Social Security does call people on disability, but only after you have already been in contact with them first
Social Security will call you if you are receiving SSDI (Social Security Disability Insurance) or SSI (Supplemental Security Income) and they need to verify information about your case. They do not cold-call people to tell them they have been approved or to recruit them into the program. Any unsolicited call claiming to be from Social Security about a new benefit is a scam.
The calls that do come from Social Security are usually about things like your work status, living situation, household income, or medical condition. These are called continuing disability reviews or redeterminations. Social Security initiates them because the rules require them to check periodically that you still meet the program's requirements.
You can also receive calls from Social Security if you have an open case and you missed a scheduled appointment, or if there is a problem with your case file that they need to discuss with you directly.
Key Takeaways
- Social Security calls people who are already receiving benefits to verify their information, not to offer new benefits or recruit applicants.
- Calls typically come about work activity, income, living arrangements, or medical status as part of routine case reviews.
- You can verify a call is genuine by hanging up, calling Social Security's main number yourself, and asking if they tried to reach you.
- Social Security will not ask for your Social Security number, bank details, or payment information over the phone.
- If you receive a call claiming you have won a benefit or owe money to Social Security, it is a scam.
How to know if a call from Social Security is real
Real calls from Social Security come from a number you can verify. Hang up and call the Social Security Administration's main customer service line at 1-800-772-1213. Tell them your name and case number (if you have one) and ask whether they tried to reach you. This is the safest way to confirm a call was genuine.
A real Social Security representative will not ask you to confirm your full Social Security number, provide your bank account details, or make a payment over the phone. They will not threaten you with arrest, suspension of benefits, or legal action. They will not ask you to buy gift cards or wire money.
If someone claiming to be from Social Security asks for any of these things, hang up when ready. This is a scam. You can report it to the Social Security Office of Inspector General at 1-800-269-0271 or online at oig.ssa.gov.
Why Social Security calls people on disability
Social Security is required by law to periodically check that people receiving SSDI or SSI still meet the program's medical and financial requirements. These reviews happen on different schedules depending on your case. Some people are reviewed every three years, others every five to seven years, and some more frequently if their condition is expected to improve.
During a call, a Social Security representative may ask about your current work activity, whether you have started working or earned income, changes in your household, whether you have moved, or whether your medical condition has changed. They may also ask whether you have been hospitalized or started new treatment.
The purpose of these questions is not to trick you or find reasons to stop your benefits. It is to make sure the information in your file is current and accurate. If your situation has changed in a way that affects your benefits, it is better for Social Security to know through an official review than to discover it later and have to recalculate your payments.
What to do if Social Security calls you
If you receive a call and you are not sure whether it is real, you do not have to answer all their questions on the spot. You can ask the caller for their name, the office they are calling from, and a callback number. Then hang up and call Social Security's main line to verify. This is a normal and acceptable thing to do.
If you confirm the call is real and you are ready to talk, answer the questions honestly. If you do not know an answer or need time to find information (like your current income or medical records), you can ask the representative when they need the information by and whether you can call them back or provide it by mail.
If you have a representative payee (someone who manages your benefits for you) or a lawyer helping with your case, you can ask Social Security to contact them instead. Give the representative's name and contact information.
Common scams that pretend to be Social Security
Scammers often call claiming to be from Social Security and say one of these things: your benefits have been suspended, you have won a settlement, you owe money to Social Security, or your case has been flagged for fraud. They create urgency by threatening arrest or when ready loss of benefits, then ask you to confirm personal information or send money.
These are all scams. Social Security does not suspend benefits by phone, does not call about settlements you have won, and does not demand payment over the phone. If you owe money to Social Security, they send a letter first and work with you on a payment plan.
If you receive one of these calls, hang up without giving any information. Do not call a number the caller provides. Instead, call Social Security yourself at 1-800-772-1213 to report the scam and verify whether there is actually any issue with your account.
What to do if you think you are being scammed
Report the call to the Social Security Office of Inspector General. You can call them at 1-800-269-0271 Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Eastern time. You can also report it online at oig.ssa.gov or by mail to Social Security Office of Inspector General, P.O. Box 17768, Baltimore, MD 21235.
When you report it, have ready the phone number the scammer called from (if it showed up on your caller ID), the time of the call, and what they said. If they sent you an email or text message, save that too.
You can also report scams to the Federal Trade Commission at reportfraud.ftc.gov or by calling 1-877-438-4338. The FTC tracks scam patterns and uses the information to warn the public and pursue scammers.
How to protect yourself from Social Security scams
Never give your Social Security number, bank account information, or passwords to someone who calls you, even if they claim to be from Social Security. Real Social Security employees already have your Social Security number in their system. They do not need you to repeat it to them.
Do not trust caller ID. Scammers can make their number appear to be from Social Security or a government agency. The only way to verify a call is to hang up and call Social Security yourself using a number you know is real, like the one on your Social Security card or a letter from Social Security.
Be suspicious of any call that creates pressure or urgency. Real Social Security business can usually wait a few days. If someone is threatening you with arrest, benefit suspension, or legal action unless you act when ready, it is a scam.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Social Security call me to tell me I have been approved for disability?
No. Social Security notifies people of approval decisions by mail, not by phone. If someone calls claiming you have been approved for a benefit you did not explore for, it is a scam. Hang up and do not give any information.
What should I do if I missed a call from Social Security?
Call Social Security back at 1-800-772-1213 and explain that you missed their call. They can reschedule the conversation or tell you what they needed. Do not call any number that appeared on your voicemail, because scammers sometimes leave fake messages with fake callback numbers.
Can Social Security take my benefits away because of a phone call?
No. Social Security cannot suspend or stop your benefits based on a phone conversation alone. Any decision to change your benefits must be made through an official review process and communicated to you in writing. If you receive a letter about a change to your benefits, that is the official notice.
What if I do not want to answer questions on the phone?
You can ask Social Security to send you the questions in writing or to schedule an in-person appointment at your local Social Security office instead. You have the right to take time to gather information and respond thoughtfully rather than on the spot.
Is it safe to give my address or phone number to someone claiming to be from Social Security?
If you have verified the call is real by hanging up and calling Social Security back yourself, yes. But if you are not sure the call is real, do not give any information. Hang up and call Social Security's main number to verify first.