Numerous Arrests Made in Alleged SSDI Fraud Scheme

Numerous media outlets, including the New York Times and Wall Street Journal, are reporting that 106 arrests are being made mostly in the New York City area related to an alleged scheme to fraudulently obtain Social Security disability benefits.  Arrests include 102 disability beneficiaries and four others: a lawyer, a disability consultant, and two "recruiters".

Most of the disability beneficiaries arrested are retired New York Police and Fire Department employees. According to prosecutors, the 102 individuals received approximately $21.4 million in Social Security disability benefits.

Another wave of arrests may be coming soon according to the assistant district attorneys involved:

"Based on evidence gathered by the SSA Inspector General and the Manhattan district attorney’s office, we estimate that over the 26 years of the charged scheme, fraudulent claims were filed with respect to as many as 1,000 individuals totaling as much as $400 million in benefits received”