Employment in this sector was up by 10,100 jobs or 4.6% since August 2021. For unemployment insurance claims filed between January 27, 2020 and December 31, 2020, KRS 341.413 authorizes the secretary to waive overpayments of unemployment insurance benefits if the secretary, upon an alleged overpayment recipient's waiver request, finds the overpayment was made without fault on the part of the recipient and recovery would For more information, please visit the Kentucky Department for . He hasnt received a waiver application, and hasnt been able to reach the unemployment office to ask for one. They do not include unemployed Kentuckians who have not looked for employment within the past four weeks. If you make them pay it back, thats a hardship, thats exactly what the waiver is supposed to address, Smith said.. Sanderson received unemployment benefits from April through June last year when the coronavirus pandemic closed schools to in-person education, and ended the substitute teaching assignments Sanderson relied on. The Office of Unemployment Insurance and the Kentucky Labor Cabinet are working to identify additional times and locations for in-person services around the state. Services Kentuckys mining and logging sector was unchanged in August, and unchanged from August 2021. Kentucky Labor Cabinet spokesperson Kevin Kinnaird said in an email the agency sent out just over 14,600 applications so far, allowing the chance of forgiveness for over $19.6 million in total overpayment debt. This story was produced by the Kentucky Center for Investigative Reporting, a nonprofit newsroom by Louisville Public Media. I dont see anything that implicates fault, Smith said. We just need a complete overhaul.. While several sectors such as financial activities and professional and business services have recovered, others such as manufacturing and construction are still below pre-pandemic levels.. KYSAFE. Counseling and guidance. 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. 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.. Sanderson received unemployment benefits from April through June last year when the coronavirus pandemic closed schools to in-person education, and ended the substitute teaching assignments Sanderson relied on. They did not misrepresent anything and they relied on your agency granting that sum.. 199, Part 1D.7.(6). 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. Achieved 40 months in a row with more job openings than job-hirings. The CARES Act includes the Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation, Pandemic Unemployment Assistance, and Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation programs. Rev 01/2021 Kentucky Labor Cabinet Office of Unemployment Insurance Integrity Branch 500 Mero Street, 4-SC Frankfort, KY 40601 Phone: (502)564-2387 Overpayment and Fraud Detection EMPLOYER ADDRESS Mailing Date: Claimant: SSN: Case #: Employer Instructions: Kentuckys statewide unemployment rate and employment levels are seasonally adjusted. They notified the state by mail that it was a case of fraud. Division of Program Integrity - Cabinet for Health and Family Services Ky. gov An Official Website of the Commonwealth of Kentucky Services Agencies News Contact Us CHFS Agencies Department for Medicaid Services Division of Program Integrity Division of Program Integrity Division of Program Integrity Who We Are .cd-main-content p, blockquote {margin-bottom:1em;} It's entrenched in our system. 01/09/2023 Unemployment Insurance Claimants: 1099-G. Unemployment Insurance Claimants: 1099-G documents will soon be available in the claimant portal and mailed via the U.S. February 2, 2022--John A. Yarmuth, Kentucky, resigned from the Committee. For more information on your rights to request, review and correct information submitted on this electronic form, please see OUI's Privacy and Security Information. Kentucky-based attorneys and national advocates say this restrictive approach to overpayment waivers may leave people saddled with debt they shouldnt have to pay. Sanderson normally picked up school assignments those months, and plus, the state already paid him. May 12, 2022--Julia Letlow, Louisiana, resigned from the Committee. The response to a Pre-Employment Screening request will only disclose whether a first report of injury has been filed with respect to the individual about whom the request is submitted. If you have a question, UI customer service representatives can help. Kentucky's Unemployment Insurance Self-Service Web. They say the Office of Senior. In addition to its recent guidance related to continued eligibility for benefits, the Department has consolidated all state unemployment insurance fraud hotlines on one page for ease of access. Cohen told WAVE 3 News she has gotten no sleep in the last few weeks, and its not because its tax season. The only thing Ive ever received was two collection letters.. Its entrenched in our system. FRANKFORT, Ky. (WBKO) - The Kentucky Chamber of Commerce is alerting citizens of fraudulent unemployment benefit letters being received across the state. United States Department of Labor Employment and Training Administration. As states begin entering phased reopenings, the Department reiterated the obligations of employers, employees, and all workforce partners to protect the integrity of the unemployment insurance system. * First Name. no longer accept nor process Pre-Employment Screening requests as it has in the past. 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. ET on 1/7, 1/18, beginning at 12 P.M. Employers should download any information they would like to keep for their records before this date. 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. Data Entry is also responsible for updating the agency's database with appropriate coding to give details regarding the status of a claim. Kentuckians receiving fraudulent unemployment benefit letters, Its over: Law enforcement officials react to suicide of accused officer killer, Scottsville Police respond to accidents due to strong wind conditions, Statewide tornado drill set for Wednesday, March 1, Second search for missing Caneyville woman yields no new information, This weeks JA People of Action features Bethany Smith, WKU selects 18 for 2023-24 Cherry Presidential Scholarship, Hopkinsville man injured in Todd County accident. Employment in Kentuckys manufacturing sector jumped by 7,600 positions from July 2022 to August 2022, a gain of 3.2%. If you make them pay it back, that's a hardship, that's exactly what the waiver is supposed to address, Smith said.. All material 2023 LEO Weekly, Louisville, KY. All rights reserved. Kentucky-based attorneys and national advocates say this restrictive approach to overpayment waivers may leave people saddled with debt they shouldnt have to pay. Detailed open records requests, those which seek documents containing information exempt from disclosure, require a written release from the party whose information is sought. Building alliances with Kentucky employers to promote worker safety through high-quality education and technical assistance. Pay; Tax Information; Links; Contact Us; . Sanderson normally picked up school assignments those months, and plus, the state already paid him. Steve Gray, senior counsel at the National Employment Law Project, a nonprofit advocating for economic security and opportunity for workers, said anyone who was given benefits from the state should be eligible to request a debt waiver. The Education and Labor Cabinet's mission is to educate, prepare and train Kentucky's current and future workforces. In June, the unemployment office began mailing overpayment waiver applications to those who might be eligible for an overpayment waiver based on their records. The time period is triggered by the mailing date of the decision being appealed. Unemployment Insurance Tax Audit Branch. The Department will The state's. As a result of Governor Beshear's reorganization, the Imaging Branch is now comprised of two sections; Scanning and Open Records. Incumbents working in this job title primarily perform duties in an office setting. 2022 Commonwealth of Kentucky. To that end, claimants should understand their states requirements on accepting offers of suitable employment; employers should understand their obligation to report all instances of potential fraud, waste or abuse; employers and claimants should understand that refusing suitable work may cause suspension of benefits; and workforce partners should pivot to employee engagement, employer outreach and job referrals for the more than 33 million Americans who find themselves unemployed. 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. He hasnt received a waiver application, and hasnt been able to reach the unemployment office to ask for one. 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.. The cyber criminals still have her social security number and many others. All rights reserved. The Department will process faxed, emailed, and mailed requests in the traditional fashion. Andy Beshear nor the Kentucky Education and. If you are interested in using LinkedIn and do not already have an account, please set up your profile at https://www.linkedin.com/. Find helpful information about the workers' compensation program. 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. 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. 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. Just a few months earlier, in March of 2020, Kentucky expanded unemployment insurance to cover independent contractors and substitute teachers. He said she drew unemployment for three months in 2020 and received $184 a week. The Kentucky unemployment office paid him, then determined retroactively he was ineligible for benefits once the regular school year ended. .h1 {font-family:'Merriweather';font-weight:700;} 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. Join our e-mail list to receive LEO exclusives and special offers on tickets and giveaways. 2023 Commonwealth of Kentucky. To receive Press Releases and updates on Workers Compensation and Workplace Standards, subscribe below. They in good faith did what your people told them to do. 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. They did not falsify anything. Jobless claims hit a nearly 50-year low. 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. 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. All rights reserved. All rights reserved. Learn more labor-related education and training programs to benefit both employers and employees. .manual-search ul.usa-list li {max-width:100%;} The information services sector rose by 200 jobs in August. We just need a complete overhaul., Central and Eastern Kentucky's Radio News Leader, Kentucky Center for Investigative Reporting, Gov. Abstracts, memoranda, copies -- Agency may prescribe fee -- Use of nonexempt public records for commercial purposes -- Online access. I got a letter from the Kentucky Department of Unemployment Insurance that I was eligible for unemployment and I thought This is really strange, Cohen explained. 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. No one from the Kentucky Office of Unemployment Insurance was available for an interview on the subject, according to Kinnaird. An Official Website of the Commonwealth of Kentucky. The Committee is meeting today to hear testimony on Examining the Policies and Priorities of the U.S. Department of Labor. The accommodations and food services subsector added 1,700 jobs in August. (6) authorizes the secretary to waive an overpayment of benefits for unemployment insurance claims filed between January 27, 2020 and September 6, 2021. NECESSITY, FUNCTION, AND CONFORMITY: KRS 341.115(1) authorizes the secretary to promulgate administrative regulations necessary or suitable for the proper administration of KRS Chapter 341. KRS 150.170. The letters are made to look as though they are coming from the states offices. February 2, 2022--Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, Florida, was appointed to the Committee. These codes are used by other DWC personnel to ensure quality assistance to claimants, attorneys, employers, and carriers. 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. A letter to the Appeals Branch or to the UI Commission stating the intent to appeal is sufficient. They said that will. Review: Quoth The Raven, Gimme More Fish!, Louisville Visual Art, Parks Alliance Of Louisville Seeking Local Artists For Portrait Of Alberta Odell Jones, Gov. 199, Part 1D.7. AVAILABLE SERVICES File New Unemployment Claim There will be a $35.00 fee on all returned checks. As the HR Branch Manager, she is responsible for Personnel, Payroll, Benefits, Outside Employment, Unemployment Insurance, Background Checks (National Crime Information Center (NCIC) and Child Abuse/Neglect (CAN)), Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO), American's with Disability Act (ADA), Disability Retirement, Discipline, Family Medical Leave 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. The unemployment office has so far approved debt relief to just over a third of those individuals who received letters. The .gov means its official. A Kentucky state report found at least 19 state workers used the unemployment insurance program to claim benefits for themselves. See an example of the letter here. Requests must be mailed with the payment at the time of submission. Additionally, identify theft may result in unemployment insurance fraud that is neither the fault of the employer nor the identify theft victim. 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. Employment in the educational services subsector, which consists of private educational institutions, fell by 100 jobs from July to August. Phone: (502) 564-2384. He said by email that the waivers amount to nearly $7.5 million in debt forgiven so far. Jared Bennett is an investigative reporter for the Kentucky Center for Investigative Reporting. Clearly, somebody tried to do a wire transfer. They in good faith did what your people told them to do. 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