Utah man caught working while claiming disability benefits in 2023

Calvin Perry, a 53-year-old man from Sandy, Texas, was granted disability benefits in 2012 after claiming a back injury that prevented him from working. For over six years, he reported to the Social Security Administration (SSA) that he had not been employed since 2011. However, he was secretly working full-time at a lawn care company, earning up to $4,400 a month, which he concealed by being paid off the books. In late 2023, SSA agents began surveillance after receiving tips about Perry's employment. They observed him performing physically demanding tasks, such as lifting heavy machinery and loading equipment. This led to an investigation where agents confronted Perry, who ultimately confessed to the fraud and pleaded guilty to theft of government property. Despite being informed multiple times about the necessity to report any changes in his employment status, Perry failed to disclose his job. He even submitted a Continuing Disability Review Report in November 2023, falsely claiming he had not worked since 2011. His deception was uncovered shortly after, resulting in the suspension of his benefits. As a consequence of his actions, Perry was sentenced to 12 months of house arrest, four years of probation, and ordered to pay restitution of $130,901. This case highlights the serious repercussions of defrauding government assistance programs and serves as a reminder of the importance of transparency in reporting employment status to the SSA.