WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor announced the recent awards of $195.7 million in grant funding to states and territories, and the District of Columbia to help them detect and combat fraud in their unemployment insurance programs.
“Amid the pandemic, temporary federal unemployment insurance programs sustained millions of Americans forced into unemployment through no fault of their own,” said Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh. “International and domestic crime rings were among those who attacked states’ antiquated claims systems to commit massive identity fraud at rates never seen before. These grants will enable states to procure, implement and maintain identity verification and fraud detection solutions to ensure the safety and integrity of states’ unemployment insurance systems, paving the way for better access for people with legitimate claims.”
On Aug. 11, 2021, the department’s Employment and Training Administration issued guidance to inform states of $100 million available in grants to address fraud in the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance and Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation programs. At the same time, the department announced another $140 million in grants from the American Rescue Plan Act available to states to strengthen identity verification, enhance fraud detection, increase cybersecurity and expand overpayment recovery efforts for all unemployment insurance programs.
On Sept. 24 and Sept. 27, the department made an initial award of $77.8 million in grant funding, including $64.4 million to 44 states, territories and the district for PUA fraud prevention, and $12.4 million to 40 states, territories and the district for PEUC fraud prevention. On Sept. 28, the department announced nearly $118 million in ARPA funding to 45 states, territories and the district for all unemployment insurance programs.
The department issued guidance on Sept. 17, 2021, extending the deadline for states to apply for the funds available under these unemployment fraud detection, prevention and overpayment recovery grants.
States have until Oct. 31, 2021 to apply.
Lists of funding amounts awarded to states and territories for UI programs follows this release.
Pandemic Unemployment Assistance and Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation grant recipients are as follows:
Recipient
PUA Amount
PEUC Amount
American Samoa
$100,000
N/A
Arizona
$2,133,900
$405,900
Arkansas
$1,384,200
$264,600
California
$2,133,900
$405,900
Colorado
$2,133,900
$405,900
Connecticut
$1,384,200
$264,600
Delaware
$1,020,600
$194,400
District of Columbia
$1,020,600
$194,400
Florida
$2,133,900
$405,900
Georgia
$2,133,900
$405,900
Guam
$210,000
N/A
Hawaii
$1,020,600
$194,400
Illinois
$2,133,900
$405,900
Indiana
$2,133,900
$405,900
Iowa
$1,384,200
$264,600
Kansas
$1,384,200
$264,600
Kentucky
$1,384,200
$264,600
Louisiana
$1,384,200
$264,600
Maine
$1,020,600
$194,400
Maryland
$2,133,900
$405,900
Massachusetts
$2,133,900
$405,900
Michigan
$2,133,900
$405,900
Micronesia
$100,000
N/A
Mississippi
$1,384,200
$264,600
Missouri
$2,133,900
$405,900
Montana
$1,020,600
$194,400
Nebraska
$1,020,600
$194,400
Nevada
$1,384,200
$264,600
New Jersey
$2,133,900
$405,900
New Mexico
$1,020,600
$194,400
New York
$2,133,900
$405,900
North Carolina
$2,133,900
$405,900
Northern Mariana Islands
$210,000
N/A
Ohio
$2,133,900
$405,900
Oklahoma
$1,384,200
$264,600
Puerto Rico
$1,020,600
$194,400
Rhode Island
$1,020,600
$194,400
South Carolina
$1,384,200
$264,600
South Dakota
$1,020,600
$194,400
Tennessee
$2,133,900
$405,900
Texas
$2,133,900
$405,900
Utah
$1,384,200
$264,600
Washington
$2,133,900
$405,900
Wyoming
$1,020,600
$194,400
Total
$65,483,000
$12,355,200
Recipients of additional funding for Unemployment Compensation Fraud Prevention Grants are as follows:
Recipient
Additional Funding for UC (All Programs)
Alabama
$2,456,000
Alaska
$1,228,000
Arizona
$3,684,000
Arkansas
$2,456,000
California
$4,914,000
Colorado
$3,684,000
Connecticut
$2,456,000
District of Columbia
$1,228,000
Florida
$4,914,000
Georgia
$3,684,000
Hawaii
$1,228,000
Idaho
$1,228,000
Indiana
$3,684,000
Iowa
$2,456,000
Kansas
$2,456,000
Kentucky
$2,456,000
Louisiana
$2,456,000
Maine
$1,228,000
Maryland
$3,684,000
Massachusetts
$3,684,000
Michigan
$3,684,000
Mississippi
$2,456,000
Missouri
$3,684,000
Montana
$1,228,000
Nebraska
$1,228,000
Nevada
$2,456,000
New Hampshire
$1,228,000
New Mexico
$1,228,000
New York
$4,914,000
North Carolina
$3,684,000
Ohio
$3,684,000
Oklahoma
$2,456,000
Oregon
$2,456,000
Pennsylvania
$3,684,000
Puerto Rico
$1,228,000
Rhode Island
$1,228,000
South Carolina
$2,456,000
South Dakota
$1,228,000
Tennessee
$3,684,000
Texas
$4,914,000
Utah
$2,456,000
Vermont
$1,228,000
Washington
$3,684,000
West Virginia
$1,228,000
Wyoming
$1,228,000
Total
$117,896,000
