Social Security Whistleblower Lawyers
Whistleblower Team Lead
Former DOJ Attorney
Whistleblower Team Lead
Whistleblower Team
Former U.S. Attorney and District Attorney
The federal Social Security system provides a crucial financial safety net for aging U.S. residents and citizens. Those who are eligible to receive Social Security benefits can rely on these benefits both when they suffer disabling injuries and illnesses and when they reach the age of retirement.
But, by many accounts, the federal Social Security system is in jeopardy. Reports indicate that the U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA) is currently paying out more than it is taking in, and the SSA itself has acknowledged solvency-related concerns. Adding to these concerns is an August 19, 2024 press release from the SSA’s Office of Inspector General (OIG) which disclosed nearly $72 billion in improper Social Security payments between 2015 and 2022.
In light of these concerns, Social Security whistleblowers play a crucial role in helping to preserve the financial safety net on which disabled workers and seniors have relied for nearly 100 years.
Do you have information about improper payments under a Social Security program? If you are aware of the SSA paying improper retirement, disability, or survivor benefits to a recipient—or a contractor, subcontractor, or grantee improperly obtaining funds from the SSA—you may qualify as a Social Security whistleblower.
If you do, our Social Security whistleblower lawyers can help you come forward. We can communicate directly with the federal government on your behalf, and we can help the federal government use the information you have in your possession to pursue recovery of improper payments. We have extensive experience representing whistleblowers in the public and private sectors, and we rely on this experience to help our clients make informed and confident decisions every step of the way.
Put our highly experienced team on your side
Dr. Nick Oberheiden
Founder
Attorney-at-Law
Lynette S. Byrd
Former DOJ Trial Attorney
Partner
Brian J. Kuester
Former U.S. Attorney
Hon. Kevin McCarthy
55th Speaker, U.S. House of Representatives (ret.)
Government Consultant
Mike Pompeo
Of Counsel
Former U.S. Secretary of State
John W. Sellers
Former Senior DOJ Trial Attorney
Linda Julin McNamara
Federal Appeals Attorney
Nicholas B. Johnson
Former Prosecutor
Roger Bach
Former Special Agent (DOJ)
Chris J. Quick
Former Special Agent (FBI & IRS-CI)
Michael S. Koslow
Former Supervisory Special Agent (DOD-OIG)
Ray Yuen
Former Supervisory Special Agent (FBI)
Like many federal agencies, the U.S. Social Security Administration has established a whistleblower program to provide federal employees and individuals in the private sector the opportunity to help it fight fraud, waste, and abuse. As noted above, waste in particular is a significant concern under Social Security programs, with billions of dollars being improperly paid to recipients every year.
With that said, fraud and abuse are very real concerns as well. Contractors, subcontractors, grantees, and other parties can (and do) improperly obtain funds from the SSA through various means. These fraudulent and abusive practices add to the SSA’s losses (and increase its enforcement costs), further straining a system that is designed to help protect many of the country’s most vulnerable residents and citizens.
Under the SSA’s Social Security whistleblower program, individuals who come forward through the appropriate means can make “protected disclosures.” When you make a protected disclosure, the SSA will protect your identity (if you disclose it), and your employer (whether public or private) will be prohibited from retaliating against you.
The specific steps you need to take in order to make a protected disclosure depend on whether you work for the federal government or in the private sector. As the SSA explains, government employees may generally “disclose information to anyone including non-governmental audiences, unless the information is classified or specifically prohibited by law from release. . . . [in which case] it may only be shared with the OIG, OSC, or a designated agency official.” However, those in the private sector (including employees of contractors, subcontractors, and grantees) must generally make their disclosures to one of the following:
- An authorized official at the SSA OIG, U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), or Government Accountability Office (GAO)
- An SSA employee who is responsible for contract or grant oversight or management
- A Member of Congress
- A federal court or federal grand jury
If you believe you may be eligible to serve as a Social Security whistleblower, our lawyers can walk you through everything you need to know—including where you would need to file your whistleblower complaint. As discussed above, if you decide to come forward we can handle your disclosure for you, and we can withhold your identity from the federal government if desired.
When can (and should) you file a whistleblower complaint with the SSA (or another appropriate federal authority)? Fraud, waste, and abuse under federal Social Security programs can take many different forms. Our Social Security whistleblower lawyers can assist you with coming forward to disclose information about any of the following:
- Violation of any federal law, regulation, or rule
- Gross waste of Social Security funds
- Gross mismanagement of Social Security funds
- Gross mismanagement of SSA contracts or grants
- Abuses of authority within the SSA or related to SSA contracts or grants
These are all very broad categories. If you have any concerns for any reason, we strongly encourage you to speak with one of our Social Security whistleblower lawyers one-on-one. We do not charge any fees or costs to whistleblowers (or prospective whistleblowers), and we are more than happy to help you make informed and confident decisions.
The process for filing a Social Security whistleblower complaint varies for federal employees and those in the private sector. Here, too, our lawyers can explain everything you need to know. Along with helping you decide where to file your whistleblower complaint (if you decide to move forward), we can also handle the entire filing process on your behalf.
If you are thinking about blowing the whistle on fraud, waste, or abuse under a Social Security program, what do you need to know about hiring a lawyer to represent you? Here’s what you should know about talking to a Social Security whistleblower lawyer at Oberheiden P.C.:
- All Information You Share Will Be Kept Strictly Confidential – We will keep all information you share with us strictly confidential, and we will not disclose any information to the federal government unless you authorize us to do so.
- You Are Under No Obligation to Blow the Whistle with the SSA – Speaking with one of our lawyers does not create any obligation to go forward with blowing the whistle. This decision rests with you.
- Many of Our Lawyers Have Prior Federal Government Experience – Many of our lawyers investigated and prosecuted fraud, waste, and abuse at the DOJ before entering private practice. As a result, we are intimately familiar with the government’s whistleblower practices and procedures.
- You Will Work Directly with Our Senior Whistleblower Lawyers – All of our lawyers have senior-level experience, and you will work directly with our senior whistleblower lawyers throughout our representation.
- Our Legal Representation Costs Nothing Out of Pocket – We do not charge whistleblowers (or prospective whistleblowers) any fees or costs out of pocket.
Anyone who has information about fraud, waste, or abuse under a Social Security program can potentially serve as a whistleblower. This includes both SSA employees and employees of SSA contractors, subcontractors, grantees, and other entities in the private sector.
The specific steps you need to take to report Social Security fraud, waste, or abuse depend on whether you work for the federal government or a private company. Our lawyers can explain the specific steps you would need to take; and, if desired, we can take these steps on your behalf.
Social Security whistleblowers can contact the SSA OIG anonymously if they choose to do so. However, as the OIG notes, “[t]his may limit OIG’s ability to conduct a complete investigation,” and, “OIG will only disclose your identity if you agree or if it is unavoidable to the investigation.”
The SSA’s Social Security whistleblower program does not provide for financial rewards. However, individuals who have information about fraud, waste, or abuse involving Social Security contractors or grantees may be able to file their complaints under other federal whistleblower programs that do provide for whistleblower compensation.
What if My Employer Finds Out I Blew the Whistle?
As long as you properly file your Social Security whistleblower complaint, it is unlikely that your employer will discern your identity. However, even if your employer discerns your identity after you make a protected disclosure, it will be prohibited from retaliating against you under federal law. Whistleblower retaliation is a serious violation that entitles affected whistleblowers to substantial remedies—including financial compensation.
