Identity theft has become increasingly common over the last several years, and with more people collecting unemployment benefits than ever before due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we have seen a sharp increase in unemployment benefits fraud among our clients.
How do I know if an unemployment claim has been taken out in my name?
When you (or someone pretending to be you) apply for unemployment benefits, you should receive a statement from The Department of Unemployment Assistance (DUA) stating that your application for unemployment has been approved, and/or providing a statement of benefits available. If you receive this communication and have not applied for unemployment benefits, you were likely the victim of a data breach of some kind, which allowed a someone to gain access to your name, address and social security number, and subsequently file a fraudulent unemployment claim on your behalf.
If you believe you have been a victim of fraudulent claim for unemployment benefits, the first step you should take is to contact the DUA immediately. Contact information will be provided to you by the DUA. The DUA Program Integrity team will process the reported instance of fraud to ensure that if any payments were made under a fraudulent claim, they are not reported as income that would be taxable to you at the end of the calendar year for tax purposes. It’s also important to note that a reported fraudulent claim should not impact your ability to collect unemployment in the future, should you need to do so.
Additional Steps to Minimize the Likelihood of Further Fraudulent Activity
Additional information regarding identity theft can be found on the Attorney General’s website, and the Federal Trade Commission’s website.
If you have any questions about unemployment benefits fraud, or other types of identity theft, please leave a comment below, or feel free to contact me directly. I’m happy to help.