WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor announced the recent awards of $195.7 million in grant funding to states and territories, and the District of Columbia to help them detect and combat fraud in their unemployment insurance programs.
“Amid the pandemic, temporary federal unemployment insurance programs sustained millions of Americans forced into unemployment through no fault of their own,” said Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh. “International and domestic crime rings were among those who attacked states’ antiquated claims systems to commit massive identity fraud at rates never seen before. These grants will enable states to procure, implement and maintain identity verification and fraud detection solutions to ensure the safety and integrity of states’ unemployment insurance systems, paving the way for better access for people with legitimate claims.” On Aug. 11, 2021, the department’s Employment and Training Administration issued guidance to inform states of $100 million available in grants to address fraud in the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance and Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation programs. At the same time, the department announced another $140 million in grants from the American Rescue Plan Act available to states to strengthen identity verification, enhance fraud detection, increase cybersecurity and expand overpayment recovery efforts for all unemployment insurance programs.
On Sept. 24 and Sept. 27, the department made an initial award of $77.8 million in grant funding, including $64.4 million to 44 states, territories and the district for PUA fraud prevention, and $12.4 million to 40 states, territories and the district for PEUC fraud prevention. On Sept. 28, the department announced nearly $118 million in ARPA funding to 45 states, territories and the district for all unemployment insurance programs.
The department issued guidance on Sept. 17, 2021, extending the deadline for states to apply for the funds available under these unemployment fraud detection, prevention and overpayment recovery grants.
States have until Oct. 31, 2021 to apply. Lists of funding amounts awarded to states and territories for UI programs follows this release.
Pandemic Unemployment Assistance and Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation grant recipients are as follows: Recipient PUA Amount PEUC Amount American Samoa $100,000 N/A Arizona $2,133,900 $405,900 Arkansas $1,384,200 $264,600 California $2,133,900 $405,900 Colorado $2,133,900 $405,900 Connecticut $1,384,200 $264,600 Delaware $1,020,600 $194,400 District of Columbia $1,020,600 $194,400 Florida $2,133,900 $405,900 Georgia $2,133,900 $405,900 Guam $210,000 N/A Hawaii $1,020,600 $194,400 Illinois $2,133,900 $405,900 Indiana $2,133,900 $405,900 Iowa $1,384,200 $264,600 Kansas $1,384,200 $264,600 Kentucky $1,384,200 $264,600 Louisiana $1,384,200 $264,600 Maine $1,020,600 $194,400 Maryland $2,133,900 $405,900 Massachusetts $2,133,900 $405,900 Michigan $2,133,900 $405,900 Micronesia $100,000 N/A Mississippi $1,384,200 $264,600 Missouri $2,133,900 $405,900 Montana $1,020,600 $194,400 Nebraska $1,020,600 $194,400 Nevada $1,384,200 $264,600 New Jersey $2,133,900 $405,900 New Mexico $1,020,600 $194,400 New York $2,133,900 $405,900 North Carolina $2,133,900 $405,900 Northern Mariana Islands $210,000 N/A Ohio $2,133,900 $405,900 Oklahoma $1,384,200 $264,600 Puerto Rico $1,020,600 $194,400 Rhode Island $1,020,600 $194,400 South Carolina $1,384,200 $264,600 South Dakota $1,020,600 $194,400 Tennessee $2,133,900 $405,900 Texas $2,133,900 $405,900 Utah $1,384,200 $264,600 Washington $2,133,900 $405,900 Wyoming $1,020,600 $194,400 Total $65,483,000 $12,355,200 Recipients of additional funding for Unemployment Compensation Fraud Prevention Grants are as follows: Recipient Additional Funding for UC (All Programs) Alabama $2,456,000 Alaska $1,228,000 Arizona $3,684,000 Arkansas $2,456,000 California $4,914,000 Colorado $3,684,000 Connecticut $2,456,000 District of Columbia $1,228,000 Florida $4,914,000 Georgia $3,684,000 Hawaii $1,228,000 Idaho $1,228,000 Indiana $3,684,000 Iowa $2,456,000 Kansas $2,456,000 Kentucky $2,456,000 Louisiana $2,456,000 Maine $1,228,000 Maryland $3,684,000 Massachusetts $3,684,000 Michigan $3,684,000 Mississippi $2,456,000 Missouri $3,684,000 Montana $1,228,000 Nebraska $1,228,000 Nevada $2,456,000 New Hampshire $1,228,000 New Mexico $1,228,000 New York $4,914,000 North Carolina $3,684,000 Ohio $3,684,000 Oklahoma $2,456,000 Oregon $2,456,000 Pennsylvania $3,684,000 Puerto Rico $1,228,000 Rhode Island $1,228,000 South Carolina $2,456,000 South Dakota $1,228,000 Tennessee $3,684,000 Texas $4,914,000 Utah $2,456,000 Vermont $1,228,000 Washington $3,684,000 West Virginia $1,228,000 Wyoming $1,228,000 Total $117,896,000
