Apr 14, 2007

But Is It Fraud?

From WZZW13 in Grand Rapids, MI:
Dozens of people are facing misdemeanor fraud charges after cashing too many Social Security checks. They are accused of obtaining money under false pretenses. It's all part of a crackdown by the Social Security Administration. ...

In Dipippo's case [she is one of those accused], when she didn't receive her monthly disability check, she asked for a new one. When it came in the mail, she cashed it. Soon after that, another one showed up. "I got in trouble for cashing both", says Dipippo.

The Social Security Administration has been cracking down on what they call "double check negotiations". It started with an audit by The Office of the Inspector General.
Are they going to be able to get criminal convictions without proving that these people were lying when they said their check had not arrived?

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

If it wasn't about the time they should receive their check, they should know better. If it was about the time, Social Security should be sure to make certain that it is noticeable the check is for a certain month if they are not doing so already.

To point out, Social Security would know she cashed both and should just take the amount from her next check. I don't think you can go criminal on something that can be prevented from being a crime.

Anonymous said...

the people who they are prosecuting are habitual double check negotitors. so its people are very familar with overpayments and still abuse the system.