Millions Already Lost, Ohio Turns to New Fraud ID Tools
Officials with the Department of Job and Family Services report that fraud and identity theft cost the state a staggering $330 million in December. New tools are being deployed to stop unemployment fraud. by Josh Sweigart, Springfield News-Sun / February 8, 2021 Shutterstock/Viacheslav Lopatin
(TNS) Ohio identified in December more than $330 million in fraudulent unemployment benefit payments, according to state officials who launched new tools this week to get their hands around the rampant problem.
Most of the fraud occurred in the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program, Ohio Department of Job and Family Services Director Kimberly Henderson said Wednesday. Federal lawmakers created that program for people who wouldn t qualify for traditional unemployment but lost income because of COVID-19, such as independent contractors, the self-employed or part-t
Ohio recovers $330M in jobless fraud
Josh Sweigart - Hamilton Journal-News
COLUMBUS, Ohio Ohio identified in December more than $330 million in fraudulent unemployment benefit payments, according to state officials who launched new tools to get their hands around the rampant problem.
Most of the fraud occurred in the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program, Ohio Department of Job and Family Services Director Kimberly Henderson said. Federal lawmakers created that program for people who wouldn’t qualify for traditional unemployment but lost income because of COVID-19, such as independent contractors, the self-employed or part-time workers.
ODJFS identified 56,000 fraudulent payments in December through PUA alone, totaling $330 million. In the fourth quarter of 2020, traditional unemployment fraudulently paid out $2.3 million to 2,200 people, they believe.