U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today announced that the U.S. Department of Labor will be directing $1,215,000 to the State of Montana to support efforts to combat unemployment fraud and recover improper payments in the Unemployment Insurance (UI) program, including those programs created under the CARES Act.
“This funding is about stopping and preventing unemployment fraud in Montana, and ensuring this money is available to those who are truly in need,” Daines said. “I will continue working with the Administration to ensure that our unemployment insurance programs are protected from any waste, abuse or fraud.”
During the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, there has been increased fraudulent activity and identity theft related to unemployment insurance programs.
This funding will allow the State of Montana to conduct fraud investigations and other fraud detection-related activities, and increase the prevention, detection, and recovery of improper payments in the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance and Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation programs under the CARES Act.
Background:
On July 27th, 2020, Daines announced a series of Montana priorities included in the initial Phase Four Coronavirus Relief Package in the Senate including an additional $2 billion in funding for states to upgrade their unemployment systems to ensure faster access to checks for Montanans by handling the surge in claims and process the wage replacement payments.
On March 18th, 2020, Daines voted for a COVID-19 relief bill that provided $1 billion for emergency administration unemployment insurance grants to states.
###