Fettig v. Workplace Safety & Insurance

**What Happened** Dennis Fettig received disability benefits from North Dakota's Workforce Safety and Insurance from 1996 to 2002. However, the insurance agency discovered that Fettig had been dishonest about his situation. He failed to report that he was working on a farm and earning income during this time, and he also misrepresented how disabled he actually was. The agency accused him of deliberately lying about these important facts to continue receiving benefits he wasn't entitled to. **What the Court Decided** The North Dakota Supreme Court sided with Workforce Safety and Insurance. The court found there was strong evidence that Fettig intentionally provided false information about his work activities, income, and physical condition. As a result, the court upheld the agency's decision to stop all future disability payments and ordered Fettig to pay back over six years' worth of benefits he had received. **Why This Matters for Workers** This case shows that disability benefit fraud has serious consequences. Workers must be completely honest when applying for or receiving disability benefits. Any attempt to hide work activities or misrepresent physical limitations can result in losing benefits entirely and having to repay large amounts of money.