don't go it alone! The disability lawyers at LaVan & Neidenberg, located in Ft. Lauderdale, FL understand the inner workings of the Social Security Administration and will help you navigate the system. Call us today for a FREE legal consultation - 1-888-234-5758.