Posted In: Business Transactions & Corporate Counseling & Labor & Employment
Business Blog: Fraudulent Unemployment Claims - How Employers Should Respond
on February 4, 2021
Businesses have seen an increasing number of fraudulent unemployment claims, including claims made on behalf of individuals that are still currently employed with the company and individuals that were never employed at the company in the first place. In fact, more than half of Ohio’s 1.4 million Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) benefits claims have been flagged as potentially fraudulent by Lt. Governor Jon Husted as of January 21, 2021.1
The Ohio Department of Jobs & Family Services (ODJFS) conducts verification of unemployment claims by sending claimant’s purported former employer a Request to Employer for Separation Information (RSI) about the claimant’s employment status. If employers believe they have fallen victim to a fraudulent claim for unemployment benefits, they should take the following steps:
- Respond to the ODJFS’s RSI within 10 business days confirming the lack of eligibility of a claim by stating that the claim is fraudulent. Send the completed RSI form by fax to the ODJFS at 1-614-752-4808, by email to ucbenprotest@jfs.ohio.gov, or by U.S. mail to Benefit Payment Control, P.O. Box 1618, Columbus, OH 43219-1618; and
- Visit the ODJFS fraud page at www. jfs.ohio.gov/fraud, and click on the “Unemployment Insurance Claimant” button to complete the online fraud form.
If your company becomes the target of a fraudulent unemployment claim, Brouse McDowell’s Business Transactions & Corporate Counseling and Labor & Employment Teams can help. Our attorneys are experienced working with companies, their workers and outside agencies to resolve benefits and sensitive HR issues.
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