Worker's Comp Fraud??

Question

I have an acquaintance that was injured on her job in the Spring of 2007. She did have some surgery and physical therapy and has been collecting worker's comp for her injury for well over a year. That job was physically demanding, and quite honestly, she was not physically fit to be doing that job, but the employer hired her so as not to discriminate. She has been released from treatment and thought her worker's comp would terminate in June - a year after her injury, it did not, she continues to receive checks every week - she is also filing for disability, only she is not too disabled to work, as she took a part time desk job in March! I realize this is not my business, but isn't what she is doing fraud?

She brags about all the money she has been taking in and has bought expensive items, taken vacations, etc - she claims her previous employer knows nothing of her other part time job.

Who could this be reported to? The corporate headquarters of her previous job??

She has also dropped hints that her injury was intentional, as she did not like her work schedule and working so many hours.

Answer 1

Well I'd say sooner or later she'll get caught and you won't have to snitch.. I'd not get in the middle of either.. they will start questioning it sooner or later..

Answer 2

If she is working while collecting workman's compensation from another job, it will eventually catch up to her.  Her wages from the other job will sow up, if not before, around tax time and she will be liable to pay back all funds received illegally.

Answer 3

Roppin,

Good for you for trying to step up and be a good samaritin.  Abuse of workman's comp is not only a drain on her company, but also on the healthcare system which only spirals further and further into the sea of a growing cost to the nation.  If she were to be approved for SS disability, it's You, me and Johnny taxpayer that she is ripping off. No wonder SS is in doom.  

Your question, however, is probably not an easy one to answer. I would first look to see if your state has a workman's comp board. If so, it would be fairly easy to report.  I would imagine private investigators would take it from there.  If your state runs WC as a private entity amongst specific insurance providers, I imagine you will need to go through a little more red tape to find out to whom you should actually report it.  If she has filed for SS disability, you can probably voice your concerns directly to them.  

Good luck and please don't let this slide by. People like her are ruining it for people who really need it.

...and it IS our business...it's everyone's business

Answer 4

Well it is wrong and everyone else pays one way or another.

If she is bragging then she deserves to be reported.

You can file an annoymusly through her job's website and go to like hotmail or gmail and use an email thru there without your name on it. Then you could also report to the social security administration because they will be the ones paying the disability.

People who do this make it harder for people who truly do need it to get compensated and make other people suffer for someone else's scam.

Answer 5

I would let the company figure that out and stay out of it.  

Answer 6

Try looking it my source.  It might help you.  I'm not exactly sure.  

Answer 7

If she is receiving SSI or social security benefits for her disability and/or any other welfare type benefits, she must report all of her earnings, gifts, checks, etc.  If she fails to do so, she is looking at a criminal charge of welfare and/or benefits fraud and these cases are being prosecuted rigorously and are felonies.

See about reporting fraud anonymously:

http://www.ssa.gov/oig/public_fraud_repo...