Social Security disability fraud costs taxpayers money. If you suspect SSDI or SSI fraud, you can report it anonymously online or over the phone.
Written and Edited by Lawyers
All articles on DisabilitySecrets.com have been written or edited and fact-checked by our in-house attorney editors, who together have over 35 years of experience practicing and covering disability law. Learn more about our team and our editorial standards.
Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) disability benefits are important safety nets that ensure you have some income if you become disabled and can’t work. Unfortunately, they can provide an opportunity for dishonest people to take advantage of the system. Anyone who intentionally gives false information for the purpose of receiving benefits is committing fraud.
Disability fraud is illegal and hurts the people who the system is designed to help. If you suspect that someone is fraudulently receiving SSDI or SSI benefits, you can take action to report it anonymously to Social Security. Here’s what you need to know to recognize and report Social Security disability fraud.
Recognizing SSDI or SSI Fraud
Any time someone knowingly misrepresents or omits facts to fool Social Security and get SSDI or SSI benefits, it’s considered fraud or a similar fault to fraud. (42 U.S.C. §408, §1383a (2026).) Social Security disability fraud can take several forms. Examples include:
- Making false statements. Fraud can simply be making a false statement on the disability application, like saying you’re married when you’re not, or lying about a source of income.
- Using falsified documents. Fraud includes using a fake document or one that’s been altered, like a Social Security card that isn’t yours, or changing the information on a doctor’s report.
- Concealing information. Not reporting required information is another form of fraud. Anything that might affect your eligibility for benefits must be reported to Social Security, including when you move, you get married, your living arrangements change, you start working, your medical condition improves, or the Social Security beneficiary dies.
- Misuse of benefits by representative payee. Social Security may appoint a representative payee to make sure that a disabled person’s SSDI or SSI benefits are used for that person’s needs. Any other use of the disability benefits is considered fraud.
It’s important that you are sure that disability fraud is occurring in order to avoid making false accusations (which can result in criminal and civil penalties). Before you file a fraud report, you’ll want to have enough information about the person’s situation to know that they’re receiving benefits fraudulently.
Remember, physical disabilities aren’t always visually obvious (and not all disabilities are physical). People with mental illnesses and cognitive impairments can legally collect disability benefits, even if they seem fine on the outside. This means it can be hard to really know if a person is disabled. Furthermore, people who receive SSDI or SSI are allowed to work up to a certain amount, so just because you know that someone is working or collecting a paycheck doesn't necessarily mean they're committing disability fraud.
How to Report SSDI or SSI Fraud Anonymously
If you have enough facts and you’re confident that someone you know is committing SSDI or SSI fraud, you can file a report with the Office of the Inspector General (OIG).
Where to Report Social Security Fraud
You can contact OIG to report suspected disability fraud by using Social Security's online form for fraud reporting. You can also call the fraud hotline at 800-269-0271 (TTY 866-501-2101), fax your report to 410-597-0118, or write a letter and mail it to the Social Security Fraud Hotline, Office of the Inspector General, PO Box 17785, Baltimore, MD 21235.
Information You Need to Report Social Security Fraud
When making the report, give as many details as you can, especially the name of the person committing fraud and, if you know it, that person’s address, phone number, birthdate, and Social Security number.
Be prepared to explain what makes you think the person is committing fraud or falsely claiming benefits, a general timeline of the fraud (if you’re aware of it), and the names of other people who might also be aware of the fraud.
Pros and Cons of Reporting Fraud Anonymously
When you report suspected Social Security fraud, you have the option to request anonymity. You can also ask for confidentiality, which places restrictions on how Social Security and OIG can use your contact information.
To keep your identity confidential, you must provide your name and contact information to Social Security. And you give permission for an OIG analyst or investigator to contact you if additional information is needed. But Social Security won’t share anything that would identify you unless compelled to do so by law (court order or subpoena).
If you wish to remain completely anonymous, you don’t have to give Social Security your name or contact information. If you do this, no one will know you filed the fraud accusation, but investigators won’t be able to contact you if more information is needed to complete the investigation.
What Happens When You Report Someone for Social Security Fraud?
Social Security takes all allegations of disability fraud seriously. No matter which method you use to report your suspicions, OIG will log and review your fraud report. Based on the information you provide, the agency will take appropriate action, which could include any of the following:
- opening a case
- trying to obtain more information
- referring the matter to Social Security
- referring the case to another federal agency, or
- closing the allegation (with or without further investigation).
There’s no exact timeline for how long it takes OIG to complete an investigation. Cases where the allegation clearly has no merit can be closed quickly, while more complex cases can take months or even years. Any fraud allegation could also result in audits, reviews, or investigations on a broader scale—meaning OIG could look into Social Security processes or the actions of certain personnel, adding more time to the process.
Penalties for SSDI or SSI Fraud
Social Security card fraud and disability fraud carry severe penalties, including both civil and criminal punishment. Someone convicted of a felony for defrauding Social Security could face penalties of up to $250,000 in fines and five years of prison time. (18 U.S.C. §3571, 42 U.S.C. §408 (2026).) In addition to these criminal penalties, someone found guilty of fraud can be sued in civil court, which could result in more fines or having a professional license suspended.
These penalties can add up. If you know you’re not eligible for Social Security disability, each false statement you make by signing a form or statement could result in a fine of up to $5,000. Make ten such false statements, and you could face up to $50,000 in fines. Because there’s so much at stake, if you’re accused of disability fraud or your application for SSDI or SSI was denied because Social Security says your statements weren’t credible, consider contacting a disability lawyer right away.
