What Attorneys and Clients Need to Know About Section 1140 of the Social Security Act

Section 1140 of the Social Security Act is a powerful consumer protection tool. The programs administered by the Social Security Administration (SSA) are critical to millions of Americans, providing retirement, disability, and survivors benefits to those who are eligible to receive them. One way the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) helps ensure the integrity of Social Security's programs is by enforcing Section 1140 of the Social Security Act and imposing civil monetary penalties (CMPs) for violations of the law.

Section 1140 prohibits people or companies from exploiting SSA's importance to Americans by giving a false impression of association with or endorsement by SSA when advertising, soliciting services, or otherwise communicating with the public. These communications can take many forms, including mailed or televised advertisements, Internet sites, social media accounts, telephone marketing campaigns, and mobile applications. Section 1140 also prohibits the reproduction and sale of Social Security publications or forms without SSA's authorization, and for the charging of services that SSA provides for free without providing proper notice.

OIG continually explores outreach opportunities to educate the public on how to recognize, avoid, and report scams.

View the documents here.