PROVIDENCE, R.I. —

Rhode Island’s attorney general and the Social Security Administration have established a new unit to investigate and prevent fraudulent Social Security disability claims.

Attorney General Peter Kilmartin and the Social Security Administration, Office of Inspector General, announced that two full-time investigators will staff the Cooperative Disability Investigations (CDI) Unit.

They will investigate Social Security disability claims that state disability examiners find suspicious, or lack the evidence they need to make an accurate decision, before the benefits are ever paid. The administration will pay their salaries.

CDI Units also investigate individual disability claims and identify lawyers, doctors, translators and others who facilitate disability fraud.

Kilmartin says the unit will save taxpayer dollars and bringing greater integrity to the disability programs.

Rhode Island is the 24th state to participate in the CDI program. — AP