ABC’s 20/20 Exposes Rampant Disability Fraud

In a surprising segment, ABC’s 20/20 highlighted several cases of freeloading by people looking to fraudulently claim disability. While the program did not get to the heart of the matter – just how easy it is to claim disability and the skyrocketing cost of the program – noting a major flaw in an expensive government program is rare for a liberal network like ABC.  

The show mentioned people faking or exaggerating toe injuries, ankle injuries, PTSD, and supposed injuries on the job. Through an interview with Byron Tucker of the California Department of Insurance, ABC showed the cost of widespread fraud. Tucker argued that “when people submit fraudulent worker comp[ensation] claims and they get paid for it, well, that causes premiums to rise. John and Jill Public pay those prices.” Disability fraud deserves more attention from the media given the cost of the program; the federal government spends more on disability than it does on food stamps and welfare combined. Credit ABC for reporting on this little-discussed issue.

The transcript below details several more examples of disability fraud. 

ABC
20/20
May 22, 2015
10:00 p.m. Eastern

ELIZABETH VARGAS, ABC News: Good evening. David is off tonight, but 20/20 is on the case, asking the question, who's free loading? People are getting disability from injuries they say keep them from working. Well, on this Memorial Day weekend, a lot of you will be taking it easy and so will they, but with your money. Tonight, they're caught in the act, on tape. Here's Cecilia Vega.

BEAUTY PAGEANT ANNOUNCER: Ladies and gentlemen, these are your Grand Prix finalists.

CECILIA VEGA, ABC News: Beauty contestant Shawna Palmer appears poised to take home the crown with her bikini-ready body, winning smile and legs that go for miles. Last April, Palmer strutted her stuff on stage in Long Beach, California, hoping to become the next Miss Toyota Grand Prix.

BEAUTY PAGEANT ANNOUNCER: Say hi to Shawna.

VEGA: But put on the brakes. Can you spot the major foot injury that supposedly kept this contestant from being able to do her day job? Palmer claimed she hurt her left big toe working as a supermarket clerk. She said the painful injury left her with, quote, "an inability to bear weight" on her foot. But shortly after going to the doctor, prosecutors say she apparently had no problem working it in a pair of pumps, no less.

BEAUTY PAGEANT ANNOUNCER: And she loves dirt bikes.

VEGA: Insurance investigators arrested Palmer on charges of illegally collecting workers' compensation benefits totaling over $24,000.

VIRGINIA BLUMENTHAL: She did not lie, whatsoever, regarding her foot injury.

VEGA: She pleaded not guilty to three felony counts of fraud.

SHAWNA PALMER: Yes, your honor.

VEGA: You might think suspected offenders of false claims would want to avoid the spotlight, but meet Leroy Barnes, a professional dancer who claimed total disability after getting hurt on a gig. Yet, investigators say he's right here, shaking his tail as one of those dancing hamsters in the Kia car commercials. Barnes stands accused of fraudulently collecting over 50 grand in disability. For now, this hamster's out of his cage. He pleaded not guilty and is free on bail. Then, there's the curious case of Dan Slewoski, a Chicago-area man who said he was unable to perform his job at the Department of Public Works due to a nerve condition.

FIGHT ANNOUNCER: Are you ready?

VEGA: But city investigators say he had the nerve to perform in an extreme wrestling tournament, doing his best Hulk Hogan, climbing the ropes and fake-pummeling some poor sap, all while on government-paid medical leave. Slewoski might look menacing in that ring, but he hid behind his door while answering questions from ABC's I-team in Chicago.

Via: Newsbusters

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