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 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. Unemployment insurance fraud takes many forms. However, due to the small sample size, county unemployment rates are not seasonally adjusted. Almost two months ago, Gov. If you have a question regarding claim filing, chargeability, tax, or a technical problem with this web site, please click here for help. There wasnt a law that told them not to claim that they were ignoring. $0.15 per page/ computer copies plus $2.50 processing fee per request. Review: Quoth The Raven, Gimme More Fish!, Louisville Visual Art, Parks Alliance Of Louisville Seeking Local Artists For Portrait Of Alberta Odell Jones, Gov. Employment among the non-durable goods manufacturers was up 500 jobs. Copyright 2021 WBKO. 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. As a result of Governor Beshear's reorganization, the Imaging Branch is now comprised of two sections; Scanning and Open Records. The unemployment office said substitute teachers werent supposed to file unemployment claims during summer break. 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 shouldnt have to pay all of that back, Smith said. Commonwealth of Kentucky. A JCPS spokesperson told KyCIR last year that more than 2,200 unemployment claims were filed by JCPS employees and substitute teachers at the time. With no prize on the other side, Sanderson said. The Kentucky Office of Unemployment Insurance (OUI) collects personal information entered into electronic forms on this Internet site. As a result, unemployment insurance often fails to reach the people who need it most: At the dawn of the coronavirus era, 20% of unemployed people in Kentucky received benefits, which is lower than the national average of 28%. Email: UIInterstate@ky.gov. Officials said the letters inform people that they are entitled to unemployment insurance benefits and list a dollar amount. The Education and Labor Cabinet's mission is to educate, prepare and train Kentucky's current and future workforces. 8, February 1, 2023. 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. Governor Andy Beshear Wednesday afternoon addressed mounting fraud in Kentuckys unemployment system. However, when they got her 1099-G tax form, the unemployment compensation amount showed over $15,000. They in good faith did what your people told them to do. Fax: (502) 564-5623. 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. .table thead th {background-color:#f1f1f1;color:#222;} 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 sector had 100 fewer positions compared to August 2021. Kentucky also hit an important milestone in August as total non-farm employment reached its pre-pandemic levels. 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. The industries in this sector include traditional publishing as well as software publishing; motion pictures and broadcasting; and telecommunications. The list of all state unemployment insurance fraud hotlines can be found at. The letters are made to look as though they are coming from the states offices. Information. Fax: (502) 564-7850. . So when Sanderson heard about the new debt forgiveness waiver, he thought it would certainly apply to substitute teachers like himself. Please note:As of January 20, 2021, information in some news releases may be out of date or not reflect current policies. SCUF assessment will be reinstated for reporting year 2023 pursuant to KRS 341.243. 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. The unemployment office has so far approved debt relief to just over a third of those individuals who received letters. Achieved 40 months in a row with more job openings than job-hirings. Kentucky during the base period but. For those with Focus/Career accounts, you will lose access to your resume once the transition occurs. ET until 5:15 A.M. ET, 1/20, beginning at 9 P.M. 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 . Kentuckys civilian labor force was 2,062,856 in August 2022, a decrease of 767 individuals from July 2022. Ky.gov An Official Website of the Commonwealth of Kentucky: skip to the main content area of this page . 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 this sector was up by 10,100 jobs or 4.6% since August 2021. No one from the Kentucky Office of Unemployment Insurance was available for an interview on the subject, according Kinnaird. 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. Just a few months earlier, in March of 2020, Kentucky expanded unemployment insurance to cover independent contractors and substitute teachers. Release of Records Form for all detailed open records requests. Please use Unemployment office in Kentucky. He hasnt received a waiver application, and hasnt been able to reach the unemployment office to ask for one. 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. Precautionary boil advisory issued for water customers in east Jefferson County, Police: Woman accused of buying nearly $9K in clothes with stolen credit card, LMPD investigating after body found in Valley Station cemetery, Louisville co-workers share $50K after winning Ky. Lottery scratch-off, Elizabethtown high school student crowned Miss Kentucky Teen USA, Students at Noe Middle School protest anti-LGBTQ legislation, Library to offer free mental health and wellness workshops, Louisville man appears in new season of The Mandalorian, 15-year-old shot, killed in Smoketown neighborhood identified. I got this letter in the mail from the Labor Cabinet, Republican State Senator Whitney Westerfield of District 3 said. All rights reserved. If you are interested in using LinkedIn and do not already have an account, please set up your profile at https://www.linkedin.com/. Employment in the other services sector was up 500 jobs in August 2022. 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. No one from the Kentucky Office of Unemployment Insurance was available for an interview on the subject, according to Kinnaird. 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.. Notwithstanding KRS 341.413, 2022 Ky. Acts ch. Unemployment insurance fraud takes many forms. He said she drew unemployment for three months in 2020 and received $184 a week. 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.. Vocational training. How many other people are affected this way? Westerfield asked. 803 KAR 25:012: Resolution of medical disputes. See an example of the letter here. Well, I havent received that, Sanderson said. Postal Service by Jan. 31, 2023. The governor's office has confirmed with the Kentucky Chamber these letters are concerning fraudulent claims made on behalf of employees or individuals. Kentucky One Stop Business Portal (Unemployment does not participate) Kentucky Secretary of State. KRS 150.170. Contact the Office of Unemployment Insurance. The Department encourages reporting of unemployment insurance fraud in state systems, and the updated resources released today will assist in this reporting. Falsification of information is punishable by fines and/or imprisonment under KRS 341.990. The state legislature first created the waiver program in March, after the Kentucky Center for Investigative Reporting detailed how people who applied for benefits in line with Gov. Employers reported strong growth in payroll for August with gains occurring in most major sectors, said Clark. The Kentucky Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (OVR) a partner in the Kentucky Career Center assists people with disabilities in achieving suitable employment and independence by offering the following services: Vocational assessment. The KEWES Internet claims system is accessible 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for claims filing. 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 Data Entry Section receives and processes 90 percent of the documents filed with the Department of Workers' Claims (DWC). The Department will The .gov means its official. 199, Part 1D.7. 199, Part 1D.7.(6). And, she said, theyre unemployed and have long since spent that money. Additional tax registrations may be required based on your industry, for more information visit the Kentucky Department of Revenue . Since last August, this sector has grown by 9,400 jobs or 3.3%. Learn more labor-related education and training programs to benefit both employers and employees. Report fraud, waste and abuse to the Departments Office of the Inspector General. Before KyCIR, he was a reporter the Center for Public Integrity and a digital producer for WBUR in Boston. [CDATA[/* >