Submitted by HillaryG on Tue, 09/13/2011 - 09:31
My former husband has been getting social security disability for over 10 years, and for a couple of years the child support that he has to pay to us for our two children has come from the Social Security Administration because of his SSD (or SSDI. I'm not sure which one he gets). Over the last couple of months, he's been working and I think cheating the SSA and I'm worried that he will get caught and loose his benefits. What can I do about this? Should I continue to take the money from SSA, because we really need it?
Defrauding Social Security Administration and child support
Maybe you should start by asking your ex-husband about this. There may be an explanation. For example, if certain rules are followed, those who receive SSDI can work. However, if your husband is not abiding by the rules or is defrauding the SSA in some manner, he may be dragging you into a legal and financial mess. If the SSA discovers that your husband has engaged in fraudulent activity, he may lose his benefits. Worse, there have been cases where the Social Security Administration has demanded that those who have received part of the fraudulently obtained benefits (such as an ex-spouse who received child support payments through the SSA) return the money.
If your ex is not able to explain his actions in a way that completely satisfies you, I think you should discuss this matter with an attorney who knows something about family law and Social Security disability benefits. If she is not satisfied with your ex-husband's explanation she can take action, either with the SSA or at the family court that granted your divorce, to protect you and your children. Good luck.