The ranking member of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, Susan Collins, R-Maine, has called of a review of federal workers’ comp.
A statement on her website said she suspects some recipients of "gaming the system" and says benefits paid under the Federal Employee Compensation Act for work-related injuries are "overly generous."
FECA pays benefits to about 49,000 federal employees recovering from injury and Collins has asked GAO to audit the program to find out more about the length of time individuals remain on the program, the number of recipients older than the standard federal retirement age, and how federal workers comp compares to that offered by states.
She also wants GAO to compare FECA records against the Death Master File as well as the civilian payroll database to find out if deceased individuals are being sent benefits or if recipients are getting compensation from more than one source for the same injury.
"I am increasingly concerned that individuals with no intention of returning to work continue to receive these benefits," said Senator Collins, adding that she learned some 1,000 Postal employees over 80 years old receive workers’ comp benefits.
"This abuse may extend across the government where the Department of Labor regularly pays benefits to employees in their 70s, 80s, 90s, and even 100s."
