R.I. receives $146K to improve unemployment system

WASHINGTON – Rhode Island received a $145,560 grant to improve its unemployment insurance benefit payment system from the U.S. Department of Labor, the agency said on Sept. 8.
The grant was part of a $10 million package that was awarded to 22 states. The funds are designed to help states make technological infrastructure improvements that prevent, detect and collect overpayments of unemployment benefits.
“We must constantly strive to improve the systems that prevent improper payments within unemployment insurance systems,” said Hilda Solis, secretary of the department. “Technology improvements can save money both by preventing overpayments and in staff time that otherwise would be dedicated to recovering improperly paid benefits.”
The grants will help support the efforts of states that expressed a need for enhanced automation for integrity systems, the agency said, noting that the technology upgrades should reduce staff costs, increase the amount of recovered overpayments and also prevent future ones.