Piscataway Woman Claimed Dead Mother's Social Security Payments

PISCATAWAY, NJ — A Piscataway woman admitted she defrauded the Social Security Administration for more than eight years by improperly claiming her deceased mother’s Social Security retirement benefits, U.S. Attorney Alina Habba announced Monday.

Deborah Bailey, 68, of Piscataway, pleaded guilty before U.S. federal Judge Robert Kirsch in Trenton federal court to one count of theft of public money.

According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court: The Social Security Administration provided retirement benefits to Bailey’s mother. Those benefits were paid through electronic funds into Bailey’s mother’s bank account.

After Bailey’s mother died in 2016, Bailey did not notify the Social Security Administration about her mother’s death, and she made withdrawals from that bank account between 2016 and 2024.

Through an investigation by the Social Security Administration, it was determined that Bailey withdrew approximately $150,903 in retirement benefits.

She will be sentenced Aug. 19 and is facing up to 10 years in prison and a fine.