A SOCIAL Security recipient ignored letters from the agency for 20 years while raking in $360,000 in disability benefits.
But his plot to take advantage of the federal agency was eventually foiled and he was sent to jail for nine months over the scheme.
Timmy S. Stephens started getting disability benefits around August 2002 due to a cardiac condition.
By January 2003, he had already returned to work but never told the Social Security Administration.
He spent the next 20 years cashing in on disability checks despite working at a funeral home.
The fraud occurred in Villa Rica, Georgia, a 36-minute drive from Atlanta.
Investigators with the SSA say Stephens repeatedly ignored warnings to report any employment or improvements in his condition.
Wanting to conceal his actions, he made a deal with his employer to record his income using a family member’s Social Security number, ensuring his identity remained hidden.
When the SSA finally caught wind of the fraud, he doubled down, claiming he hadn’t worked since 2001.
But it didn’t stop there. Federal agents later interviewed him, and he stuck to his story.
To back up his false claims, he even gave fake time sheets to his boss, telling her to hand them over to law enforcement.
Despite being fit to work the entire time, Stephens pocketed more than $360,000 in disability benefits.
Unfortunately, his deceitful behavior was discovered, leading to accusations of misappropriating funds that were earmarked as disability assistance from the Social Security Administration.
He pleaded guilty in October 2024 and was sentenced this month to nine months in jail.
Once he gets out, he’ll be under supervised release for three years.
He was also ordered to pay a fine of $5,500 and $126,560 in restitution.
“Stephens perpetrated a two-decades-long fraud on the Social Security Administration,” Acting US Attorney Richard S. Moultrie, Jr. said.
Timeline of the Scam
- August 2002 – Timmy S. Stephens begins receiving disability benefits for a cardiac condition.
- January 2003 – Just months later, he secretly returns to work at a funeral home.
- 2003–2023 – For 20 years, he hides his income under a relative’s Social Security number.
- SSA Warnings Ignored – The Social Security Administration repeatedly asks him to report any work or health improvements, but he ignores them.
- Fraud Investigation Begins – SSA catches wind of the scheme and launches an inquiry.
- Stephens Doubles Down – Lies on a work activity report, claiming he hasn’t worked since 2001.
- Boss Gets Involved – He pressures his employer to provide fake records to federal agents.
- Final Lie to Investigators – When questioned, he sticks to his false story, presenting fake time sheets.
- October 17, 2024 – Stephens pleads guilty in court.
- Sentencing – He receives 9 months in prison, 3 years of supervised release, a $5,500 fine, and must repay $126,560.50 in restitution.
The disability program is a wage replacement program for those members of our society who cannot work due to a physical or mental health condition.
“Stealing benefits from the Social Security trust fund betrays the Social Security Administration and the people the program is designed to help.”
The Social Security Administration sends Americans monthly payments if they have disabilities preventing or limiting their ability to work.
The program is called Social Security Disability Insurance and the amount of benefits a person receives depends on several factors.
This includes the age at which they start collecting payments and their highest-earning working years.
At the start of 2025, all benefits increased by 2.5 percent due to the annual Cost of Living Adjustment, which accounts for inflation.
Even though there exists a ceiling on the total benefit sum, each person receives a different payment depending on their lifetime earnings and the duration for which they contributed to Social Security through taxes.
In January 2025, the average retirement check was $1,976.
