Industry News
We've collected numerous articles that are of interest to state workforce agency executives. If you've seen something interesting in the news concerning unemployment insurance fraud, identity fraud, or new government initiatives, let us know.
Is Your Agency a Victim of Pre-texting? (02/07/08)
Although “pre-texting” sounds as if it were referring to the steps taken before a text message is sent via cell phone, the term actually refers to the stealing of personal information by thieves impersonating their victims. Read more ...
Participant in $16 Million Fraud Scheme Convicted (02/07/08)
A participant in one of the nation’s largest unemployment insurance (UI) benefits scam nicknamed Gold Rush, was indicted last year by the US Department of Justice. Read more ...
Legislation to improve fairness and efficiency in UI system (2/20/07)
The Washington Employment Security Department (ESD) is seeking legislative approval of a proposal that would improve equity and efficiency in the unemployment insurance system. Read more ...
United States Department of Labor publishes a final rule to codify longstanding unemployment compensation policy (2/20/07)
Since 1935 the United States Department of Labor has enforced a longstanding policy requiring unemployment compensation beneficiaries to be able and available to work, but it wasn’t until earlier this year that they published a final rule in the Federal Register codifying it. Read more ...
California agency catches two large UI benefits scams (2/20/07)
Two scams totaling more than $1.7 million in fraudulent UI benefits claims filed with the California Employment Development Department have been successfully prosecuted. Read more ...
Payroll manager charged with stealing $2.8 million in mail fraud scheme (2/20/07)
A former payroll manager for a Long Island, New York, company has been charged with stealing $2.8 million through a complex scheme involving the data processing of payroll accounts for unemployment insurance (UI) tax reporting. The charges center around mail fraud. Read more ...
USDOL announces nearly $10 million in grants to strengthen state UI systems (12/22/06)
On September 29, 2006, the U.S. Department of Labor announced that it has issued almost $10 million in grants to help ensure that unemployment insurance is reserved for those who are entitled to it and to better help those who have lost a job to re-employment services. Read more ...
Man convicted of defrauding California Employment Development Department (12/22/06)
U.S. Attorneys in federal court prosecuted and successfully convicted Severo Pena of defrauding the California Employment Development Department out of $124,000 in unemployment insurance (UI) benefits. Read more ...
Washington uncovers millions in UI fraud (9/19/06)
Congratulations to Washington State's Employment Security Department (ESD), a long time On Point Technology client, for its recent success in uncovering UI fraud. Read more ...
Colorado agency uncovers more than 2,000 cases of SSN theft (9/19/06)
Acting on an order from Executive Director Rick Grice, Information Systems staff at the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment (CDLE) recently discovered 2,249 cases of Social Security number theft. Read more ...
Is your agency looking for a few extra million UI integrity dollars? (7/25/06)
While every state has a penalty and interest fund, money generated for
the fund is usually based on penalties and interest on employers' delinquent taxes and late reports. Most do not collect interest on overpayment of UI benefits. Read more ...
NDNH proves highly effective in identifying overpayments (7/25/06)
As On Point Technology travels the country participating in conferences, performing on-site demonstrations of our package software solutions, and generally engaging in discussion with UI agency personnel, we are frequently asked for our impression of how effective the National Directory of New Hires (NDNH) is going to be. We don't have to speculate in our response because there is hard evidence available. Read more ...
Is a corrective action plan in your agency's future? (5/25/06)
At this year's National Unemployment Insurance Integrity Conference, held last month in Chicago, Andrew Spisak, Mathematician-Statistician for the Employment Training Administration branch of the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), gave an insightful presentation on UI Overpayment Detection Measure. Read more ...
Washington State shares NDNH crossmatch experience (4/18/06)
Until recently, unemployment insurance claimants could fraudulently collect benefits in one state while working in another with little probability of getting caught. State workforce agencies didn't have the means to identify the fraud, and some claimants took advantage of this weak point in the system. Read more ...
Bush FY 2007 budget request revives UI integrity proposal (3/14/06)
The Bush Administration's FY 2007 budget request, announced February 6, 2006, includes a revival of last year's Department of Labor (DOL) integrity proposal. Read more ...
Washington State plans aggressive campaign against UI cheaters (2/14/06)
The Washington State Employment Security Department (WESD), long at the forefront of the country's effort to combat fraud, has proposed an ambitious legislative agenda for 2006. Read more ...
Hurricanes hinder crackdown on government spending (1/10/06)
After government agencies misspent an estimated $45 billion last year through overpayments, underpayments and payments that should never have been made, Bush administration officials vowed to crack down on the problem. Read more ...
ETA plans to recognize top-performing state workforce agencies (12/13/05)
The Office of Workforce Security recently released a Training and Employment Notice announcing the Employment and Training Administration's (ETA) plan to recognize state workforce agencies for excellent performance in administering their unemployment insurance programs. Read more ...
Missouri Department of Labor aggressively pursues fraud cases (11/8/05)
The Missouri Department of Labor and Industrial Relations recently announced that unemployment insurance fraud referrals since January 2005 have resulted in restitution of $23,910.12. Read more ...
Louisiana Governor issues order to suspend certain UI laws for workers displaced by Hurricane Katrina (10/4/05)
At On Point Technology, our hearts and thoughts go out to everyone who has been touched by the recent devastating Gulf Coast hurricanes, particularly our colleagues in the state workforce agencies directly affected and the people who have volunteered to help relieve those agencies. Read more ...
On Point Technology salutes state workforce agencies on 70th anniversary
of UI program (9/6/05)
The On Point Technology team is excited to salute the staffs of the 53 state workforce agencies on the 70th anniversary of the Unemployment Insurance Program. Read more ...
Workforce agencies gaining media attention, for better or worse (8/16/05)
While certainly not news of the "if it bleeds, it leads" variety, national media are starting to carry articles based on federal BAM statistics that have been released by the U.S. Department of Labor. Read more ...
U.S. House approves funding to detect and prevent UI fraud (7/28/05)
On June 23, the U.S. House of Representatives approved the annual appropriations bill (HR3010) to fund programs administered by the U.S. Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education. Read more ...
Michigan agency orders 215 workers to repay unemployment benefits (6/28/05)
Michigan's Unemployment Insurance Agency (UIA) recently uncovered an overpayment and fraud case involving 215 workers from Atlantic Automotive. Read more ...
Curbing unemployment fraud is essential for strong economy (6/6/05)
Public awareness and governmental systems are the keys to maintaining the integrity of unemployment insurance programs. Read more ...
DOL manager charged in fraud scheme (5/17/05)
A manager in the Jersey City office of the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development (DOLWD) has been charged with official misconduct, conspiracy and disclosing data, according to Hackensack, New Jersey, Police Chief Charles Zisa. If convicted, the manager faces up to 30 years in jail. Read more ...
Michigan recoups $2.4 million from tax avoidance scheme (5/2/05)
In its first announced major State Unemployment Tax Act (SUTA) dumping case, the State of Michigan has recovered $2.4 million in unpaid unemployment insurance taxes. Read more ...
Claimants face stiffer penalties for UI fraud (4/18/05)
The Idaho Department of Commerce and Labor is cracking down on unemployment insurance fraud with stricter penalties for claimants, including having to repay overpayments plus as much as a 100 percent penalty fee, with 52 weeks of ineligibility for future unemployment insurance benefits.
Read more ...
Labor Secretary Chao says UI and pension reforms will help workers (4/11/05)
President Bush's FY 2006 Budget request provides $2.6 billion in discretionary funding for the United States Department of Labor for state grants to enhance unemployment insurance administration. Read more ...