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| April 23, 2010 |
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This month, the Indiana Department of Workforce Development (DWD) has announced the creation of a pair of new tools to help crack down on unemployment insurance fraud. Unfortunately, unemployment fraud still exists in Indiana, and it costs the state and taxpayers millions of dollars. In 2009 alone, DWD identified $3.9 million in fraudulent activity. But new tools will allow businesses to more easily challenge unemployment insurance claims from employees who simply quit or are fired with cause due to misconduct. Employers can download a form (linked at the bottom of this email) at the DWD website to initiate a formal protest. DWD will then contact the employer and the former employee to gather additional information to determine eligibility. DWD has also launched a new website that will allow Hoosiers to send in anonymous tips about unemployment insurance fraud. The site www.in.gov/dwd/fraud allows either individuals or employers to report people that might be improperly collecting benefits. Common types of unemployment insurance fraud include collecting benefits while working full time, collecting benefits after turning down a qualified job offer, taking cash payments for work and failing to report the income and insufficient reporting of hours or wages earned while collecting unemployment. Taxpayers should never be paying for the fraudulent use of benefits. With the difficult economic times we face, every dollar paid improperly to those committing fraud is a dollar taken away from individuals and families that actually need assistance. I’ve heard from many constituents about concerns they have over people that may be abusing the system and I’m hoping that together we can put a stop to waste and abuse in Indiana. I hope you will help spread the word about these news tools. Please share them with your friends and colleagues. If you have any questions, or would like more information, please contact my office at 317-234-3825 or 800-382-9841 and I’ll be happy to offer what assistance I can. Sincerely, Wes |