Unlike private insurance companies the SSA does not generally conduct surveillance investigations, but that doesn't mean that they can't or never will. Once you file a disability claim, the SSA looks for proof of your disability.
THE INVESTIGATOR MAY FOLLOW YOU
If you drive home or to a gas station or a store, they will follow you. Wherever you go after your doctor's appointment, they may be following you.
If improvement is possible, but can't be predicted, we'll review your case about every three years. If improvement is not expected, we'll review your case every seven years. Your initial award notice will tell you when you can expect your first medical review.
The SSA Generally Does Not Hire Private Investigators to Follow People. You may have heard some horror stories about how private disability insurance companies hire investigators to follow people around to make sure that they are really disabled. In other words, these insurers effectively spy on people.
Making Statements That Can Hurt Your Claim – Unless you are specifically asked pertinent questions, do not talk about alcohol or drug use, criminal history, family members getting disability or unemployment, or similar topics. However, if you are asked directly about any of those topics, answer them truthfully.
Clients often ask me why it is so hard for them to get Social Security benefits or SSI based on disability. The simple answer is that the system is strapped for cash. Since 2003, there has been a 29% increase in Americans with little or no work experience getting disability payments.
(2) SSA employees authorized to listen-in to or record telephone calls are permitted to annotate personal identifying information about the calls, such as a person's name, Social Security number, address and/or telephone number.
Indeed, it is a criminal offense to knowingly provide a fraudulent application to the Social Security Administration (SSA) for any type of disability benefits. If caught, you could face hefty fines of up to $250,000 and/or spend up to 5 years in jail.
The SSA Office of the Inspector General (OIG) is responsible for investigating possible fraud in the various SSA programs, including disability benefits. The OIG may investigate situations involving falsified medical records, misuse of SSDI benefits, impersonation of SSA personnel, and other illegal behavior.
WHAT IS A CONTINUING DISABILITY REVIEW? Social Security periodically reviews your medical impairment(s) to determine if you continue to have a disabling condition. If we determine that you are no longer disabled or blind, your benefits will stop. We call this review a continuing disability review (CDR).
Social Security rarely terminates disability benefits due to medical improvement, but you can lose your SSDI or SSI benefits because of other factors, like income. Although it's rare, there are circumstances under which the Social Security Administration (SSA) can end your disability benefits.
Pay Attention to Others' Actions
Private investigators typically stay one or two cars behind a subject's vehicle and they tend to keep their vehicle in your blind spot. Try making a U-turn to see if the vehicle follows you. Watch for someone following you on foot.
Also, some events can trigger a CDR. Examples include the completion of a vocational rehabilitation program, an SSI child's 18th birthday, when a baby turns one year old, and sometimes work-related income within the first 24 months of entitlement to SSD benefits.
As we explain in this blog post, SSI can check your bank accounts anywhere from every one year to six years, or when you experience certain life-changing experiences. The 2022 maximum amount of available financial resources for SSI eligibility remains at $2,000 for individuals and $3,000 for couples.
SSA receives information on employee wages from the employer on Form W-2 Wage and Tax Statement and Form W-3 Transmittal of Wage and Tax Statements, and on self-employment earnings from IRS data files derived from Schedule SE and the unreported wages and tips line item on Form 1040, U.S. Individual Income Tax Return.
Other penal provisions contained in the Social Security Act or in the Federal Criminal Code may also apply to offenses affecting the Social Security program. We will prosecute even if a fraudulent act is discovered before wrongful payments are made by the Government.
The Benefit Verification letter, sometimes called a "budget letter," a "benefits letter," a "proof of income letter," or a "proof of award letter," serves as proof of your retirement, disability, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), or Medicare benefits.
If you hear pulsating static, high-pitched humming, or other strange background noises when on voice calls, it may be a sign that your phone is being tapped. If you hear unusual sounds like beeping, clicking, or static when you're not on a call, that's another sign that your phone is tapped.
A tapped mobile phone consistently records your activities and conversations and sends them to a third party. This increases its battery usage, causing it to drain faster than usual.
According to one survey, multiple sclerosis and any type of cancer have the highest rate of approval at the initial stages of a disability application, hovering between 64-68%. Respiratory disorders and joint disease are second highest, at between 40-47%.
While you wait for disability benefits to be approved, consider seeking assistance through other local, state, and federal support programs. These may include: Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP) Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
While the DDS office reviews applications and makes recommendations to the SSA, it is the SSA which makes the final decision to accept or reject claims for disability benefits.