TO PROTECT PROGRAM INTEGRITY

OIG, USPIS LAUNCH WORKERS’ COMP FRAUD INITIATIVE

The Office of Inspector General (OIG) and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service have launched a joint year-long initiative to combat workers’ compensation fraud.

This effort, building on last year’s prevention and awareness campaign launched by the OIG (see original article below), will commit increased investigative resources to identify fraudulent claimants.

Workers’ compensation benefits help employees who suffer on-the-job injuries, and a crucial element of that program is to make sure they are extended only to employees with legitimate injury claims. A number of employees each year submit fraudulent claims or extend their absences by falsely reporting they are unable to return to work.

According to Inspector General David Williams and Chief Postal Inspector William Gilligan, this initiative is an opportunity for the OIG and the Inspection Service to collaborate and focus on protecting the integrity and financial health of the Postal Service.

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ORIGINAL ARTICLE

CHEATERS BEWARE
OIG KICKS OFF WORKERS’ COMP FRAUD CAMPAIGN

Using a three-pronged outreach effort, the USPS Office of Inspector General (OIG) is launching a crime prevention and awareness campaign targeting workers’ compensation fraud.

Last year, OIG investigations of workers’ comp scammers saved the Postal Service about $200 million in long-term workers’ comp costs.

The message of this campaign is clear — it’s illegal to fake an injury and collect benefits, or work while on workers’ comp without reporting the income. Violators can end up in jail, lose their benefits and may be required to pay back the money they received.

The campaign features a worker bragging about how he makes a “couple of extra bucks” while on workers’ comp, but is “too hurt” to work his postal job. To combat such abuse, the OIG campaign will include a paycheck stuffer with employees’ Sept. 18 pay stubs. A companion poster for workroom floor bulletin boards will follow. The campaign also includes a screensaver available today on all ACE computers.

If you know someone who is defrauding the Postal Service, contact the OIG at 1-888-USPS-OIG or at www.uspsoig.gov.