US probes firefighter disability abuse

Boston Globe ^ | April 17, 2008 | Donovan Slack and Walter V. Robinson

[outpostinmass3]

Federal authorities issued a flurry of subpoenas across the city yesterday as they launched a grand jury investigation of disability abuse in the Boston Fire Department, including whether dozens of firefighters faked on-the-job injuries to significantly enhance their pensions, according to several officials briefed on the probe.

[2banana]

union members padding their taxpayer golden pensions - nahhh

[2banana]

Firefighters who are injured on duty receive 100 percent of their salaries tax free until they are well enough to return to work. If they are filling in for a supervisor, they get 100 percent of their supervisor's salary. If their injuries are deemed career-ending - that they will never be well enough to return to firefighting - firefighters are granted disability pensions worth 72 percent of their annual salary. If they are subbing for a supervisor, they get 72 percent of their superior's pay. Those pensions are given tax free under federal law.<

WHAT A SCAM on taxpayers...!

[businessprofessor]

I have seen evidence that disability is widely abused by law enforcement. A major motivation for the high disability rates is the tax situation. There is a provision in federal law that allows tax-free status of a disability pension if the disability pension is considered an extension of workmen's compensation. This tax-free treatment of disability pensions is outrageous.

I believe that disability is also abused among other public employees. I have a former brother-in-law who received a disability pension beginning at age 47. His disability was mental anguish. He worked in an environment with lots of affirmative action hires including his boss. I am not sure if his pension is tax-free. He is a lazy bum who should be ashamed of screwing other Ohio taxpayers. The worthless bureaucrats who approved his disability pension should be fired.

[zek157]

Costs will be decreasing...

Between 2005 and 2007, nearly 75 percent of all Fire Department retirements were based on accidental disabilities rather than completed service. That number - 123 out of 166 - represents a substantially greater rate than other state public safety agencies in Massachusetts and fire departments in comparable cities around the country.

[stan_sipple]

I admire firefighters for their courage but some here were claiming injuries from sporting events and exercising. One claimed disability and then went on a cross-country bicycle tour.

[ccmay]

Between 2005 and 2007, nearly 75 percent of all Fire Department retirements were based on accidental disabilities rather than completed service.

It will be interesting to see how the firemens' unions can defend that statistic with a straight face.

The best way to put a stop to this chicanery is to hire some private detectives to go out and video some of these "disabled" chiselers as they jog and play tennis and clean out their rain gutters. Make an example of a few of the worst offenders, lock 'em up, and take away their pensions.

-ccm

[doodad]

I had an incident on my job once that required fire station response.

After it was over, the guys negotiated among themselves who got to fall out injured. They were all fine.

[Disturbin]

Where is Howie to comment on this?

He knows the disability scams inside and out after reporting on them for so long.

[investigateworld]

Ha!

Oregon is full of LA County and City retired fireman on disability pensions.

They do the best cinder block and concrete work in the state LOL!

[outpostinmass3]

Read today’s Herald