kentucky labor cabinet office of unemployment insurance integrity branch

Andy Beshear nor the Kentucky Education and. WASHINGTON, DC The U.S. Department of Labor today has released updated resources for employers, employees, and states to prevent fraud or misuse in the unemployment insurance system, including the new unemployment insurance programs under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act. Employment in the other services sector was up 500 jobs in August 2022. He said there have been tens of thousands of fraudulent claims. Rehabilitation/assistive technology. Governor Andy Beshear Wednesday afternoon addressed mounting fraud in Kentuckys unemployment system. The final initiative put forth by the governor was a move to merge the Kentucky Education and Workforce Development Cabinet with the Kentucky Labor Cabinet, which he said would make it easier for the state to compete for grant funding and also improve access to accurate information. As a result of Governor Beshear's reorganization, the Imaging Branch is now comprised of two sections; Scanning and Open Records. If you are interested in using LinkedIn and do not already have an account, please set up your profile at https://www.linkedin.com/. An Open Records Request is required to obtain additional information. They did not falsify anything. FRANKFORT, Ky. (Sept. 15, 2022) Kentuckys seasonally adjusted preliminary August 2022 unemployment rate was 3.8%, according to the Kentucky Center for Statistics (KYSTATS), an agency within the Kentucky Education and Labor Cabinet (KELC). of the wage earners, job seekers, and retirees of the United States; improve working conditions; advance opportunities for profitable employment; and assure work-related benefits and rights. The number of jobs in this sector grew by 1,100 positions or 5.2% from one year ago. Rev 01/2021 Kentucky Labor Cabinet Office of Unemployment Insurance Integrity Branch 500 Mero Street, 4-SC Frankfort, KY 40601 Phone: (502)564-2387 . The unemployment insurance hasnt even given many substitute teachers, and potentially other workers, a chance to apply for debt forgiveness, according to Louisville attorney Robyn Smith. Complex Structured Query Language (SQL) queries are completed and reports are formatted to answer in-depth open records requests and to monitor agency, carrier and employer performance. Nearly a year after Beshear told people to save money from unemployment insurance benefits in case the state made a mistake and asked for that money back, the waiver offers debt forgiveness for people who were overpaid through no fault of their own and for whom collection would be unconscionable, unjust or unfair.. The duties of the Imaging Branch consist of imaging and verifying all hard copy documents as well as indexing them into the DWCs integrated information and optical image system. The letters are made to look as though they are coming from the states offices. More Americans reported being employed than ever before - nearly 160 million. According to the Kentucky Labor Cabinet, about 745,000 claims have been filed since the pandemic forced businesses to close, creating unprecedented unemployment. Gray said the mindset that keeps recipiency rates low may impact how states implement their waiver programs. All Rights Reserved. The U.S. Department of Labor today has released updated resources for employers, employees, and states to prevent fraud or misuse in the unemployment insurance system, including the new unemployment insurance programs under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act. Find more information to better equip the Kentucky worker. Casetext, Inc. and Casetext are not a law firm and do not provide legal advice. These codes are used by other DWC personnel to ensure quality assistance to claimants, attorneys, employers, and carriers. .dol-alert-status-error .alert-status-container {display:inline;font-size:1.4em;color:#e31c3d;} If you look for the purpose of the unemployment statutes across the country, its to relieve the crushing force that unemployment has on people and their families and their communities, Gray said. employment office. To reach the call center, dial (502) 564-2900 between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. EST Monday through Friday. The response to a Pre-Employment Screening request will only disclose whether a first report of injury has been filed with respect to the individual about whom the request is submitted. The CARES Act includes the Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation, Pandemic Unemployment Assistance, and Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation programs. The Data Entry Section receives and processes 90 percent of the documents filed with the Department of Workers' Claims (DWC). The state legislature first created the waiver program in March, after the Kentucky Center for Investigative Reporting detailed how people who applied for benefits in line with Gov. Employers reported strong growth in payroll for August with gains occurring in most major sectors, said Clark. Precautionary boil advisory issued for water customers in east Jefferson County, Police: Woman accused of buying nearly $9K in clothes with stolen credit card, LMPD investigating after body found in Valley Station cemetery, Louisville co-workers share $50K after winning Ky. Lottery scratch-off, Elizabethtown high school student crowned Miss Kentucky Teen USA, Students at Noe Middle School protest anti-LGBTQ legislation, Library to offer free mental health and wellness workshops, Louisville man appears in new season of The Mandalorian, 15-year-old shot, killed in Smoketown neighborhood identified. Since August 2021, employment in this sector has risen by 13,800 jobs or 3.4%. p.usa-alert__text {margin-bottom:0!important;} Workers Compensation Non-Compliant Employer, Office of Inspector General Complaint Form, Forms, Documents, Reports, Publications and Archives, Professional Employer Organizations (PEO) and PEO Group Registration, Retraining Incentive Benefit ("RIB") Portal, $0.15 per page/ computer copies plus $2.50 processing fee per request, $0.75 per page/ microfilm requests plus $5.00 processing fee per request. The AG's office recommends that Kentuckians report the fraud first to Kentucky's Unemployment Fraud Unit at uifraud@ky.gov or by calling (502) 564-2387. Contact the UI Call Center at (502) 564-2900. "I don't. Even Kentucky lawmakers are now victims, all as countless Kentuckians are waiting on unemployment checks who really need them. The Research Section maintains the DWC Web site, produces all the agency's publications and has the responsibility of processing WC letters that are driven by statute. Publications, Posters and Forms. The survey is designed to measure trends in the number of people working and includes jobs in agriculture and individuals who are self-employed. The Scanning Section is responsible for scanning and verifying all hard-copy claims and first report documentation and indexing them into the agency's integrated imaging system. Requirement of hunting, fishing, trapping, or guide's license -- Exceptions -- Killing of wildlife causing damage -- Reporting requirements -- Reciprocity with adjoining states -- Exception for active duty or reserve members on military property. he Department has consolidated all state unemployment insurance fraud hotlines on one page for ease of access. Detailed open records requests, those which seek documents containing information exempt from disclosure, require a written release from the party whose information is sought. The site is secure. For unemployment insurance claims filed between January 27, 2020 and December 31, 2020, KRS 341.413 authorizes the secretary to waive overpayments of unemployment insurance benefits if the secretary, upon an alleged overpayment recipient's waiver request, finds the overpayment was made without fault on the part of the recipient and recovery would be contrary to equity and good conscience. Almost two months ago, Gov. Submit quarterly tax reports over the Internet through either an on-screen form or a file upload option. Kentuckys new unemployment insurance overpayment waiver is supposed to offer some relief to people who were mistakenly overpaid benefits, but many who owe money are excluded from even asking. Just a few months earlier, in March of 2020, Kentucky expanded unemployment insurance to cover independent contractors and substitute teachers. Kentuckys mining and logging sector was unchanged in August, and unchanged from August 2021. Unemployment insurance fraud takes many forms. Andy Beshears public statements about eligibility, Beshear told people to save money from unemployment insurance benefits, Kentucky expanded unemployment insurance to cover independent contractors, Support nonprofit, fact-based public service journalism, WEKU is a broadcast service of Eastern Kentucky University. Overall, the level of local government employment is only down somewhat, 700 jobs or 0.4%, from last year.. .agency-blurb-container .agency_blurb.background--light { padding: 0; } Unemployment Insurance Appeals Branch. They in good faith did what your people told them to do. 2023 Commonwealth of Kentucky. An Official Website of the Commonwealth of Kentucky Unemployment Insurance Fraud Reporting Knowingly providing false information or failing to provide information in order to obtain benefits is considered fraud. Kentuckians receiving fraudulent unemployment benefit letters, Its over: Law enforcement officials react to suicide of accused officer killer, Scottsville Police respond to accidents due to strong wind conditions, Statewide tornado drill set for Wednesday, March 1, Second search for missing Caneyville woman yields no new information, This weeks JA People of Action features Bethany Smith, WKU selects 18 for 2023-24 Cherry Presidential Scholarship, Hopkinsville man injured in Todd County accident. The mission of the Department is to foster, promote and develop the welfare of the wage earners, job seekers, and retirees of the United States; improve working conditions; advance opportunities for profitable employment; and assure work-related benefits and rights. Employment in the total government sector was down 1,900 positions or 0.6% compared to August 2021. Learn more labor-related education and training programs to benefit both employers and employees. To that end, claimants should understand their states requirements on accepting offers of suitable employment; employers should understand their obligation to report all instances of potential fraud, waste or abuse; employers and claimants should understand that refusing suitable work may cause suspension of benefits; and workforce partners should pivot to employee engagement, employer outreach and job referrals for the more than 33 million Americans who find themselves unemployed. The Department will process faxed, emailed, and mailed requests in the traditional fashion. Just a few months earlier, in March of 2020, Kentucky expanded unemployment insurance to cover independent contractors and substitute teachers. Im very scared, Louisville accountant Helen Cohen said. United States Department of Labor Employment and Training Administration. The application process laid out in the statute puts the onus on the claimant to request a waiver and prove that they meet the criteria for debt forgiveness, a process Smith said many people may find confusing. Sanderson filed suit against the unemployment office last December seeking a judge to reverse the unemployment insurance offices decision that he was ineligible for unemployment benefits. Related additional frequently asked questions are also available here: https://www.dol.gov/coronavirus/unemployment-insurance. Email: UIInterstate@ky.gov. He said there have been tens of thousands of fraudulent claims. Division of Program Integrity - Cabinet for Health and Family Services Ky. gov An Official Website of the Commonwealth of Kentucky Services Agencies News Contact Us CHFS Agencies Department for Medicaid Services Division of Program Integrity Division of Program Integrity Division of Program Integrity Who We Are She voided the check, sent it back, and days later, someone from unemployment called Cohen to tell her that her personal information was used to open a bank account in Lebanon, Kentucky to get the state to direct deposit the money. Title 787 - EDUCATION AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT CABINET - DEPARTMENT FOR EMPLOYMENT SERVICES, Section 787 KAR 1:360 - Overpayment waivers, Section 787 KAR 1:320 - Priority of deductions from benefits. Unemployment Insurance Benefits Branch. He said by email that the waivers amount to nearly $7.5 million in debt forgiven so far. Requirement of hunting, fishing, trapping, or guide's license -- Exceptions -- Killing of wildlife causing damage -- Reporting . The problem is, many have complained they didnt lose their job, and someone is pretending to be them. .table thead th {background-color:#f1f1f1;color:#222;} Postal Service by Jan. 31, 2023. ET until 5 P.M. The unemployment office said substitute teachers werent supposed to file unemployment claims during summer break. Counseling and guidance. But the office has limited who can ask for debt forgiveness to people the state has predetermined might be eligible and those people have to request the waiver within 30 days of notification. Contact the Office of Unemployment Insurance. In a separate federal survey of business establishments that excludes jobs in agriculture and people who are self-employed, Kentuckys seasonally adjusted nonfarm employment rose by 26,700 jobs in August 2022 compared to July 2022. Governor Beshear Wednesday afternoon addressed mounting fraud in Kentuckys unemployment system. Commonwealth of Kentucky. The Kentucky Chamber of Commerce is alerting citizens of fraudulent unemployment benefit letters being received across the state. #block-googletagmanagerheader .field { padding-bottom:0 !important; } Before KyCIR, he was a reporter the Center for Public Integrity and a digital producer for WBUR in Boston. I got a letter from the Kentucky Department of Unemployment Insurance that I was eligible for unemployment and I thought This is really strange, Cohen explained. Kentucky One Stop Business Portal (Unemployment does not participate) Kentucky Secretary of State. And, she said, theyre unemployed and have long since spent that money. If you receive a letter like this or suspect you have had a fraudulent UI claim, email that information to UIfraud@ky.gov. They did not misrepresent anything and they relied on your agency granting that sum.. /*-->*/. 49, No. A JCPS spokesperson told KyCIR last year that more than 2,200 unemployment claims were filed by JCPS employees and substitute teachers at the time. The Education and Labor Cabinet's mission is to educate, prepare and train Kentucky's current and future workforces. People seeking forgiveness through the waiver then need to explain why their overpayment wasnt their fault and that the debt causes a financial hardship for the applicant and their family or they spent the money on necessary expenses. The Department encourages reporting of unemployment insurance fraud in state systems, and the updated resources released today will assist in this reporting. Employers should download any information they would like to keep for their records before this date. 500 Mero Street Frankfort, KY 40601 Phone: (502) 782-3083 Email: beth.brinly@ky.gov Website: kcc.ky.gov Office of Vocational Rehabilitation Cora McNabb - Executive Director 500 Mero Street Frankfort, KY 40601 Phone: (502) 564-4440 Toll-Free: (800) 372-7172 Video Phone: (502) 542-6042 Website: kcc.ky.gov/Vocational-Rehabilitation According to the survey, employment increased for eight of Kentuckys major nonfarm North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) job sectors in August 2022, decreased for one, and was unchanged for two. The Kentucky Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (OVR) a partner in the Kentucky Career Center assists people with disabilities in achieving suitable employment and independence by offering the following services: Vocational assessment. Now, the state wanted it back. @media (max-width: 992px){.usa-js-mobile-nav--active, .usa-mobile_nav-active {overflow: auto!important;}} An official website of the United States government. 199, Part 1D.7. Unemployment insurance fraud takes many forms. This sector includes repairs and maintenance, personal care services and religious organizations. div#block-eoguidanceviewheader .dol-alerts p {padding: 0;margin: 0;} Services They say the Office of Senior. Incumbents working in this job title primarily perform duties in an office setting. The governor's office has confirmed with the Kentucky Chamber these letters are concerning fraudulent claims made on behalf of employees or individuals. Some people think if they become a victim of this fraud its one individual in one place trying to take advantage of them. Unemployment Insurance Tax Audit Branch. The time period is triggered by the mailing date of the decision being appealed. All Rights Reserved. Employment in the arts, entertainment and recreation subsector fell by 500 jobs from July to August. Employment statistics undergo sharp fluctuations due to seasonal events, such as weather changes, harvests, holidays, and school openings and closings. He said she drew unemployment for three months in 2020 and received $184 a week. Workers' Compensation. Sanderson received unemployment benefits from April through June last year when the coronavirus pandemic closed schools to in-person education, and ended the substitute teaching assignments Sanderson relied on. People seeking forgiveness through the waiver then need to explain why their overpayment wasnt their fault and that the debt causes a financial hardship for the applicant and their family or they spent the money on necessary expenses. The jobs gains occurred primarily among the durable goods manufacturers, which was added 7,100 jobs to their payrolls in August. Commonwealth of Kentucky. ol{list-style-type: decimal;} Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. The U.S. seasonally adjusted jobless rate for August 2022 was 3.7%, which was up 0.2 percentage points from July 2022, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. As a result, unemployment insurance often fails to reach the people who need it most: At the dawn of the coronavirus era, 20% of unemployed people in Kentucky received benefits, which is lower than the national average of 28%. The professional, scientific and technical services subsector had 200 fewer positions, while the administrative, support and waste management subsector lost 1,800 jobs, and the management of companies subsector was unchanged. In Michigan, where Gray led the state unemployment insurance office through the first eight months of the pandemic, the office granted waivers automatically for many people who were overpaid due to an agency error. Clearly, somebody tried to do a wire transfer. Claimant's Mailing Address. The health care and social assistance subsector added 800 jobs in August. .h1 {font-family:'Merriweather';font-weight:700;} SCUF assessment will be reinstated for reporting year 2023 pursuant to KRS 341.243. Release of Records Form for all detailed open records requests. I dont see anything that implicates fault, Smith said. Sanderson normally picked up school assignments those months, and plus, the state already paid him. https://www.dol.gov/coronavirus/unemployment-insurance, Report fraud, waste and abuse to the Departments Office of the Inspector General, Statement of U.S. Secretary of Labor Eugene Scalia on Passing Of Labor-Management Standards Director Arthur Rosenfeld, U.S. Department of Labor Adopts Revised Enforcement Policies For Coronavirus. I dont see anything that implicates fault, Smith said. no longer accept nor process Pre-Employment Screening requests as it has in the past. .cd-main-content p, blockquote {margin-bottom:1em;} Labor force statistics, including the unemployment rate, are based upon estimates from the Current Population Survey of households. The application process laid out in the statute puts the onus on the claimant to request a waiver and prove that they meet the criteria for debt forgiveness, a process Smith said many people may find confusing. ET on 1/23, 1/27, beginning at 9:15 P.M. Make your practice more effective and efficient with Casetexts legal research suite. Kentucky-based attorneys and national advocates say this restrictive approach to overpayment waivers may leave people saddled with debt they shouldnt have to pay. If you receive a fraudulent letter or suspect you have had a fraudulent UI claim, email that information toUIfraud@ky.gov. Ky.gov An Official Website of the Commonwealth of Kentucky: skip to the main content area of this page . When Smith reached out to the unemployment office to ask for a waiver on behalf of a client, she said the unemployment office told her substitute teachers couldnt request a waiver application for summer payments because they were not a no-fault overpayment. .usa-footer .grid-container {padding-left: 30px!important;} How many other people are affected this way? Westerfield asked. Kentucky OUI in 2020, Pre-COVID: The unemployment office budget went from $41 million in 2010 to $25 million in 2018 Staffing Technology There were zero staff dedicated to in-person unemployment services at Career Centers Only 23 staff in the Adjudications Branch who could adjudicate UI claims. Employment increased by 1,100 jobs in the retail trade subsector; decreased by 100 jobs in the wholesale trade subsector; and increased by 600 jobs in the transportation, warehousing and utilities subsector. The only thing I've ever received was two collection letters.. Employment in the educational services subsector, which consists of private educational institutions, fell by 100 jobs from July to August. Employment was down 100 jobs in the federal government; up 300 jobs in state government; and up 14,800 jobs in local government. No one from the Kentucky Office of Unemployment Insurance was available for an interview on the subject, according to Kinnaird. In addition to its recent. Officials said the letters inform people that they are entitled to unemployment insurance benefits and list a dollar amount. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. [CDATA[/* >