Disability fraud is a major problem world wide. There are millions of people receiving disability assistance from social security, insurance companies, and other institutions all around the world. When the allure of easy money comes around, criminals are never too far behind. Disability fraud can be extremely difficult to detect. Just because someone is able to walk around, drive a car, and perform other daily tasks doesn’t necessarily mean that they aren’t disabled and legally entitled to disability benefits. One of the main reasons that disability can be so hard to detect is because of the wide variety of legitimate medical conditions that aren’t immediately recognizable to other people who aren’t aware of the specific medical condition that the disability beneficiary may have. These types of disabilities are known as “invisible disabilities”.
Some common forms of invisible disabilities are:
- Chronic Fatigue: This type of disability refers to an individual who constantly feels tired. This can be extremely debilitating and affect every aspect of a persons every day life.
- Chronic Dizziness: Often associated with problems of the inner ear, chronic dizziness can lead to impairment when walking, driving, working, sleeping, and other common tasks.
- Chronic Pain: A variety of conditions may cause chronic pain. A few of those reasons may be back problems, bone disease, physical injuries, and any number of other reasons. Chronic pain may not be noticeable to people who do not understand the victims specific medical condition.
- Mental Illness: There are many mental illnesses that do qualify for disability benefits. Some examples are depression, attention deficit disorder, schizophrenia, agoraphobia, and many others. These diseases can also be completely debilitating to the victim, and can make performing everyday tasks extremely difficult, if not impossible.
Many people believe that the term “disability” only applies to people who use a walker or a wheelchair. As I mentioned above, this is simply not the case. In fact, in a 1994-1995 survey, it was found that while roughly 26 million Americans qualified for severe disabilities, however only 1.8 million Americans needed to use a wheelchair or a walker. This means that the vast majority of disability cases are invisible disabilities. This is what makes tracking down and defending against fraud so difficult. Let’s take a look at some of the more common types of disability fraud:
- Faking An Injury Or An Illness: The most common type of disability fraud, but it’s extremely difficult to detect. Phantom pains and other disabilities can easily be faked, and there isn’t much a doctor can do to prove that the condition doesn’t actually exist.
- Working While On Disability: While many people who suffer from disabilities do hold legitimate jobs, there are many people who collect disability benefits, and still perform the exact same job that they’re receiving benefits for supposedly not being able to do.
- Continuing To Collect Disability Payments After The Condition Is Remedied: Another extremely common form of disability fraud, The patient heals, but continues to collect benefits illegally.
For the reasons stated above, disability fraud can be an extremely difficult crime to combat against. Advances in medical and computer technologies have made combating fraud more effective, but it’s still a very difficult form of fraud to enforce against. Disability fraud is damaging to taxpayers, people with legitimate disabilities, as well as the world economy.
One of the best weapons that Governments have in combating disability fraud are average citizens who file a report when they believe that fraud is occurring. This still isn’t a great system though, since most people aren’t going to know exactly what disability the accused offender has or how it affects them. In order to be vigilant, if you think someone who is receiving disability benefits may be collecting those benefits fraudulently, then you should carefully consider what condition they may be receiving benefits for before filing a report.
December 18th, 2008 at 11:36 am
I don’t know if I should applaude your artical, or burn it. I currently recieve SSD/SSI. I wish I did not have to. I used to work VERY HARD, and wish I still could.
None of my disabilites are appearent, nor are any of them ALONE, enough to have made me quit working. Even when I did qualify and was put on disability originally, I did not stay on it, but found a way to go back to work.
The end result of all my effort was this:
After going to school for retraing (at my OWN expense), completeing an UN-PAID 6 month OJT, finding a job, completeing the probationary term of my new job and qualifieing for my benifit package, I was refused payment for treatment by my “New” Medical Carrier, for my “pre-exsisting condition.”
So there I was, making $2500 a month, and needing almost $4000 a month to pay for Doctors and Pills!
But I had worked too hard to give in so easy. I kept working. I quit going to the doctor because I couldn’t afford to go.
That was 7 years ago.
Today I am back on disability, and on my way out, but do not feel sorry for me, as it was a good run. Maybe, had I kept going to the Doc, I may have had a few more years, I will never know.
Your artical fails to mention that it is possible to work and be on SSI, legally! There are programs,(Ticket to Work, for one) to help folks with gaining employment AND KEEPING their dis-ability status.
Your artical reads like everybody on SSD/SSI lives “high on the hog”. Let me explain the facts:
I used to make over $1000 a week as a mechanic.
I had cars, motorcycles, a sailboat,a house, pretty much the “American Dream”.
Then, DUE TO CHEMICALS USED IN MY INDUSTRY, I got sick.
Now I live/exsist on $637 a month. If it wasn’t for my sister, I would be homeless.
I went back on disability so I could see a Doctor. Period. Thats it. It wasn’t for the money, believe me. There ain’t no money to be made by going on disability!
I think you should concentrate on teaching people how to protect themselves from the “preditors” that are out to steal them blind, rather than picking on people, who, for some reason, that you can’t see, “seem” to have it easier than yourself!
The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence. Until someone opens the gate………..
January 3rd, 2009 at 3:22 pm
Keith I don’t think you understand that it is okay to collect social security welfare if you really need it.
I think this article is targeting the thousands if not millions of crooks who abuse the system.
I know of a gentleman who has been on social security welfare his whole life, initially qualifying due to alcholism. When the rules were changed he found a way to stay on by feigning mental illness.
The state of Caifornia sent him to school for 6 years to study law and he specialized in social security law.
He inherited 750,000 and legally deferred that money so that he continues to live off of social security welfare and his inheritance and its all legal.
These are the people who we need to take a good look at and believe me their are plenty. I am a social worker and see abuse that is unbelievable.
Lets help the people like you and take the blood suckers out of the system!
March 3rd, 2009 at 8:58 pm
I’am sick of people and their kids laying around on SSI while i’m out working to pay for it. I realize that some people truly need help out there ,but these people out there who are on SSI and have four to five kids that are on SSI is a joke. They are just using the system to get bigger checks. That’s why i now have to work until i’m 70 for retirement. Also, i have to pay school taxes for their kids, because i own and they don’t which means they don’t have to pay school taxes. I don’t even have kids so, why should i have to pay their tax .Our gov’t has some things backwards. They have the kids let them pay for them. I know a lot of people who are on SSI that are suppose to have bad backs,but yet they can climb roofs and carrying shingels up a ladder. I’ve even seen women with bad backs climbing ladders washing down walls and ceilings,and running around fair grounds like nothing is wrong at all. If they can do this at home they can get up off of their butts and get a real job and quit frauding our system. Those of us who do work, would like to have some money in social security when we get there. Quit using your kids like a big welfare check and get out there and have some pride and support them. Stop expecting those of us who work, to take care of your families. I really don’t know how you people can live with yourselves. Those of you who truly deserve SSI may GOD bless you,and nine times out of ten it’s because, you did work and paid into our system in your life time.
April 2nd, 2009 at 4:40 am
Kellie, I hear you. I have a bad back, I’ve had five spinal surgeries and they failed, I now have to use a wheelchair to get around, and I take opiates for the pain. I’m on SSDI, and I am grateful to the taxpayers for helping me. I’m in my late fifties as well, and only been on SSDI for five years. It kills me that people will see my handicapped placard and ask what’s wrong with me, and when I tell them, they say, oh, yeah, I have a bad back too, and I get SSDI… but they are walking around, picking up their kids, climbing the ladders, ect. You know “OctoMom” Nadia Sulyman? She gets SSDI for three of her first six kids, one is autistic, so I can see that, but the other two… one gets it for a SPEECH impediment! I haven’t found out why the other child gets it, but I’m sure it’s for something minor. And who knows what’s wrong with the eight kids she had premature… Cerebral Palsy is rampant in multiple births. Oh, and no matter how much she makes, she will still get SSDI for those kids… always. Your income doesn’t count against your minor children’s check.
For all of you taxpayers… thank you. Please know I spend my check on rent and food, not beer, drugs and cigarettes. Both of my children work for a living, and I only had the two… no way would I have child after child and suck off the welfare teet. Oh, and if I suspect someone is playing the system, I take names and report them. I hate being lumped in with the welfare/SSDI cheats.
Bless you all.
April 5th, 2009 at 5:38 am
I’m at a level of frustration that I don’t think I’ve ever experienced before! I know that the SSDI was meant to be a meritable program designed to help people that for sound reason could not work for a living. I would never want to deny anyone the benefit of a warm home or good food on their table if they are legitimately unable to provide for themselves either physically or mentally. Especially those that have been hard working, tax paying citizens in the past. BUT when I witness women with multiple children, all with different men, sit on their ass and collect a check monthly drawn from the taxes and SSI that I contribute to on a weekly basis,money that work hard to earn, it boils my blood.
THEN there are the others that draw the same kind of benefits, find work under the table and never pay a dime to the goverment on that extra income or contribute it to the SSI that they are robbing. How ironic!
From this day forward I am, one person at a time, using all my knowledge and resources to turn these people in. I shouldn’t have to use what little free time I have running these people down, the goverment should be doing this, but it has to start somewhere. Maybe if all hard working Americans turned in one theif at a time we could get this country free of all that burden our financial situation and get their asses back to work, contributing to the tax system and stop them from free loading.
April 24th, 2009 at 10:14 am
Some people are too lazy too work and as long as their is a free paycheck there is no incentive to. My brother lost his leg in a horrific accident and almost died and still works 45 hours per week. I see people in my neighborhood that don’t work because of a supposed injury and then i see them out drinking and going to movies. Soon the gravy train will be over as the depression accelerates. My prediction is 20 million will be out of work by the end of 2009. the government is a joke and is full of crooks as is the banking system. Unless major reform doesn’t occur society will be in for a new paradigm shift.
May 1st, 2009 at 10:44 am
I have a brother-in-law who collects SSDI for Fibromyalgia. I know for a fact that he works part time as a martial arts instructor and paints houses on the side. It angers me that he is able to get away with this. My wife knows about it told me that if I report him she will never forgive me for what if would do to her sister and her kids. It really sucks.
May 2nd, 2009 at 2:12 pm
I too am sick and tired at watching all the SSI fauds. I have been sick as a dog for six years yet never did I ever consider filing for a disabilty. As long as I could force myself up and get out to work, I considered myself blessed to have that inner tenacity. However when one of my friends has a gorgeous home she lives in alone and in her sisters name along with a second home in her boyfriends name, a brand new 2009 car that she purchased CASH and put in her sisters name and has stocks in her sisters name. Well I get a angry feeling inside. Fact it is hard for me to stomach her anymore. She works for CASH under the table as a beautican in her big beautiful paid for home, collects disability and God knows what else, probably food stamps cause she never wants to go grocery shopping together. Hum! As I was saying FULL time runs the beauty salon out of her home. Did I tell you that she just had brand new carpet and kitchen redone. A huge deck was put on a few years ago.She entertains many people during the month for get togethers and socializing, with lots of food and drinks. Nice. She has weekly manicures, and wears lots of diamonds on her hands. I have NEVER seen anyone shop and buy so much stuff in my life ALWASYS PAYING CASH. Am I mad at what I see? Oh yes, do I turn her in. No, I will let God take care of her. Fact, I am done watching it, I am signing off on this plastic friendship. One more thing, she lies about everything to everyone. I am tired of the scam and the lies and need to move on. I have been feeling better myself and now is the time to make the move.
ChicagoBonnie
May 4th, 2009 at 3:41 pm
If you are able to work or not,and are currently collecting,please keep in mind and never forget this is not FREE MONEY from the gov.It is off the backs of “those” who can and will.Please respect this before attempting to file. THANK YOU FOR READING
May 4th, 2009 at 3:59 pm
Im a taxpayer with a story of someone who i feel is full of shit.However I am unable to prove it.WHAT I DO KNOW is this person is and has always been a drug addict alcoholic, and now that her body is “shutting down” from abuse and is unable to get it together she filed and won!!!!!! Now she partys on our dollar way to go gov.
May 29th, 2009 at 10:17 am
i know someone that has fibro supposely she sick all the time but for some reason is always out n partying and drinking she somkes weed n im pretty sure she does pills if she can do them things then she should work supposely she cant because of what she has i know people with the same thing and still works n plays sports n also what she has supposely makes u go to the bathroom alot will if u seen her she like 300 pounds i mean she may have it but not that bad for her not to work like i said if she can do the things she doin then she can work i think what she has is fibro lazyness i would like to file a complaint because she is frauding the goverment can someone please help
June 15th, 2009 at 5:03 pm
My cousin has been getting disability since the 1980’s. It is based on his claims to have a crippled left arm. I have grown tired of watching him lift furniture, do carpentry work and the latest kicker…he climbed a 20 foot ladder and using his crippled left arm, single handedly used a chainsaw to saw the limbs off the tree and chip away at it all day until there was nothing but a stump left. What’s funny is that most times he will wear his arm in a sling when he goes to the doctor. There is nothing wrong with him. He’s strong as an ox. He’s told me ways to scam the government, but trying to get someone in the government to listen is next to impossible.
June 24th, 2009 at 3:48 am
Disability fraud is so rampant that the program should be discontinued. But then again, I was never a fan of social security anyways. Of course, a democrat introduced this crap and forces us to invest in SS every paycheck. I would rather invest my own money as I see fit. Any real man doesn’t need the government to take care of him. A real man will take care of himself and his family. I’ve had enough of working my nads off just to see my earning go to those lazy a$$holes not willing to work no matter their health. What a joke.