We talk about workers' compensation fraud a lot here at Markhoff and Mittman, P.C., but we don't always let you know about the ramifications for both employers and employees if they try and cheat the system.

When the U.S. government is involved, as in the case of a Florida woman under investigation for federal workers' compensation fraud, the penalties can be fairly severe. Ms. Harrington collected disability, and was sentenced to eighteen months for continuing to participate in SCUBA diving and other leisure activities in the Florida sun.

But the process for workers' compensation investigations is pretty much the same thing. Insurance companies are willing to pay thousands of dollars per week to investigate potentially fraudulent claims. And they also go after corporations.

It makes one wonder if employers would be more willing to maintain workers' compensation insurance premiums if there was a program like the one in Washington state. Recognizing the impact of the recession on employers' ability to pay workers' compensation benefits insurance, they enabled businesses in the red to receive aid.

But the state also instituted a zero tolerance policy and began raiding construction sites to check on employees who may have been misclassified that would have made it more costly to apply for workers' compensation benefits.

It's frustrating that workers' compensation fraud can be linked to corporations, workers, or even doctors trying to game the system. We've outlined some ideas to improve the New York workers' compensation benefits system, but if you need assistance making a claim today, contact us.