Page 1 of 3
The disability train acclerates
Posted: Sat Jul 13, 2013 10:17 pm
by _ajax18
$1 billion -- That's the estimated sum a widespread disability scheme among Long Island Rail Road retirees could have cost the federal Railroad Retirement Board if the fraud hadn't been uncovered.
After a federal probe, the board cut benefits for 600 LIRR retirees who were certified as disabled by a Garden City doctor who later pleaded guilty to conspiracy.
Now the LIRR wants to revoke their pensions as well. Workers who are truly disabled can reapply for disability benefits -- a hassle, probably, but a crucial step to whittle out those who committed fraud.
Why do the hours keep getting longer for those of us still working? First we pay the scammers the money they steal, then we pay people like my uncle who has a $150k/year business chasing these people and catching their fraud.
Re: The disability train acclerates
Posted: Sat Jul 13, 2013 11:54 pm
by _Dr. Shades
Do you have a link to what you quoted?
Re: The disability train acclerates
Posted: Sat Jul 13, 2013 11:58 pm
by _ajax18
Re: The disability train acclerates
Posted: Sun Jul 14, 2013 12:05 am
by _moksha
Ajax, would other forms of fraud get your blood boiling as readily as that involving welfare?
Re: The disability train acclerates
Posted: Sun Jul 14, 2013 12:16 am
by _ajax18
Probably not. A lot of us have to go to work with less than optimal health.
I told a man the other day he needed cataract surgery. Two weeks later I get a letter from SSI. He doesn't want surgery to correct his vision. He just wants disability. I'm sure he'll eventually find a doctor to sign off on his scam, but it wasn't going to be me.
Re: The disability train acclerates
Posted: Sun Jul 14, 2013 4:05 am
by _just me
ajax18 wrote:Probably not. A lot of us have to go to work with less than optimal health.
I told a man the other day he needed cataract surgery.
Are you an eye doctor?
Two weeks later I get a letter from SSI. He doesn't want surgery to correct his vision. He just wants disability. I'm sure he'll eventually find a doctor to sign off on his scam, but it wasn't going to be me.
Are you an eye doctor?
Is it possible he went to a doctor and was told he wasn't a candidate for surgery?
Re: The disability train acclerates
Posted: Sun Jul 14, 2013 4:16 am
by _krose
just me wrote:Are you an eye doctor?
I believe he is an optometrist, rather than an ophthalmologist.
Re: The disability train acclerates
Posted: Sun Jul 14, 2013 8:58 am
by _ajax18
krose wrote:just me wrote:Are you an eye doctor?
I believe he is an optometrist, rather than an ophthalmologist.
You'd be right.
He was a candidate. The ophthalmologist I work with was equally frustrated.
Re: The disability train acclerates
Posted: Sun Jul 14, 2013 7:42 pm
by _just me
ajax18 wrote:krose wrote:I believe he is an optometrist, rather than an ophthalmologist.
You'd be right.
He was a candidate. The ophthalmologist I work with was equally frustrated.
Well, I'll be! I never knew you were an optometrist.
Assuming he had insurance coverage that makes no sense to me.
Re: The disability train acclerates
Posted: Mon Jul 15, 2013 1:04 am
by _krose
just me wrote:Assuming he had insurance coverage that makes no sense to me.
There could be several reasons. One possibility, of course, is lack of coverage and inability to pay. He could have an irrational fear of surgery, possibly influenced by stories of how bad cataract surgery and its recovery used to be. Or it could even be that he hates his job so much he would rather see poorly than work there.