I have helped clients call Social Security before. My guess is he pushed the wrong number on the options and got the disability claim department instead of the retirement claim department. Their phone system is maddening!

Last spring I switched my SS claim from survivor benefits on my deceased husband's account to claiming on my own account. I was notified by SS that I could now get more $ on my own account than his and I was able to do it all via the phone. It all went through fine, but a couple of weeks later I was told via mail that my application for SSI disability had been denied. I'd never applied for it, so just figured it was a snafu and ignored the notice.

I'll bet these are just instances of fumble fingers. Scam is a harsh word for what's more likely to be some level of normal bureaucratic bumbling by government employees.

Thanks Olychick. I know little about SS dealings but I do hear about all kinds of abuse to and within the system, not to mention Identity fraud...just checking with those with more experience on the subject re: possibility of scam.

Unfortunately, I wouldn't be surprised to find SS own employees are routinely submiiting disability claims and scamming them for awhile...

That's quite an allegation. Routinely submitting fraudlent clams?

Let's just think a moment what might be needed - false medical records and a phony doctor's report of the individual's health status, maybe falsified workers' comp files, false employment records, an in-person interview (how would you fake that), probably false tax returns, and lots more.

Do you have any basis for what you said or did you just make it up?

281-819-347 six

this was the phone from which DH got a call offering to help w/his disability claim. As stated previously, he didn't and has never initiated a claim but the disturbing part to us is that he WAS in conversations w/SS and WAS expecting a call from them.

when I googled number, there were many implications it was a bogus voip number. I called it and instead of saying it was SS, it said it was customer service. Looks like a scam, sounds like a scam, it is a scam. Just wished we knew how it picked on DH's dealings?

No Elmer I don't have any support other than the system's own allegations that there is a lot of fraud.... from what I read in the papers doctors offices appear to be among some of the worst offenders... unless they are recording the in person interviews there's no reason to believe that they actually occur.

Sorry, but I have work in the law for a long time and I am here to tell you there are many many many many many crooked people out there.

Anytime the government makes money available for any purpose whatsoever there is someone out there who will legitimately figure out how to access that pool of money, but there are also just as many people out there who will try to figure out how to illegitimately access that pool of money. That is why the current trend towards deregulation will be such a problem for all of us.

Potential scams from agencies that would instantly screw up your life... like SS or IRS... should be required to have periodic PSAs on radio and TV. Even something as simpple as... "This is a reminder that SS/IRS will NEVER call you."

"Sorry, but I have work in the law for a long time"

Then you should know better than to make up comments like that and spread them as if there were some basis or source to what you say other than your own imagination.

klseiverd, when DH attempted to get thru to SS, he was given an option to make a "telephone date" with them, and he chose the option. So he was expecting a call to discuss his biz, which was not disability. I think the DO make phone calls.

OMG!!!

DH made a follow up call to SS and lucky for him he got a lady that explained that his paperwork was deemed incomplete therefore set aside. She went over the paperwork line by line to determine what was missing, resolved it, and he will get WRITTEN follow up.

She couldn't explain who/how strangers got in the middle of this.

note to scammers: please don't mess around with piddly SS business and instead focus your talents on finding cancer cure.

I did all my application for SS this last time via phone. They set up a phone appt with me and THEY CALLED ME!

I had called them in response to a letter I got, waited a really long time on hold- like 45 min or longer to talk to someone, who actually couldn't help me; her only job was to make a phone appointment for someone to call me back who could help me. I had to wait weeks to get a phone appt because they make so many phone calls!

Social Security DOES make phone calls! I think what you mean is they don't initiate things the first time, via phone. You won't get a cold call from SS asking for something about your account. But they most definitely will conduct business with you via phone and they will call you!

I was told I could also go for an in person appt at my local office, but if I remember correctly, she couldn't make me an appt there, only for a phone appt. If I wanted in-person, I had to stop by the office and make one myself.

This all happened within the last 6 months. I think your woman just works in another division and not the phone appointment department and maybe is unaware that

SS does make phone calls to you!

Olychick I have deleted certain parts of my posting to avoid further confusion. You are correct

there is somebody that makes phone appts and an appt was made for DH except his paperwork wasn't right and they just set aside and didn't bother to call. The appt s/h taken place 2 weeks after making request. He waited 3 days beyond that and decided to follow up today

I think you are also right that SS does not initiate any contact by phone so beware of any such calls.