Before KyCIR, he was a reporter the Center for Public Integrity and a digital producer for WBUR in Boston. They did not falsify anything. The duties of the Division of Information and Research include collection, storage and retrieval of data and the dissemination of information. * First Name. Rehabilitation/assistive technology. If you receive a letter like this or suspect you have had a fraudulent UI claim, email that information to UIfraud@ky.gov. 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. Pursuant to KRS 150.170, the Open Records Section also verifies workers compensation awards for the Department of Fish and Wildlife for individuals applying for free hunting and fishing licenses. He said by email that the waivers amount to nearly $7.5 million in debt forgiven so far. 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. That is to me the epitome of unconscionable unjust and unfair, putting that burden on people who are still struggling to get back on their feet.. Phone: (502) 564-2384. They notified the state by mail that it was a case of fraud. With no prize on the other side, Sanderson said. February 2, 2022--Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, Florida, was appointed to the Committee. Additionally, identify theft may result in unemployment insurance fraud that is neither the fault of the employer nor the identify theft victim. Gray said the mindset that keeps recipiency rates low may impact how states implement their waiver programs. If you receive a fraudulent letter or suspect you have had a fraudulent UI claim, email that information toUIfraud@ky.gov. All material 2023 LEO Weekly, Louisville, KY. All rights reserved. 8, February 1, 2023. Sanderson didnt know that. 2023 Taxable Wage Base will increase to $11,100 per worker. An Open Records Request is required to obtain additional information. Employment in this sector was up by 10,100 jobs or 4.6% since August 2021. 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. FRANKFORT, Ky. (WBKO) - The Kentucky Chamber of Commerce is alerting citizens of fraudulent unemployment benefit letters being received across the state. 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. The CARES Act includes the Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation, Pandemic Unemployment Assistance, and Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation programs. Since August 2021, employment in this sector has risen by 13,800 jobs or 3.4%. Vocational training. Unemployment Insurance Benefits Branch. AVAILABLE SERVICES File New Unemployment Claim All returned documents will be sent through the United States Postal service. Fax: (502) 564-5623. The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely. You get this bill in the mail and you only have 30 days from the date that mailed to you to try and build a case, using words that lawyers use, about why you shouldn't have to pay all of that back, Smith said. Micrographics equipment is located within the branch offices and is available for use by agency staff as well as the general public. Fax: (502) 564-7850. . ol{list-style-type: decimal;} Unemployment Insurance Tax Audit Branch. NOTE: COMPLETION OF THIS FORM IS REQUIRED UNDER KENTUCKY UNEMPLOYMENT . More Americans reported being employed than ever before - nearly 160 million. The Department encourages reporting of unemployment insurance fraud in state systems, and the updated resources released today will assist in this reporting. Office of the Secretary; Link, Jamie Secretary Tel: 502-564-3070 Office of the Secretary; Wise, Vickie Deputy Secretary Tel: 502-564-3070 Office of the Secretary; Department of Workers' Claims; Walker, Robert Commissioner Tel: 502-564-5550 Department of Workers' Claims / Commissioner's Office; Wilhoit, Scott Deputy Commissioner Tel: 502-564 . Even Kentucky lawmakers are now victims, all as countless Kentuckians are waiting on unemployment checks who really need them. 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. 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. They did not misrepresent anything and they relied on your agency granting that sum.. 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. Your efforts will help us maintain the integrity of the Kentucky Unemployment Insurance Program. Pay; Tax Information; Links; Contact Us; . 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. We just need a complete overhaul.. 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. The governor's office has confirmed with the Kentucky Chamber these letters are concerning fraudulent claims made on behalf of employees or individuals. The Imaging Branch also responds to requests for a claim and first report information as well as open records requests. Find helpful information about the workers' compensation program. There wasnt a law that told them not to claim that they were ignoring. 1099-G Tax Form. Andy Beshears public statements about eligibility, Beshear told people to save money from unemployment insurance benefits, Kentucky expanded unemployment insurance to cover independent contractors. Sanderson normally picked up school assignments those months, and plus, the state already paid him. 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 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. But, Gray said, many states shifted the focus of unemployment insurance in recent years from providing relief to as many out of work people as possible towards limiting access to prevent relatively rare instances of fraud or mistaken overpayments. Kentucky-based attorneys and national advocates say this restrictive approach to overpayment waivers may leave people saddled with debt they shouldnt have to pay. This sector had 18,000 more jobs or 9.8% compared to August 2021. 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. Unemployment Insurance Auditor Education and Workforce Development Cabinet Sep 1998 - Aug 20068 years 275 East Main Street, Frankfort, KY 40621 Conduct investigations to determine worker. Employment in Kentuckys leisure and hospitality sector was up by 1,200 positions from July 2022 to August 2022, a gain of 0.6%. If you have a question, UI customer service representatives can help. Thats a federal offense, she said. Kentucky One Stop Business Portal (Unemployment does not participate) Kentucky Secretary of State. Well, I havent received that, Sanderson said. Falsification of information is punishable by fines and/or imprisonment under KRS 341.990. Sanderson remembers watching a press briefing on TV as a representative from the state saying people would be receiving a form to fill out and apply for forgiveness. The finance and insurance subsector was down 100 jobs from July to August. To receive Labor Cabinet regulation changes or notices of newly proposed regulations, subscribe to RegWatch below. ET on 1/28, Monday, Jan. 16 - Martin Luther King, Jr.'s Birthday, One-half day, Friday, April 7 - Good Friday, Thursday & Friday, Nov. 23, 24 - Thanksgiving, Monday & Tuesday, Dec. 25, 26 - Christmas, Friday & Monday, Dec. 29, Jan. 1 - New Year's. It's entrenched in our system. Employment in the total government sector was down 1,900 positions or 0.6% compared to August 2021. 199, Part 1D.7.(6). The only thing I've ever received was two collection letters.. Nonfarm data is provided by the Bureau of Labor Statistics Current Employment Statistics program. Abstracts, memoranda, copies -- Agency may prescribe fee -- Use of nonexempt public records for commercial purposes -- Online access. Employers should download any information they would like to keep for their records before this date. In addition to its recent. Victim of this identity theft can get help at the Kentucky Career Center Unemployment Insurance Fraud Division at www.kcc.ky.gov. 199, Part 1D.7. The unemployment office has so far approved debt relief to just over a third of those individuals who received letters. Lots of states that have waivers in place dont give very many of them, even though there are lots of people that are eligible for them because of this sort of same mentality, Gray said. Related additional frequently asked questions are also available here: https://www.dol.gov/coronavirus/unemployment-insurance. As a result of Governor Beshear's reorganization, the Imaging Branch is now comprised of two sections; Scanning and Open Records. Kentuckys unemployment rate moved up slightly in August as estimates suggest there were both fewer people in the labor force and more people unemployed, said University of Kentuckys Center for Business and Economic Research (CBER) Director Mike Clark, Ph.D. While August estimates differed somewhat from July, these differences were not statistically significant, which indicates that there has been little change.. Claimant's Mailing Address. Well, I havent received that, Sanderson said. @media only screen and (min-width: 0px){.agency-nav-container.nav-is-open {overflow-y: unset!important;}} The Division of Information and Research is organized into two branches, the Records Branch and the Imaging Branch. They do not include unemployed Kentuckians who have not looked for employment within the past four weeks. You get this bill in the mail and you only have 30 days from the date that mailed to you to try and build a case, using words that lawyers use, about why you shouldnt have to pay all of that back, Smith said. 2022 Commonwealth of Kentucky. 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. 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. Please use If you make them pay it back, thats a hardship, thats exactly what the waiver is supposed to address, Smith said.. The Department encourages reporting of unemployment insurance fraud in state systems, and the updated resources released today will assist in this reporting. To request your bi-weekly benefit check on-line, the system is available Monday through Friday from 7:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m. and Sunday from 2:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. Eastern Time. Release of Records Form for all detailed open records requests. .paragraph--type--html-table .ts-cell-content {max-width: 100%;} No one from the Kentucky Office of Unemployment Insurance was available for an interview on the subject, according Kinnaird. The construction sector was up 1,500 positions or 1.9% from one year ago. So when Sanderson heard about the new debt forgiveness waiver, he thought it would certainly apply to substitute teachers like himself. The Department will process faxed, emailed, and mailed requests in the traditional fashion. This administrative regulation establishes definitions and procedures for waiving overpayments pursuant to KRS Chapter 341, 341.413, and 2022 Ky. Acts ch. ET, 1/20, beginning at 9 P.M. 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. An Official Website of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, Safety and health resources for those assisting in the tornado cleanup efforts. Data Entry is also responsible for updating the agency's database with appropriate coding to give details regarding the status of a claim. .usa-footer .grid-container {padding-left: 30px!important;} 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. p.usa-alert__text {margin-bottom:0!important;} 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. Its entrenched in our system. Detailed open records requests, those which seek documents containing information exempt from disclosure, require a written release from the party whose information is sought. 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. An Official Website of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, skip to the main content area of this page, Site Enhancements and Electronic Reporting, Kentucky Office of Unemployment Insurance, Kentucky One Stop Business Portal (Unemployment does not participate), United States Department of Labor Employment and Training Administration, United States Small Business Administration. * Claimant's Last 4 SSN. The governors office has confirmed with the Kentucky Chamber these letters are not coming from the state and encourages individuals to report these issues. Find helpful information about the workers' compensation program. People who were overpaid but didnt get a waiver application have the right to file an appeal, Kinnaird said, but according to the unemployment offices website, appeals must be filed within 15 days of the initial decision. The unemployment rate reached 3.5 percent, the lowest in a half-century. Effective Jan. 31, 2023, the Kentucky Career Center (KCC) will stop using Focus/Career and Focus/Talent and transition to LinkedIn to assist job seekers and help employers find qualified employees. The Department of Labor will continue to help states quickly pay benefits to eligible claimants and ensure employers have access to the workforce they need to reopen, while protecting taxpayer dollars from fraud.. 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. The unemployment office said substitute teachers werent supposed to file unemployment claims during summer break. They did not misrepresent anything and they relied on your agency granting that sum.. To receive Press Releases and updates on Workers Compensation and Workplace Standards, subscribe below. 49, No. filed their claim through an out-of-state. Im very scared, Louisville accountant Helen Cohen said. That is to me the epitome of unconscionable unjust and unfair, putting that burden on people who are still struggling to get back on their feet.. Later, Cohen got a $300 check in the mail from the state unemployment office. 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%. I dont see anything that implicates fault, Smith said. The unemployment office has so far approved debt relief to just over a third of those individuals who received letters. .table thead th {background-color:#f1f1f1;color:#222;} I dont see anything that implicates fault, Smith said. People who were overpaid but didnt get a waiver application have the right to file an appeal, Kinnaird said, but according to the unemployment offices website, appeals must be filed within 15 days of the initial decision. RELATES TO: KRS 341.413, 2022 Ky. Acts ch. 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%. Kentucky Government Homepage. Republican State Sen. David Givens from Greensburg, who sponsored the law creating the waiver process, did not respond to a request for comment. The following links to related sites provide additional information regarding Unemployment Insurance Tax requirements for employers. The CARES Act includes the Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation, Pandemic Unemployment Assistance, and Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation programs. They in good faith did what your people told them to do. They say the Office of Senior. The state needs to fill out portions of the waiver application first, including how much money the applicant was overpaid, and theres no blank forms online or elsewhere for people to submit their own application. .agency-blurb-container .agency_blurb.background--light { padding: 0; } With no prize on the other side, Sanderson said. The mission of the Department is to foster, promote and develop the welfare. A lot of this is people buying your information off the dark web, theyre not from our system.. The Data Entry Section receives and processes 90 percent of the documents filed with the Department of Workers' Claims (DWC). No one from the Kentucky Office of Unemployment Insurance was available for an interview on the subject, according to Kinnaird. The number of people employed in August decreased by 1,796 to 1,984,692 while the number of unemployed increased by 1,029 to 78,164. Leonard Sanderson, a substitute teacher for Jefferson County Public Schools, hoped the new waiver would relieve him of nearly $1,000 in debt. Requests will not be processed and will be returned if full payment is not included and/or request is not legible. .usa-footer .container {max-width:1440px!important;} All Rights Reserved. The list of all state unemployment insurance fraud hotlines can be found at https://www.dol.gov/general/maps/fraud. File New Unemployment claim all returned documents will be returned if full payment is not included and/or is. 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