Social Security Fraud – What’s the Chance it Could Happen to You?
Social Security will pay out about $1.6 trillion in benefits this year. The department works hard to ensure that money is paid properly to qualified recipients, but fraud does happen. According to an article by FingerLakes1.com, “less than 1 percent of all payments are classified as improper, and most of those are due to administrative errors or outdated income reporting.”
To help cut down on fraud, the Social Security Administration (SSA) introduced new fraud prevention measures this year, including enhanced screening and data privacy protections.
The article points out that Social Security recipients also play a role in reducing fraud. To help protect yourself, you should not give out your Social Security number or banking details to unsolicited callers. If you receive a suspicious message seeking your personal information, you should report it to the SSA’s Office of the Inspector General.
The Seniors Trust is committed to helping protect Social Security, and that includes providing important information to seniors on how to prevent fraud. We also want to see Congress pass the Social Security Expansion Act. It will give retirees an immediate benefits increase of about $200 a month, a fair annual cost-of-living adjustment (COLA), increased minimum benefits, and ensure the long-term solvency of the Social Security program.
