Social Security Disability Attorney Magann Notes Insurance Fraud Is On The Rise

Tampa, FL (Law Firm Newswire) November 20, 2013 – More than $128 billion flows through the country’s Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) system.

Incidences of fraud are inevitable, so the SSDI has hired a cadre of private investigators to catch the perpetrators.

“The increase in fraud and the ensuing investigations of any questionable claims has slowed the entire process down,” commented Tampa Social Security disability attorney David W. Magann. “For anyone going through the Social Security Disability Insurance system, it’s best to work with someone who can help guide them through that legal maze.”

The number of people receiving disability insurance topped nine million people in 2012, in part due to cuts in the welfare system, which pushed more individuals into the SSDI system. That surge of applicants, plus the weak U.S. economy, has ramped up the number of fraud cases the system has experienced. Officials are watching more people entering the system, and few people leaving. The system is on overload. While most claims are legitimate, fraud is an ongoing concern. A recent Senate investigation found that a solid 25 percent of claims were flawed and warranted further examination, though the issues regarding those claims were not necessarily fraud-based.

Additionally, disability claims have changed in the past twenty years. While the most common cases include what officials call “verifiable accidents” and “verifiable injuries,” such as injuries and amputations, there has been a rise in claims which are more difficult to prove, such as mental disorders and back injuries. Mental disorder claims, especially mood disorders, and back injury claims now make up almost 50 percent of the disability claims, processed by the Social Security Administration. While a vast majority of these claims may be perfectly valid, both mood disorders and back pain claims are the most difficult to disprove.

Identifying fraudulent disability claims is big business, and saves a significant amount for the system; if a claim is discovered to be fraudulent before benefits are issued, that identification can save the system tens of thousands of dollars. It is currently estimated that fraudulent claims exceed $20 billion every year. Investigators use a number of techniques, including audio and video surveillance, neighborhood research, background checks and financial forensics.

Learn more at http://www.floridasocialsecurity.com/ David W. Magann, P.A. Main Office: 156 West Robertson Street Brandon, FL 33511 Call: (813) 657-9175 Tampa Office: 18715 N Dale Mabry Hwy Lutz, FL 33548