News Release
US Department of Labor awards $195.7M in grants to 58 states, territories, District of Columbia to strengthen fraud detection, prevention efforts
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 |
