Patricia Shibles, 50, was sentenced by a federal judge in the United States. Judge Mark Mastroianni of the District Court was sentenced to three years of probation, the first six months of which would be served in home detention. Shibles was also forced to pay the Social Security Administration $62,113 in restitution. Shibles pleaded guilty to one count of misappropriation of public funds on September 22, 2021.
The death was not declared
According to justice.gov, Shibles’ fiancé’s father, who was collecting Social Security benefits, died in April 2016. The Social Security Administration was not informed of the death, and monthly benefits were continuing to be deposited into a bank account controlled by Shibles and the deceased beneficiary. Shibles misappropriated $62,113 in Social Security benefits from the account between April 2016 and April 2020.
The statement was made by Rachael S. Rollins, United States Attorney, and John Cremonini, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Social Security Administration’s Office of Inspector General, Office of Investigations, Boston Field Division. Michelle Dineen Jerrett of Rollins’ Springfield Branch Office and Special Assistant United States Attorney Karen Burzycki of Rollins’ Major Crimes Unit.
Notify SSA of the death
If you’re in charge of an older person’s finances, you might be wondering how the government knows when to stop providing Social Security payments. Perhaps a surviving spouse or dependent is hoping for those benefits to be extended.
The Social Security Administration must be notified as quickly as possible after someone passes away. Funeral homes usually notify the government. These firms can report the death using a form that is accessible.
Be advised that no Social Security benefits are payable for the month a person dies. According to Sherman, any benefit paid beyond the month of the person’s death must be repaid, CNBC reported.
Fraud is the deliberate misrepresentation of worth to get something of value. Fraud occurs when a person intended to defraud makes, or induces to be made, a false statement or misrepresents, hides, or fails to disclose a relevant fact to assess rights under the Social Security Act.
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