Rochester Woman Pleads Guilty to Making False Statements to Obtain Social Security Benefits

From the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of New Hampshire:

CONCORD - Jeannette Doyon, 49, of Rochester, pleaded guilty in federal court to making false statements, United States Attorney Jane E. Young announced today.

According to court documents and statements made in court, Doyon was receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits. Because SSI benefits are tied to household income, Social Security requires that SSI recipients notify the agency of changes to their household. Doyon married her spouse in April 2014. Because her spouse’s income now counted towards her household income, Doyon’s monthly benefits were reduced.

In response, Doyon submitted a false statement to Social Security claiming that her spouse had moved out of her home and was no longer part of her household. This resulted in her benefits increasing. Doyon repeated this false statement to Social Security for several years to keep getting more benefits. Throughout this time, Doyon and her spouse continuously lived together. Because of her false statement, Doyon received $46,625.60 in SSI benefits she was not entitled to receive.

Doyon is scheduled to be sentenced on November 2, 2022.

This matter was investigated by the Social Security Administration. The case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander S. Chen.