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 Claims for individuals who worked in. Almost two months ago, Gov. Pay; Tax Information; Links; Contact Us; . Incumbents working in this job title primarily perform duties in an office setting. The Cabinet said despite. he Department has consolidated all state unemployment insurance fraud hotlines on one page for ease of access. ET, 1/20, beginning at 9 P.M. Overall, the level of local government employment is only down somewhat, 700 jobs or 0.4%, from last year.. Requests will not be processed and will be returned if full payment is not included and/or request is not legible. The Department of Labor will continue to help states quickly pay benefits to eligible claimants and ensure employers have access to the workforce they need to reopen, while protecting taxpayer dollars from fraud.. Unemployment Insurance Tax Audit Branch. 2023 Commonwealth of Kentucky. He said by email that the waivers amount to nearly $7.5 million in debt forgiven so far. There wasnt a law that told them not to claim that they were ignoring. If you receive a letter like this or suspect you have had a fraudulent UI claim, email that information to UIfraud@ky.gov. Jared Bennett is an investigative reporter for the Kentucky Center for Investigative Reporting. Kentucky's Unemployment Insurance Self-Service Web. The CARES Act includes the Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation, Pandemic Unemployment Assistance, and Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation programs. These codes are used by other DWC personnel to ensure quality assistance to claimants, attorneys, employers, and carriers. The unemployment rate reached 3.5 percent, the lowest in a half-century. However, due to the small sample size, county unemployment rates are not seasonally adjusted. 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. I dont see anything that implicates fault, Smith said. Ky.gov An Official Website of the Commonwealth of Kentucky: skip to the main content area of this page . Management staff is responsible for maintaining the agency's records retention and destruction in accordance with the Kentucky Department for Library and Archives retention schedule. The Imaging Branch also responds to requests for a claim and first report information as well as open records requests. Republican State Sen. David Givens from Greensburg, who sponsored the law creating the waiver process, did not respond to a request for comment. The Records Branch is a fundamental part of the Department of Workers' Claims (DWC) and is divided into four sections: Data Entry, Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) Proof of Coverage (POC) and Research. The industries in this sector include traditional publishing as well as software publishing; motion pictures and broadcasting; and telecommunications. I got this letter in the mail from the Labor Cabinet, Republican State Senator Whitney Westerfield of District 3 said. Building alliances with Kentucky employers to promote worker safety through high-quality education and technical assistance. Appeals must be made in writing. With no prize on the other side, Sanderson said. The trade, transportation and utilities sector added 1,600 positions from July 2022 to August 2022. Unemployment insurance fraud takes many forms. Local government employment, which includes public schools, fell by 14,600 jobs from June to July and then rebounded by 14,800 from July to August, said Clark. The only thing Ive ever received was two collection letters.. Employment in the arts, entertainment and recreation subsector fell by 500 jobs from July to August. The .gov means its official. Kentucky's unemployment office had paid her husband, Roger, more than $4,200 in benefits last spring as COVID-19 first hit Kentucky. The Scanning Section is responsible for scanning and verifying all hard-copy claims and first report documentation and indexing them into the agency's integrated imaging system. 2022 Commonwealth of Kentucky. Requests must be mailed with the payment at the time of submission. Commonwealth of Kentucky. After that, Cohen said she hired a theft protection service and contacted several investigative agencies, including the FBI. Kentuckys new unemployment insurance overpayment waiver is supposed to offer some relief to people who were mistakenly overpaid benefits, but many who owe money are excluded from even asking. The Data Entry Section receives and processes 90 percent of the documents filed with the Department of Workers' Claims (DWC). No one from the Kentucky Office of Unemployment Insurance was available for an interview on the subject, according to Kinnaird. The U.S. seasonally adjusted jobless rate for August 2022 was 3.7%, which was up 0.2 percentage points from July 2022, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. The state's. They did not falsify anything. A UI system that was still coded in 1970's COBOL filed their claim through an out-of-state. Services Unemployment Insurance Benefits Branch. no longer accept nor process Pre-Employment Screening requests as it has in the past. Civilian labor force statistics include nonmilitary workers and unemployed Kentuckians who are actively seeking work. 199, Part 1D.7. March 1, 2022--Chris Jacobs, New York, was appointed to the Committee. Employment in the educational services subsector, which consists of private educational institutions, fell by 100 jobs from July to August. 1099-G Tax Form. With no prize on the other side, Sanderson said. There wasnt a law that told them not to claim that they were ignoring. If you have questions about this advertisement, please contact Jennifer Carman at Jennifer.Carman@ky.gov or 270 . This sector had 100 fewer positions compared to August 2021. Learn more labor-related education and training programs to benefit both employers and employees. Requirement of hunting, fishing, trapping, or guide's license -- Exceptions -- Killing of wildlife causing damage -- Reporting . 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. Join our e-mail list to receive LEO exclusives and special offers on tickets and giveaways. 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. 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. They in good faith did what your people told them to do. The Department of Workers' Claims requires pre-payment for all Pre-Employment requests pursuant to KRS 61.874(1). Andy Beshear nor the Kentucky Education and. Employment in the total government sector was down 1,900 positions or 0.6% compared to August 2021. Abstracts, memoranda, copies -- Agency may prescribe fee -- Use of nonexempt public records for commercial purposes -- Online access. Governor Andy Beshear Wednesday afternoon addressed mounting fraud in Kentuckys unemployment system. Achieved 40 months in a row with more job openings than job-hirings. Employers should download any information they would like to keep for their records before this date. Phone: (502) 564-3925. How many other people are affected this way? Westerfield asked. Postal Service by Jan. 31, 2023. According to the survey, employment increased for eight of Kentuckys major nonfarm North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) job sectors in August 2022, decreased for one, and was unchanged for two. ET until 1 A.M. 2022 Commonwealth of Kentucky. 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. This sector had 18,000 more jobs or 9.8% compared to August 2021. The health care and social assistance subsector added 800 jobs in August. Counseling and guidance. Sanderson filed suit against the unemployment office last December seeking a judge to reverse the unemployment insurance offices decision that he was ineligible for unemployment benefits. Employment in Kentuckys professional and business services sector fell by 2,000 jobs or 0.9% in August 2022. The mission of the Department is to foster, promote and develop the welfare. .usa-footer .grid-container {padding-left: 30px!important;} Employment in Kentuckys manufacturing sector jumped by 7,600 positions from July 2022 to August 2022, a gain of 3.2%. They in good faith did what your people told them to do. 100 were here. If you look for the purpose of the unemployment statutes across the country, its to relieve the crushing force that unemployment has on people and their families and their communities, Gray said. Sanderson didnt know that. Copyright 2021 WAVE 3 News. Vocational training. The accommodations and food services subsector added 1,700 jobs in August. 199, Part 1D.7.(6). Even Kentucky lawmakers are now victims, all as countless Kentuckians are waiting on unemployment checks who really need them. This issue is not new to Kentucky or across the nation with other . 500 Mero Street Frankfort, KY 40601 Phone: (502) 782-3083 Email: beth.brinly@ky.gov Website: kcc.ky.gov Office of Vocational Rehabilitation Cora McNabb - Executive Director 500 Mero Street Frankfort, KY 40601 Phone: (502) 564-4440 Toll-Free: (800) 372-7172 Video Phone: (502) 542-6042 Website: kcc.ky.gov/Vocational-Rehabilitation ET until 5:15 A.M. The finance and insurance subsector was down 100 jobs from July to August. 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. Just a few months earlier, in March of 2020, Kentucky expanded unemployment insurance to cover independent contractors and substitute teachers. These sections combine to ensure reliability, accuracy, and integrity within the data that is submitted to the DWC. Rev 01/2021 Kentucky Labor Cabinet Office of Unemployment Insurance Integrity Branch 500 Mero Street, 4-SC Frankfort, KY 40601 Phone: (502)564-2387 . As a result of Governor Beshear's reorganization, the Imaging Branch is now comprised of two sections; Scanning and Open Records. 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. ET until 12 A.M. Nearly a year after Beshear told people to save money from unemployment insurance benefits in case the state made a mistake and asked for that money back, the waiver offers debt forgiveness for people who were overpaid through no fault of their own and for whom collection would be unconscionable, unjust or unfair.. When Smith reached out to the unemployment office to ask for a waiver on behalf of a client, she said the unemployment office told her substitute teachers couldnt request a waiver application for summer payments because they were not a no-fault overpayment. When Smith reached out to the unemployment office to ask for a waiver on behalf of a client, she said the unemployment office told her substitute teachers couldnt request a waiver application for summer payments because they were not a no-fault overpayment. Kentuckys educational and health services sector gained 700 positions in August 2022. 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 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. 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 The duties of the Imaging Branch consist of imaging and verifying all hard copy documents as well as indexing them into the DWCs integrated information and optical image system. Fax: (502) 564-5623. May 12, 2022--Julia Letlow, Louisiana, resigned from the Committee. People seeking forgiveness through the waiver then need to explain why their overpayment wasnt their fault and that the debt causes a financial hardship for the applicant and their family or they spent the money on necessary expenses. 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. Unemployment Insurance Claimants: 1099-G, Important message for job seekers and employers regarding your Focus/Career or Focus/Talent account, US Bank will conduct routine system maintenance, Acceptable ID Documents and ID.me Tutorials, U.S.-Department-of-Labor-Veteran-Programs, Carl D. Perkins Vocational Training Center, Statewide Council for Vocational Rehabilitation, Disaster Unemployment Assistance Rights and Responsibilities, Filing Your Mass Electronic Claim (E-Claim), 1/6, beginning at 9 P.M. The section is charged with the responsibility of interpreting and coding the documents filed by claimants, attorneys, employers and carriers as well as orders, opinions, and awards submitted by the Department's Administrative Law Judges. 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. Andy Beshears public statements about eligibility, Beshear told people to save money from unemployment insurance benefits, Kentucky expanded unemployment insurance to cover independent contractors, Support nonprofit, fact-based public service journalism, WEKU is a broadcast service of Eastern Kentucky University. Literary LEO Short Fiction Winners Are Here! February 2, 2022--John A. Yarmuth, Kentucky, resigned from the Committee. .usa-footer .container {max-width:1440px!important;} Office of the Secretary; Link, Jamie Secretary Tel: 502-564-3070 Office of the Secretary; Wise, Vickie Deputy Secretary Tel: 502-564-3070 Office of the Secretary; Department of Workers' Claims; Walker, Robert Commissioner Tel: 502-564-5550 Department of Workers' Claims / Commissioner's Office; Wilhoit, Scott Deputy Commissioner Tel: 502-564 . According to the Kentucky Labor Cabinet, about 745,000 claims have been filed since the pandemic forced businesses to close, creating unprecedented unemployment. The State Labor Cabinet told Wave 3 News the breach is not at the Office of Unemployment Insurance and many agencies are investigating where it originated, including the Office of the Kentucky Attorney General. If you want a copy of your resume in Focus/Career, please download or email your resume from your account to your personal email address before Jan. 30. Please include the person's name, full Social Security Number, your return mailing address and the $2.00 per social requested. See an example of the letter here. address 500 Mero Street 3rd Floor Frankfort, KY 40601 Get Directions phone (502) 564-3070 About On our site you will be able to find information about the Kentucky Occupational Safety and Health Program, Employment Standards (Labor Laws), Workers Compensation Programs as well as Labor Management Relations and Mediation. Interstate Claims Section. He said by email that the waivers amount to nearly $7.5 million in debt forgiven so far. 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. To receive Press Releases and updates on Workers Compensation and Workplace Standards, subscribe below. All rights reserved. .dol-alert-status-error .alert-status-container {display:inline;font-size:1.4em;color:#e31c3d;} (6) authorizes the secretary to waive an overpayment of benefits for unemployment insurance claims filed between January 27, 2020 and September 6, 2021. $0.15 per page/ computer copies plus $2.50 processing fee per request. * Address Line 1. Title 787 - EDUCATION AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT CABINET - DEPARTMENT FOR EMPLOYMENT SERVICES, Section 787 KAR 1:360 - Overpayment waivers, Section 787 KAR 1:320 - Priority of deductions from benefits. */. Now, the state wanted it back. Workers' Compensation. An official website of the United States government. If you are interested in using LinkedIn and do not already have an account, please set up your profile at https://www.linkedin.com/. The governors office has confirmed with the Kentucky Chamber these letters are not coming from the state and encourages individuals to report these issues. Kentucky One Stop Business Portal (Unemployment does not participate) Kentucky Secretary of State. This story was produced by the Kentucky Center for Investigative Reporting, a nonprofit newsroom by Louisville Public Media. Victim of this identity theft can get help at the Kentucky Career Center Unemployment Insurance Fraud Division at www.kcc.ky.gov. Phone: (502) 564-2384. United States Department of Labor Employment and Training Administration. The Department encourages reporting of unemployment insurance fraud in state systems, and the updated resources released today will assist in this reporting. The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely. Employment in this sector was up by 10,100 jobs or 4.6% since August 2021. ET on 1/7, 1/18, beginning at 12 P.M. Please note the updated price per page rates for all requests. Claimant fraud may include knowingly submitting false information, knowingly continuing to collect benefits when ineligible, certifying for benefits under state law while not being able and available to work, or intentionally collecting full benefits while not reporting wages or income. A Kentucky state report found at least 19 state workers used the unemployment insurance program to claim benefits for themselves. All rights reserved. Thousands fall victim to unemployment identity fraud in Kentucky. Governor Beshear Wednesday afternoon addressed mounting fraud in Kentuckys unemployment system. 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. The Department encourages reporting of unemployment insurance fraud in state systems, and the updated resources released today will assist in this reporting. Clearly, somebody tried to do a wire transfer. 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. 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.. And, she said, theyre unemployed and have long since spent that money. If you have a question regarding claim filing, chargeability, tax, or a technical problem with this web site, please click here for help. Email: UIInterstate@ky.gov. No one from the Kentucky Office of Unemployment Insurance was available for an interview on the subject, according Kinnaird. [CDATA[/* >