State lawmakers heard today from the director of the state unemployment agency. He was there to answer questions about a backlog in resolving unemployment claims.
The wave of COVID-related layoffs led to the increase in claims. The increase in claims led to an increase in suspected fraud. Unemployment agency director Steve Gray told a joint House and Senate committee that created opportunities for people who’ve been collecting stolen identity information.
“These are criminals that have been planning this for years, and are taking advantage of, you know, the ‘perfect storm.’”
Gray promised the backlog in challenged claims filed before May will be cleared by the July 4th weekend. He says more than 11-thousand-800 people who are waiting will either be paid or told their claim’s been denied.
