What You Need to Know About Understanding and Preventing Social Security Fraud
What is Social Security Fraud?
Social Security Fraud is defined as a nature of fraud that involves – or includes – the unlawful and illegal utilization of social security numbers or social security benefits; which may include the misrepresentation of assets, fraudulent collection of social security benefits, or the theft – and misuse – of a social security number:
What are Social Security Numbers?
An individual’s social security number, may serve as both a form of identification, as well as means of individual classification and identification undertaken by the United States Government, which illustrates individual employment and tax history.
What are Social Security Benefits?
Social Security Benefits are defined as monetary compensation that is granted to individuals as a result of disability, retirement, or the classification as an elderly member of society. Within each paycheck received by an individual employed within the United States, a certain amount of wages earned are withheld by the Department of Social Security of the United States.
Types of Social Security Fraud
Within the scope of Social Security Fraud, there exist a variety of methods in which fraudulent activity may take place; typically, the realm of Social Security Fraud is considered to include both the collection of social security benefits, as well as the unlawful or illicit use of social security numbers:
Identity Theft and Social Security Fraud
Social Security numbers are given to citizens of the United States who are both employed, as well as seeking employment within the United States. Social Security Fraud occur in the event that an individual or individual engages in the misuse of social security numbers; in many cases, this may exist as a prelude to identity theft or the misappropriation of benefits or monies – this may involve:
The distribution of social security numbers obtained in illegal and unlawful manners; this is considered to proliferate administrative-based fraud
The misuse of a social security number in order to misrepresent oneself; this may involve fraudulent employment or tax evasion
Administrative and Social Security Fraud
Within the scope of Social Security Fraud, a primary fraudulent activity will involve the misappropriation of social security benefits; these funds are apportioned for the presumed later use of the individual upon retirement – social security benefits may be available for both that individual, as well as to the dependents or relatives of the claimant. Social Security Fraud may take place in any of the following settings:
An individual who is ineligible to collect the social security benefits belonging to another individual engages in their collection; this may involve the awareness of the eligible recipient – furthermore, children are prohibited from collection social security benefits from individuals not named as their respective guardians
The collection of the social security benefits awarded to a deceased individual is considered to be social security fraud; any nature of monetary compensation mistakenly awarded to deceased individuals must be returned
The misrepresentation within an assets list or social security application is considered to be a form of social security fraud that takes place with regard to the application process for the prospective receipt of social security benefits
