Printing - FECA-PT2 - United States Department of Labor

a. Signatures. The CE must review claim forms and certified documents to
ensure that original signatures are present. Original signatures of those persons
who certify the accuracy of the information enable the Office to hold them
accountable for any misinformation furnished. When claims forms, claimant
statements, form medical reports such as CA-20, and witness statements are
received without original signatures, they should be copied and returned for proper
signature. It is not usually necessary to copy both the face and reverse of a form.
The original form should not be returned.
Signatures should be reviewed to ensure that they have not been altered. If the
signature has been amended or if it appears to be different from other specimens in
file, the CE should determine whether the signature is genuine by contacting the
person who ostensibly signed the form. If the signature is invalid, the matter should
be brought to the attention of the OIG.
b. Alteration of Documents. Alteration of forms is most likely on Forms CA-7
and CA-8 and on medical forms such as CA-20, reporting dates of disability, leave or
pay information, etc. It may only be necessary to check with the person who
prepared the form to ascertain whether the alteration was made by a third party. If
it appears that information submitted by the agency or physician has been altered by
a claimant in an attempt to significantly misrepresent the facts, the case should be
submitted to the OIG (see paragraph 4).
c. Inconsistent Information. The CE should review Form CA-1032 and other
forms to ensure that birth dates of children and earnings information are consistent
from one report to the next. If discrepancies are found which do not appear to
accidental, the CE should develop the record to determine the facts. If a discrepancy
can be satisfactorily resolved by letter or telephone call, and overpayment has not
resulted, the CE should document the file with the correct information, but not alter
the erroneous form or document. If preliminary exploration indicates a pattern of
deception, and the exact facts cannot be established with certainty, an investigation
may be required. For example, if there are inconsistent reports of earnings and
employment over a long period during which compensation has been paid for total
disability, investigative help should be requested to establish the earnings record for
that period.
d. Other Factors. The CE should be alert to any information which indicates that
an improper claim was filed or that a questionable activity, either within or outside
the office, has occurred. The best protections against fraud and abuse are careful
and attentive case monitoring and intelligent reading of documents. Maintaining
current call-ups on all open cases, corresponding with the attending physician,
checking the official superior's allegations concerning the claim, and reviewing
compensation and medical history against approved payments will prevent fraud in
the compensation system.
2-0402-3 Payments
3. Payments.
a. Unexplained discrepancies between the Office's payments and the actual