MORE EXAMPLES OF FALSELY DECLARING AN INABILITY TO WORK
Fined $2000
In 2016 a claimant was involved in a crash and claimed that the physical injuries they sustained prevented them from returning to work. The claimant submitted a Notice of Intention to Make a Claim form in June 2017 and stated that they had not been able to return to work since the crash.
Surveillance footage and data obtained from their employer showed that the claimant had been working full time since March 2017. The claimant was taken to court for providing false or misleading information and pleaded guilty. They were given a $2000 fine, $744.35 costs and a spent conviction.
No lost earnings
In 2011, a claimant stated that their injuries from a car crash prevented them from carrying out their usual work duties and ultimately led to them being let go. The claimant sought $1,074,415 in compensation for loss of earnings, which included $780,000 for future loss of earnings.
Fraud Investigations gathered evidence that established that the claimant ceased working in 2013 because their contract was not renewed and not because of their inability to perform their usual work duties. Evidence also revealed that the claimant had falsely provided information about what their usual work duties were in order to increase their financial settlement.
The claim was settled for $300,000.
Double dipping
In 2018, a claimant submitted an invoice for reimbursement of a pair of trainers costing $279.99. Enquiries by Investigations and Intelligence revealed that the shoes had already been returned to the store for a full refund.
The claimant was charged with attempting to gain benefit by fraud and received a $500 fine.
Fined $3000
A claimant alleged that they had received significant neck, shoulder, check and back pain as a result of a car crash in August 2016. In 2017, the claimant attended a medical assessment and advised that they had been unable to work in any capacity since the crash.
Hours of Surveillance footage obtained by the Investigations and Intelligence team showed the claimant working in their self-employed café business between 23/01/2018 and 03/05/2018.
The claimant was found guilty of providing false or misleading information and fined $3000 with costs of $713.30.
Fined $2000, plus ordered to pay $10,000
In 2016, a claimant was struck by a vehicle and claimed to have received injuries that prevented them from returning to work.
The claimant received regular advance compensation payments from the Insurance Commission throughout their claim. In 2019, the claimant attended two medical assessments and maintained that they had not worked since the crash in 2016.
Tipped off by a member of the public, the Investigations and Intelligence team carried out months of surveillance. The surveillance footage obtained showed the claimant working at a construction site from 19/01/2019 to 05/06/2019, which contradicted what they had claimed.
The claimant was fined $2000 and ordered to pay $10,000 in costs.
Page Last Updated 27 Nov 2024