The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has announced the availability of new tools to support state agencies in detecting, preventing and recovering improper Unemployment Insurance (UI) payments as well as combating UI fraud.
The Fraud Tips and Leads Gateway, a new online tool, provides the public with a portal to report fraud. It will help states act quickly to aggressively investigate tips and leads as well as prosecute bad actors. In addition, the Labor Department is publishing new, consumer-friendly materials highlighting the most common mistakes that claimants make and what businesses can do to avoid the negative tax implications of improper payments. The department is working with states and through the workforce system to broadly display these materials in public areas and to post them online.
"Reducing improper Unemployment Insurance payments is crucial to maintaining the integrity of this vital lifeline for millions of American families, and we each have a role to play," said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis. "Too many people don't know their responsibilities under the program, and too many businesses don't know what's at stake for them, especially the tax implications. The tools announced today will help educate consumers and businesses, and ultimately improve the UI system."