3 Years imprisonment for Illinois Disability Benefit Cheat

Author: Ian C. Langtree - Writer/Editor for Disabled World (DW)
Published: 10 Apr 2009 - Updated: 13 Nov 2010

Contents: Synopsis - Introduction - Main - Related Publications

Synopsis: Illinois Man Cheats Social Security Disability System and Receives 3 Years In Jail.

Introduction

Main Content

WQAD reports that a man from Lenzburg, Illinois was sentenced to over three years in jail and fines on $143,000 for Social Security Disability fraud.

The man, 55-year-old John Laird, applied for Social Security Disability benefits in 1989 and was approved. At the time, Laird had partial paralysis in his arms and had mobility problems, making it impossible to work. However, two years later, he began working as a mechanic. Although he was now supporting himself, he did not alert the Social Security Administration of his health improvements and continued to collect his checks. Now he must pay back the money in full.

Laird also failed to tell the SSA about a 2001 drug charge that would have also affected his benefits.

In August, Laird pleaded guilty to concealment of information from the SSA in an East St. Louis Court. Last week, the judge handed down his sentence.

Author Credentials: Ian is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Disabled World, a leading resource for news and information on disability issues. With a global perspective shaped by years of travel and lived experience, Ian is a committed proponent of the Social Model of Disability-a transformative framework developed by disabled activists in the 1970s that emphasizes dismantling societal barriers rather than focusing solely on individual impairments. His work reflects a deep commitment to disability rights, accessibility, and social inclusion. To learn more about Ian's background, expertise, and accomplishments, visit his full biography.