Legal Question in Civil Litigation in Michigan

Mom Bribes Child To Lie for SSI Benefits

Since my divorce 7 years ago one of my sons has always wanted to live with me & gave his mom alot of trouble about it.I couldn't afford to fight for him in court. She had him put in a depression type unit of a hospital.Then applied for SSI for him & got it. He has now come to live with me & he is 14. He tells me she bribed him to say specific things in order to get the SSI & @ the yearly reviews. He has nothing, I mean nothing not even a bed & she has been receiving these benefits for him for at least 3 years. He got this label & has not benefited. What really disturbes me is that she paid him to lie in order to get & keep the SSI. Isn't that fraud? Can there be any action taken against her?


Asked on 1/09/03, 8:48 am

1 Answer from Attorneys

Thomas Weiss McClintic & Weiss, P.C.

Re: Mom Bribes Child To Lie for SSI Benefits

Hello, and thank you for visiting us.

Please refer to the following Social Security Administration Site: http://www.ssa.gov/oig/guidelin.htm

Here are some of their basics:

Reporting Fraud

The Social Security Administration (SSA), Office of the Inspector General (OIG), Fraud Hotline provides an avenue for reporting fraud, waste, and abuse within SSA's programs and operations. The Fraud Hotline receives allegations by telephone, regular mail, facsimile, and electronic mail. Allegations received at the Fraud Hotline are carefully reviewed to determine the most appropriate course of action.

The OIG is an independent law enforcement agency mandated to investigate fraud in SSA programs. Our specialists are trained to take reports regarding allegations of fraud, waste and abuse within Social Security programs and operations. We cannot assist you or intervene in applications for benefits currently pending before SSA. If you have been denied benefits you should use the appellate process provided with your denial notice for contesting that denial. The fact that you have been denied benefits is not the basis for a fraud allegation unless one of the criminal acts listed below is involved.

If you need to speak with someone regarding the denial of benefits, have questions regarding your Social Security Account, would like a replacement SSN card, or are seeking general information about Social Security programs, call (toll free) 1-800-772-1213 or visit their website at http://www.ssa.gov/reach.htm.

If you wish to report Medicare or Medicaid fraud, please contact the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General at 1-800-447-8477, or visit their website at http://oig.hhs.gov/hotline.html.

SSA OIG HOTLINE CONTACT INFORMATION

CALL: 1-800-269-0271

Hours of operation: 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time

MAIL: SSA FRAUD HOTLINE

PO BOX 17768

BALTIMORE, MD 21235

FAX: 410-597-0118

Read more
Answered on 1/09/03, 9:38 am


Related Questions & Answers

More General Civil Litigation questions and answers in Michigan