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Cooperative Disability Investigations Program Expands Reach of Anti-Fraud Efforts

September 30, 2020
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 30, 2020
 
The Inspector General for the Social Security Administration, Gail S. Ennis, announces the addition of four new investigative units to the Cooperative Disability Investigations (CDI) program. CDI is a nationwide joint effort between the Social Security Administration and its Office of the Inspector General (OIG) to fight disability fraud and save money for taxpayers. The four investigative units recently opened offices in Omaha, Nebraska; Las Vegas, Nevada; Manchester, New Hampshire; and Cheyenne, Wyoming.
 
CDI, established in 1997, combines resources and expertise from the Social Security Administration, its Office of the Inspector General, state disability determination agencies, and state or local law enforcement, to investigate, prevent, and deter Social Security disability fraud. The program now has 49 units covering 44 states, the District of Columbia, and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. It also covers the U.S. territories of Guam, American Samoa, the Northern Mariana Islands, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
 
“For more than 20 years, CDI investigations have made a significant impact on the integrity of Social Security’s disability programs and provided critical evidence for those making disability determinations,” said Inspector General Ennis. “Through this investigative work, we have saved an estimated $7 billion dollars and helped deter those who fraudulently seek to receive or retain benefits. We welcome Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, and Wyoming as they join us in this important endeavor.”
 
“Social Security has zero tolerance for fraud and the CDI Program serves a vital role in detecting potential fraud and preventing it,” said Andrew Saul, Commissioner of Social Security. “We tirelessly work at the national and local levels to stop would-be crooks and continue to be good stewards of taxpayer money by protecting the integrity of our programs.”
 
The OIG will continue to work with SSA to provide CDI coverage for all 50 states by 2022, as required by the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015. By providing evidence to decision makers in the disability determination process, and pursuing criminal or civil penalties in many cases, CDI efforts have contributed to $4 billion in projected savings to Social Security’s programs and $220 million in recoveries, as well as $3 billion in projected savings to other Federal and State programs.
 
Inspector General Ennis encourages anyone who suspects Social Security fraud to report it to the OIG. Members of the public can learn more about Social Security fraud and how to report it by visiting https://oig.ssa.gov.
 

 

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