| The Employment Security Department (ESD) uncovered $3.7 million and prevented another $2 million in unemployment-insurance fraud in the first quarter of 2006. The agency uses a variety of techniques to catch people who collect unemployment benefits to which they are not entitled, including cross-matching records with the Social Security Administration and the state Department of Labor & Industries. ESD also compares unemployment records to the national list of new hires and investigates tips from the public.
The most common types of fraud include failing to look for work, not reporting income and continuing to collect benefits after returning to work.
Employers are required to report all new employees to the Department of Social and Health Services within 20 days of hire. Proper reporting reduces unemployment and workers’ compensation fraud and helps the state collect child support. Employers can report new hires on the Internet at www1.dshs.wa.gov/newhire or by calling (800) 562-0479, option 3.
On July 1, ESD will launch a new anti-fraud program that targets employers who try to manipulate their tax rates. | 