Las Vegas Man Faces 2 – Years Imprisonment for Stealing Disability Benefits

A 58 – year old Las Vegas male resident was sentenced with two – year imprisonment after the Social Security Administration discovered that he was one of the non–deserving frauds receiving disability benefits.

On October 2011, Nelson Vazquez pleaded guilty to one count of theft on government funds causing the US District Judge, Larry Hicks to penalize him with a couple of years behind bars. The court also ordered Vazquez to pay restitution to the Social Security Administration.

Vazquez was expected to voluntary report to the federal prison by March 12, 2012.

Based on the court papers, Vazquez has been receiving Disability Benefits since 1976 until May, 2000 when the agency terminated it after he had been employed and was able to work again.

Vazquez disability benefits were reinstated on December 2003 after his disability purportedly came back. However, this cannot be hidden forever. Recently, the Social Security Administration discovered that Vazquez was handling a Las Vegas accounting firm – the Vazquez & Associates while receiving the disability until 2010.

Part of the Social Security Administration’s major programs is to help qualified disabled individuals. People with disabilities are entitled to receive certain benefits depending on the eligibility and need. However, it does not necessarily mean that once qualified for the disability benefits, all are guaranteed with a lifetime security. Once in a while, the agency is conducting a review on the disability benefit claimants whether a claimant is still eligible for the benefits or not.

In Vazquez’ case he was caught in the act by the agency. This is the reason why he has to face charges. Maybe even with the legal advice, like from Los Angeles social security disability lawyers, he still wouldn’t win his cases since he was caught red handed by the agency.

Nomadic Sisters Finally Granted with Social Security Cards after Years of Being Denied

Two sister from Louisville, Kentucky who have been living for more than two decades without social security numbers and other credentials were finally granted with proper identities including social security cards.

The sister have been denied for several times by the Social Security Administration (SSA) in securing a social security number due to lack of supporting documents and identification references to present.

After being denied by the SSA for their social security number due to lack of proper documentation and identifications, the sister filed a lawsuit in federal court in 2009 to acquire needed certifications. On 2010, Circuit Judge John Knox Mills requested for a DNA tests to prove that the women are legitimate children of their parents.

In his order, Circuit Judge Mills wrote that the court does not find any reason for not believing in the women’s testimony. Thus, request has been granted giving the sisters the social security numbers which will give them access to the employment industry as well as Social Security Income for their future.

After year of being denied for securing social security cards, the sisters – Raechel and Stephanie Schultz who live in a tiny territory of Lily will finally receive their social security cards with hopes of obtaining jobs like bartending, jewelry making and old furniture repainting.

Raechel, 29-year-old, was born at their home in Madison County, Kentucky, while 23-year-old Stephanie was born at the back of a Dodge Van in Southern Alabama.

During the early stages of the women’s lives they were nomadic. They did not have any particular or permanent address. Their family travelled in different states and never stayed in one place. Additionally, they never attended school but instead their college-educated parents home-schooled them. You may always contact us, if you need the assistance of a Los Angeles Social Security Attorney.

Woman Gets in Jail For Social Security Disability Fraud

The Social Security Disability Insurance program is very helpful for the people who are in dire need of financial assistance due to their disability. However, heartless and fraudulent individuals often take advantage on the only benefits that the disabled people have.

A 23-year old woman named Teri M. Mozingo was sentenced with 11 months imprisonment for Social Security disability fraud. The fraud happened during her time of employment of at Bios Corp., an organization dedicated for caring for people with developmental disabilities.

Mozingo started her fraudulent act when she was asked to switch the accounts of the claimants from checks to direct deposit into Bios trust accounts. Instead of depositing the checks into the Bios trust account, Mozingo deposited the money into her own personal account.

In her guilty plea, Mozingo admitted that while she was employed at Bios Corp., she took payments from 15 Social Security Disability and Supplemental Security Income claimants within the stretch of Dec. 4, 2008 until fall of 2010.

To avoid getting caught, Mozingo deposited some of the money from one of her accounts into the Bios trust accounts and then created fraudulent accounting entries into the Bios’ record book.

Apparently, Mozingo thought of her plan very carefully from the beginning until the end. She even thought of a way to cover up her complex scheme. It was a very nice yet foolish idea. She didn’t even bother to realize the consequences if she’s ever been caught. It is true that some secrets cannot go unrevealed forever.

Mozingo was fired at Bios on September 2010 after the organization discovered her illegal act. Now, apart from her jail sentence, Mozingo is also required to pay a total of $58,889.93 in reimbursement still owed to Bios Corp. and she will be under the court supervision for three years.

Unfortunately, because of the little amount of money she got from her social security disability fraud, she was not only entitled for imprisonment but she also lost her job and is further required to pay almost double the amount she stole from the organization.

Social Security Administration to Review Social Security Appeals

Sometimes, life isn’t fair. Ironically, out of thousands of people filing for disability benefits, those who deserve benefits are often denied, while others are enjoying benefits they actually don’t deserve. This is the major reason why the Social Security Administration (SSA) intends to launch a review targeting Social Security appeals.

According to a report, the Administrative Conference of the United States will be conducting a Social Security Disability review. Recommendations for overhauling the disability appeals process is said to be released next year.

The Social Disability Insurance Program was established way back in 1950. This year, the program is expected to pay out $103 billion disability benefits to over 10 million people. However, according to reports, the program is facing financial uncertainties and is expected to drain its resources by 2017.

Now, the federal government is seeking a way on how to prevent the presumption from happening. If the proposed review has been implemented, it will somehow lessen the burden of the government. It will also take out the issue of fraud from the recipient’s list thus giving deserving beneficiaries their benefits.

One of the main points of the Conference’s report will be the role of the administrative law judges who are tasked to resolve disability appeals. Critics claim that there are inconsistencies in terms of the resolution of the appeals amongst administrative judges. Reports said that some of them decide on claims in less than a minute, while others take some time and even days or longer.

By next week, the SSA is planning to avoid informing those who apply for disability benefits of which judge they’ve been assigned for their case. This is to avoid bargains that may occur between the applicant and its lawyer and the presiding judge.

The study will also focus on the federal court’s overturning on many of the Social Security judges’ decisions when they deny the benefits.

The Social Security Appeals review will be a wise move from the administration. It would not only benefit the deserving recipients but will also be a significant help for the recessing economy of a state. The Conference report will be due on August and the final recommendations will be released on November 2012.

Academy Award Winner Patty Duke Applied for Retirement Benefits on Her 65th Birthday

The Academy Award-winning actress Patty Duke has finally applied for her Social Security retirement benefits and Medicare benefits on her 65th birthday.

Duke has been famous since her childhood days for being a talented actress. She is known for playing a role in an eponymous sitcom for three years before progressing into more mature roles. She was also elected as the president of the Screen Actors Guild from 1985 to 1988.

In 1982, Duke was diagnosed with bipolar disorder, since then, she has devoted much of her time advocating and educating the public about mental health issues. In 1996, she was recognized and was ranked at the 40th place of TV Guide’s Top 50 Greatest Stars of All Time.

For three years, she has also volunteered her time promoting the online services of the Social Security Administration (SSA) in several public service announcements and media interviews.

Finally, on her 65th birthday, Duke and her husband applied for their Social Security benefits and Medicare benefits at home and in their pajamas through the online services provided by the Administration at www.socialsecurity.gov.

Duke, in the new online video shows a vision of what would be her situation years from now with her husband. After her acting career, definitely she and her husband would just enjoy every single moments with each other while receiving their SSA Claims.

In a press release from the SSA’s official website, the Administration’s Commissioner, Michael J. Astrue said that all of them at the agency are wishing Duke a very happy birthday. “She’s a Hollywood legend and an American treasure who reaches a very important milestone today. True to form, she is the one giving us the birthday present by showing her fellow baby boomers the easiest way to apply for benefits,” he added.

According to senior actress, she just applied for the social security’s retirement benefits and not retiring from being a spokesperson of the Administration. Up to present, she still keeps on promoting the SSA’s online services.