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. 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. 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 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. Employment in Kentuckys leisure and hospitality sector was up by 1,200 positions from July 2022 to August 2022, a gain of 0.6%. * Last Name. The finance and insurance subsector was down 100 jobs from July to August. 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. The integrity of the unemployment insurance system, including the new unemployment insurance programs under the CARES Act, is critical to ensuring temporary benefits are provided only to eligible claimants, said Assistant Secretary for Employment and Training John Pallasch. The site is secure. 199, Part 1D.7.(6). 803 KAR 25:012: Resolution of medical disputes. Governor Andy Beshear Wednesday afternoon addressed mounting fraud in Kentuckys unemployment system. An Open Records Request is required to obtain additional information. .manual-search ul.usa-list li {max-width:100%;} 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. The problem is, many have complained they didnt lose their job, and someone is pretending to be them. The letters are made to look as though they are coming from the states offices. The Department will process faxed, emailed, and mailed requests in the traditional fashion. #views-exposed-form-manual-cloud-search-manual-cloud-search-results .form-actions{display:block;flex:1;} #tfa-entry-form .form-actions {justify-content:flex-start;} #node-agency-pages-layout-builder-form .form-actions {display:block;} #tfa-entry-form input {height:55px;} Kentucky-based attorneys and national advocates say this restrictive approach to overpayment waivers may leave people saddled with debt they shouldnt have to pay. Requests must be mailed with the payment at the time of submission. Pay; Tax Information; Links; Contact Us; . He said there have been tens of thousands of fraudulent claims. The list of all state unemployment insurance fraud hotlines can be found at https://www.dol.gov/general/maps/fraud. 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 be contrary to equity and good conscience. Email: UIInterstate@ky.gov. No one from the Kentucky Office of Unemployment Insurance was available for an interview on the subject, according to Kinnaird. Employment in this sector was up by 10,100 jobs or 4.6% since August 2021. Kentucky's Self Service Employer Website. Kentucky's Unemployment Insurance Self-Service Web. I got this letter in the mail from the Labor Cabinet, Republican State Senator Whitney Westerfield of District 3 said. So when Sanderson heard about the new debt forgiveness waiver, he thought it would certainly apply to substitute teachers like himself. Overall, the level of local government employment is only down somewhat, 700 jobs or 0.4%, from last year.. 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. A Kentucky state report found at least 19 state workers used the unemployment insurance program to claim benefits for themselves. 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. Kentuckys civilian labor force was 2,062,856 in August 2022, a decrease of 767 individuals from July 2022. 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. Address Line 2. 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. 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. Submit quarterly tax reports over the Internet through either an on-screen form or a file upload option. A lot of this is people buying your information off the dark web, theyre not from our system.. The duties of the Division of Information and Research include collection, storage and retrieval of data and the dissemination of information. he Department has consolidated all state unemployment insurance fraud hotlines on one page for ease of access. To receive Press Releases and updates on Workers Compensation and Workplace Standards, subscribe below. 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. Coming Soon - the new Education and Labor Cabinet website at kelc.ky.gov Phone: (502) 564-2384. 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. Neither Gov. Building alliances with Kentucky employers to promote worker safety through high-quality education and technical assistance. 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. Leonard Sanderson, a substitute teacher for Jefferson County Public Schools, hoped the new waiver would relieve him of nearly $1,000 in debt. He hasnt received a waiver application, and hasnt been able to reach the unemployment office to ask for one. 1099-G Tax Form. The Division of Information and Research is organized into two branches, the Records Branch and the Imaging Branch. Kentucky Labor Cabinet. 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. 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. Sanderson normally picked up school assignments those months, and plus, the state already paid him. 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. 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. 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. 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. Postal Service by Jan. 31, 2023. There wasnt a law that told them not to claim that they were ignoring. 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. The only thing Ive ever received was two collection letters.. According to the Kentucky Labor Cabinet, about 745,000 claims have been filed since the pandemic forced businesses to close, creating unprecedented unemployment. Current through Register Vol. If you make them pay it back, thats a hardship, thats exactly what the waiver is supposed to address, Smith said.. Employment in Kentuckys manufacturing sector jumped by 7,600 positions from July 2022 to August 2022, a gain of 3.2%. 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. 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.. March 1, 2022--Chris Jacobs, New York, was appointed to the Committee. Workers Compensation Non-Compliant Employer, Office of Inspector General Complaint Form, Forms, Documents, Reports, Publications and Archives, Professional Employer Organizations (PEO) and PEO Group Registration, Retraining Incentive Benefit ("RIB") Portal, $0.15 per page/ computer copies plus $2.50 processing fee per request, $0.75 per page/ microfilm requests plus $5.00 processing fee per request. They do not include unemployed Kentuckians who have not looked for employment within the past four weeks. @media (max-width: 992px){.usa-js-mobile-nav--active, .usa-mobile_nav-active {overflow: auto!important;}} Gray said the mindset that keeps recipiency rates low may impact how states implement their waiver programs. Andy Beshear nor the Kentucky Education and. After that, Cohen said she hired a theft protection service and contacted several investigative agencies, including the FBI. Kentucky also hit an important milestone in August as total non-farm employment reached its pre-pandemic levels. The unemployment office has so far approved debt relief to just over a third of those individuals who received letters. Contact the UI Call Center at (502) 564-2900. Commonwealth of Kentucky. Some people think if they become a victim of this fraud its one individual in one place trying to take advantage of them. LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WAVE) - Many Kentuckians are now talking about being notified that they qualified for unemployment. All Rights Reserved. The Department of Workers' Claims requires pre-payment for all Pre-Employment requests pursuant to KRS 61.874(1). You get this bill in the mail and you only have 30 days from the date that mailed to you to try and build a case, using words that lawyers use, about why you shouldn't have to pay all of that back, Smith said. The CARES Act includes the Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation, Pandemic Unemployment Assistance, and Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation programs. United States Department of Labor Employment and Training Administration. 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. ET until 5 P.M. More Americans reported being employed than ever before - nearly 160 million. | Photo by Becca Schimmel for KyCIR. (6) authorizes the secretary to waive an overpayment of benefits for unemployment insurance claims filed between January 27, 2020 and September 6, 2021. KRS 150.170. Appeals may be addressed as below: Appeals Branch. The governors office has confirmed with the Kentucky Chamber these letters are not coming from the state and encourages individuals to report these issues. If you look for the purpose of the unemployment statutes across the country, it's to relieve the crushing force that unemployment has on people and their families and their communities, Gray said. Kentuckys mining and logging sector was unchanged in August, and unchanged from August 2021. The jobs gains occurred primarily among the durable goods manufacturers, which was added 7,100 jobs to their payrolls in August. Requests will not be processed and will be returned if full payment is not included and/or request is not legible. no longer accept nor process Pre-Employment Screening requests as it has in the past. 8, February 1, 2023. This administrative regulation establishes definitions and procedures for waiving overpayments pursuant to KRS Chapter 341, 341.413, and 2022 Ky. Acts ch. Unemployment insurance fraud takes many forms. .table thead th {background-color:#f1f1f1;color:#222;} These codes are used by other DWC personnel to ensure quality assistance to claimants, attorneys, employers, and carriers. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. Join our e-mail list to receive LEO exclusives and special offers on tickets and giveaways. SCUF assessment will be reinstated for reporting year 2023 pursuant to KRS 341.243. 200 Constitution AveNW Related additional frequently asked questions are also available here: https://www.dol.gov/coronavirus/unemployment-insurance. Workers' Compensation. A letter to the Appeals Branch or to the UI Commission stating the intent to appeal is sufficient. Employment in the arts, entertainment and recreation subsector fell by 500 jobs from July to August. 2023 Taxable Wage Base will increase to $11,100 per worker. The unemployment office said substitute teachers werent supposed to file unemployment claims during summer break. 100 were here. 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. Workers Compensation Non-Compliant Employer, Office of Inspector General Complaint Form, Click here for the latest information on Kentucky Labor Cabinet COVID-19 In-Person Closure Information. Kentucky's unemployment office had paid her husband, Roger, more than $4,200 in benefits last spring as COVID-19 first hit Kentucky. An Official Website of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, skip to the main content area of this page, Site Enhancements and Electronic Reporting, Kentucky Office of Unemployment Insurance, Kentucky One Stop Business Portal (Unemployment does not participate), United States Department of Labor Employment and Training Administration, United States Small Business Administration. The Kentucky Office of Unemployment Insurance (OUI) collects personal information entered into electronic forms on this Internet site. The preliminary August 2022 jobless rate was up 0.1 percentage points from July 2022 but was down 1.0 percentage points from the 4.8% recorded for the state one year ago. This sector had 18,000 more jobs or 9.8% compared to August 2021. If you have a question, UI customer service representatives can help. The Research Section maintains the DWC Web site, produces all the agency's publications and has the responsibility of processing WC letters that are driven by statute. ET until 1 A.M. This sector had 100 fewer positions compared to August 2021. The unemployment office said substitute teachers werent supposed to file unemployment claims during summer break. div#block-eoguidanceviewheader .dol-alerts p {padding: 0;margin: 0;} The only thing I've ever received was two collection letters.. Employment statistics undergo sharp fluctuations due to seasonal events, such as weather changes, harvests, holidays, and school openings and closings. ol{list-style-type: decimal;} By Jared Bennett. The final initiative put forth by the governor was a move to merge the Kentucky Education and Workforce Development Cabinet with the Kentucky Labor Cabinet, which he said would make it easier for the state to compete for grant funding and also improve access to accurate information. ET on 1/28, Monday, Jan. 16 - Martin Luther King, Jr.'s Birthday, One-half day, Friday, April 7 - Good Friday, Thursday & Friday, Nov. 23, 24 - Thanksgiving, Monday & Tuesday, Dec. 25, 26 - Christmas, Friday & Monday, Dec. 29, Jan. 1 - New Year's. February 2, 2022--John A. Yarmuth, Kentucky, resigned from the Committee. Kentucky One Stop Business Portal (Unemployment does not participate) Kentucky Secretary of State. EDITOR'S NOTE: Links to the unemployment rate chart and the employment chart are below. Later, Cohen got a $300 check in the mail from the state unemployment office. Employers should download any information they would like to keep for their records before this date. It's entrenched in our system. Seasonal adjustments eliminate these influences and make it easier to observe statistical trends. Rehabilitation/assistive technology. They said that will. An Official Website of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, Get help with building a resume, searching for jobs, and getting job alerts, Unemployment Insurance Claimants: 1099-G documents will soon be available in the claimant portal and mailed via the U.S. 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. The Cabinet said despite. Data Entry is also responsible for updating the agency's database with appropriate coding to give details regarding the status of a claim. Copyright 2021 WBKO. Kentucky Office of Unemployment Insurance. Contact the Office of Unemployment Insurance. 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. This issue is not new to Kentucky or across the nation with other . He hasnt received a waiver application, and hasnt been able to reach the unemployment office to ask for one. The Kentucky Labor Cabinet consists of the Office of the Secretary, the Department of Workers' Claims,.