Frauds by SSI recipients
Posted: Wed Oct 30, 2013 3:03 pm
I had a theft by deception case a while back where a seller of a rarity had advertised it, sent me a contract with a copy his driver's license on it. He kept the rarity and basically thumbed his nose at the system. I hired an attorney, we got a judgment against him, as the court date approached he contacted my lawyer offering a lame $100 a month payback which I countered with a more just figure.
I received this advice from someone familiar with the SSI system and fraudsters on it:
"Social Security runs SSI. You can go into any branch or district office.
"SSI is a needs-based program. It is for the aged, disabled and blind who meet strict income and asset limitations. If a beneficiary receives any income, whether it is earned (wages) or unearned (gifts, donations, etc.), the income is used to recalculate his benefit rate for the calendar quarter in which it is received.
"$3500 is a chunk of change and my guess is that it is enough to reduce his entitlement for those three months to zero, or close to it. It's virtually certain he didn't report it to SSA. So he received his regular monthly benefits for that quarter year and shouldn't have. The result is an overpayment which SSA will attempt to recover.
"Additionally, he will have to prove to SSA how he disposed of the money. Because if he didn't then the money becomes an asset next quarter which might disqualify him depending on other assets he has and what the limit is.
"I have been away from this for a long time. And it is possible that some rules have changed. If you feel like it dig around to learn about today's income and asset limitations.
"SSA may ask you to make a written, sworn statement. On the spot (nothing you need to prepare in advance). Do it.
"This will be a little unusual because you didn't intend to give the guy free money. But that's what it turned into. If you get any flak from the service representative you talk to you could ask to speak to a supervisor. They're generally a lot brighter than the average service rep.
"Lastly, if you don't feel the report you're making is being handled properly (attitudes, scoffing, whatever) you can write a letter to SSA. They will be obligated to act on it, not just toss it in the trash. One SURE way to get action with this letter is to send it to your congressman and cc SSA. He or she will contact SSA and ask for an investigation. These are called "congressional inquiries" and are handled as a very high priority.
"The bummer is you may never know what, if anything, was done. Because of privacy laws (though your congressman will report back to you with something). Based on my experience from long ago, the guy is gonna hurt. I don't think SSA will waive the overpayment and if he cannot repay it outright they will reduce his benefits until it is recovered."
I contacted my Congressman on the case, but the SSI expert said it is outside of their scope. I went to the SS office with the documents to substantiate my case, and they said they handled cases of routine fraud like people stealing checks, but not civil cases. I did an online complaint against this joker, but don't know whether they take action with such filings. Is an SSI fraud filing any good in cases like this?
I received this advice from someone familiar with the SSI system and fraudsters on it:
"Social Security runs SSI. You can go into any branch or district office.
"SSI is a needs-based program. It is for the aged, disabled and blind who meet strict income and asset limitations. If a beneficiary receives any income, whether it is earned (wages) or unearned (gifts, donations, etc.), the income is used to recalculate his benefit rate for the calendar quarter in which it is received.
"$3500 is a chunk of change and my guess is that it is enough to reduce his entitlement for those three months to zero, or close to it. It's virtually certain he didn't report it to SSA. So he received his regular monthly benefits for that quarter year and shouldn't have. The result is an overpayment which SSA will attempt to recover.
"Additionally, he will have to prove to SSA how he disposed of the money. Because if he didn't then the money becomes an asset next quarter which might disqualify him depending on other assets he has and what the limit is.
"I have been away from this for a long time. And it is possible that some rules have changed. If you feel like it dig around to learn about today's income and asset limitations.
"SSA may ask you to make a written, sworn statement. On the spot (nothing you need to prepare in advance). Do it.
"This will be a little unusual because you didn't intend to give the guy free money. But that's what it turned into. If you get any flak from the service representative you talk to you could ask to speak to a supervisor. They're generally a lot brighter than the average service rep.
"Lastly, if you don't feel the report you're making is being handled properly (attitudes, scoffing, whatever) you can write a letter to SSA. They will be obligated to act on it, not just toss it in the trash. One SURE way to get action with this letter is to send it to your congressman and cc SSA. He or she will contact SSA and ask for an investigation. These are called "congressional inquiries" and are handled as a very high priority.
"The bummer is you may never know what, if anything, was done. Because of privacy laws (though your congressman will report back to you with something). Based on my experience from long ago, the guy is gonna hurt. I don't think SSA will waive the overpayment and if he cannot repay it outright they will reduce his benefits until it is recovered."
I contacted my Congressman on the case, but the SSI expert said it is outside of their scope. I went to the SS office with the documents to substantiate my case, and they said they handled cases of routine fraud like people stealing checks, but not civil cases. I did an online complaint against this joker, but don't know whether they take action with such filings. Is an SSI fraud filing any good in cases like this?