Lawsuit Against Online Misinformation Aims to Protect Social Security Disability Beneficiaries

We all know that online misinformation posing as real news has grown to epidemic proportions and it has left untold damage in its wake.

Internet lies have even caused real harm to Social Security Disability beneficiaries and to the agency itself. But now the not-for-profit National Organization of Social Security Claimants’ Representatives (NOSSCR) is fighting back.

Recently, NOSSCR filed suit against a Spanish company, La Grada Online, for publishing articles with sensationalized headlines about Social Security benefits, including a false report of a $600 payment increase in June.

This misinformation caused a surge in calls to the Social Security Administration (SSA), overwhelming the agency’s phone lines and costing NOSSCR members considerable time and money. The complaint further alleges that La Grada Online published another misleading article in August, again falsely claiming a “Social Security benefit boost.”

In a news release, NOSSCR stated in part, “This case meaningfully addresses the growing problem of misinformation in online news. La Grada Online’s alleged actions not only wasted the time and resources of Social Security claimants and their representatives but also undermined public trust in reliable sources of information.”

“The outcome of this lawsuit could set a precedent for holding online news outlets accountable for publishing false and misleading information. NOSSCR’s efforts to combat misinformation are crucial for protecting its members from excessive SSA wait times. The lawsuit also seeks to preserve SSA’s limited resources and protect vulnerable individuals who rely on accurate information about Social Security benefits.”

Several of the Chicago disability lawyers at Nash Disability Law are members of NOSSCR, and we fully support their cause of protecting Social Security Disability claimants and beneficiaries.

The mission of the National Organization of Social Security Claimants’ Representatives is to advocate for improvements in Social Security Disability programs and to ensure that individuals with disabilities applying for Social Security Disability and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits have access to highly qualified disability attorneys and representation and receive fair decisions.