Social Security OIG

What is the Social Security IG

The Office of the Inspector General (OIG) at the Social Security Administration (SSA) was established on March 31, 1995, pursuant to the Social Security Independence and Program Improvements Act of 1994.

The OIG has the following responsibilities:

Oversee the economy, efficiency, and effectiveness of the administration of SSA programs.
Prevent and detect fraud, waste, and abuse in SSA programs and operations.
Inform SSA and Congress about agency problems and deficiencies and recommend corrective action.

What Social Security OIG Investigates

The Social Security Administration OIG’s Office of Investigations is responsible for evaluating and taking appropriate investigative action on allegations of fraud and misconduct in SSA’s benefit programs and agency operations Social Security OIG investigates a variety of situations that may be considered fraud.
Examples include when an individual:

Conceals work activity while receiving disability benefits; 
receives Social Security Benefits for a child not under their care;
Fails to notify SSA of the death of a beneficiary and continues to receive and cash the checks of the deceased;
Conceals their marriage or assets from the Social Security Administration while receiving Supplemental Security Income payments,;
Resides overseas and is receiving Supplemental Security Income Payment.

Authority SSA OIG Special Agents

Social Security Administration OIG special agents were given statutory law enforcement authority under the Homeland Security Act of 2002,
as part of the Congress’ efforts, in the wake of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, to strengthen Federal agencies’ ability to investigate crimes under their jurisdiction have and been granted Federal law enforcement authority to conduct criminal investigations
—including the authority to make arrests, obtain and execute search warrants, and carry firearms.