Is Social Security Spying On Me?

If you have applied for Social Security Disability benefits, or if you’ve been receiving Social Security disability benefits for some time, you may be wondering if Social Security ever spies on people. My name is Kaitlin Wildoner, and I’m an attorney who helps disabled clients obtain their Social Security disability benefits as quickly as possible, so they can focus on getting better. Today we’re going to talk about whether or not it’s likely that Social Security is spying on you.

Social Security Does Conduct Surveillance

First, Social Security does conduct surveillance, but it is expensive, and therefore the surveillance is often conducted on individuals who are already receiving benefits. If Social Security believes for some reason that you may be committing fraud and receiving Social Security benefits while not fully disabled, they may try to conduct surveillance to confirm or refute their belief.

I have had continuing disability review cases come to me where Social Security did conduct surveillance. Something as simple as going to the grocery store, Social Security was looking to see how did the claimant pay. The Claimant paid with cash, they were able to make good change, and that was caused Social Security to pull their case for further review.

While Social Security does not often conduct surveillance on those who are applying or going through the initial appeals process, it’s important to remember that honesty is always the best policy. Don’t be dishonest to the Social Security Administration or to your doctors in hopes of obtaining disability benefits! Something like that could be considered fraud, and it may not only result in you not receiving disability benefits, but in having a criminal action come your way. It is never worth being dishonest to Social Security or being afraid of surveillance.

Similarly, don’t perform any activities that you have a hard time doing or the doctors have told you not to do as you don’t wanna injure yourself. If you’re worried that Social Security is going to see you lift that 40-pound bag of salt from the car into your home because your doctor has told you not to do it, don’t do it.

Social Security does conduct surveillance but it tends to be on claimants who are already receiving benefits. However, honesty is always the best policy! Do not lie to Social Security or your doctors in an attempt to obtain or continue receiving Social Security disability benefits.

Social Security Disability Lawyer

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