PROVIDENCE (AP) – The R.I. Department of Labor and Training continues to see pandemic-related unemployment insurance fraud, but is working hard to detect and prevent it, officials say.
“We’re seeing enormous claim levels right now, and a lot of those claims are fraud,” department Director Scott R. Jensen told a Senate Oversight Committee on Monday.
Redefining Higher Education: The Strategic Imperative of a Three-Year Bachelor’s Degree
For over a century, the structure of undergraduate education has remained largely unchanged—typically requiring four…
Learn More
During the pandemic, the agency has paid out about $23 million in fraudulent unemployment claims, which is about 1% of the total paid to Rhode Islanders. About $3.5 million in the fraudulent claims have been recouped, and the agency has another insurance claim pending to recover more money.
The department now has an automated system in place to recognize fraud quicker, Jensen told the committee. It uses algorithms to better recognize patterns such as what banks the account is linked to, or what IP address the claim is coming from, he said.
Anyone who thinks they are a victim of fraud should report it , he said.
The state so far hasn’t had to borrow from the federal government to pay people’s benefits, something Jensen said many other states have done.
“That means Rhode Island employers aren’t going to have to pay back a loan with interest to the federal government,” he said.
Re the DLT’s fraud issues: I understand the problem here, but when will valid, certified claimants resume receiving benefit payments? My claim was certified back in November 2020, but I haven’t received payments in 4 weeks. There is never a mention of benefit payments resuming and most frustrating is that there is no way to contact their office. Can anyone provide an answer?