Social Security News Release

Social Security and Inspector General Partner with State of Rhode Island to Dedicate Anti-Fraud Unit

Cooperative Effort among Federal, State Agencies to Prevent Disability Fraud

The Social Security Administration, its Office of the Inspector General (OIG), and the Rhode Island Attorney General today dedicated the Cooperative Disability Investigations (CDI) Unit in Providence. As part of the nationwide CDI Program, the Providence Unit identifies and prevents Social Security disability fraud throughout the State of Rhode Island

The CDI program is one of Social Security’s most successful anti-fraud initiatives, contributing to the integrity of Federal disability programs. CDI Units bring together personnel from Social Security, its OIG, State Disability Determination Services (DDS), and local law enforcement agencies to analyze and investigate suspicious or questionable Social Security disability claims, to help resolve questions of potential fraud before benefits are ever paid. CDI Unit efforts help disability examiners make informed decisions, ensure payment accuracy, and generate significant taxpayer savings, for both Federal and State programs.

“Social Security’s most successful collaboration with the OIG in the area of disability fraud investigation and prevention is the CDI program. These units play a critical role in preventing fraud and investigating complex conspiracies and we are excited to mark the work being done at the Providence CDI unit with this dedication ceremony,” said Carolyn W. Colvin, Acting Commissioner of Social Security. “I thank the Attorney General for their involvement and commitment to fight fraud. Social Security will continue to combat fraud and preserve public trust in our programs.”

“For nearly two decades, CDI has had tremendous success in identifying and preventing disability fraud and abuse,” said Social Security Inspector General Patrick P. O’Carroll, Jr. “We’re very pleased to partner with the Attorney General to expand our efforts to combat fraud and to ensure the integrity of Social Security’s disability programs for the citizens of Rhode Island.”                                                                       

“Our CDI Unit is making a significant difference in stopping fraud and abuse in the Social Security system before it can occur, saving taxpayer dollars and improving the integrity of the system to help ensure the long-term viability of the program for those who truly need it,” said Attorney General Peter F. Kilmartin.  “I have made combating fraud in our social service and safety net programs a priority for my office, whether it is unemployment insurance benefit fraud, workers’ compensation fraud or disability fraud.”

“Social Security Disability Insurance is a critical lifeline for thousands of Rhode Islanders who are no longer able to work to support themselves and their families,” said Congressman Cicilline. “It is vital that we prevent Social Security Disability fraud and ensure these benefits go solely to those who truly qualify for them.”

The CDI program currently consists of 37 units covering 31 States, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. Social Security and the OIG plan to establish another unit in 2016 as part of an ongoing agency effort to root out disability fraud and preserve benefits for those who truly deserve them.

Social Security and its OIG jointly established the CDI program in 1997. Since the program was established, CDI efforts have contributed to $3.3 billion in projected savings to Social Security programs, and $2.2 billion in projected savings to related non-Social Security programs. For more information on the CDI program, please visit the OIG website and Social Security’s anti-fraud website at www.socialsecurity.gov/antifraudfacts/.

Members of the public should report suspected disability fraud to the Social Security Fraud Hotline at http://oig.ssa.gov/report; send U.S. Mail to PO Box 17768, Baltimore, MD, 21235; fax (410) 597-0118; or call (800) 269-0271 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday.