Legally Collecting Workers' Compensation Benefits

By Amy E. Feldman

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - The saying that you've heard that you're not paranoid if people really are following you is never more true than when you're out on workers' compensation. And posting pictures of yourself.

It started out as a nice thing to do. An officer with the Pasadena police posted a video in which she dumped a 5-gallon bucket of ice water on herself for the ALS fundraiser. Now she'll need to raise her own funds. She was out on disability and said she was unable to work. She's now been charged with fraud.

Now a water bucket is heavy, but just because you can lift that doesn't necessarily mean you're completely fine or able to work. So how hurt do you have to be to collect workers comp disability payments and what is the legal standard?

Workers' compensation fraud occurs when someone willfully makes a false statement or conceals information in order to receive workers' compensation benefits. So, no matter how hurt you are, you are committing insurance fraud if you claim to be more harmed than you really are.

If you are released to work light duty, you have to report that so your payments can be adjusted. Workers' compensation insurance companies and employers now make home visits, employ video surveillance, and oh yeah, check what you post on social media.

So do something nice for yourself by being honest and not getting arrested for insurance fraud.