Multi-Agency

Unemployment Insurance Benefits to Inmates

We performed a file match between the Department of Labor (DOL) Unemployment Insurance (UI) Payment file and the Department of Correction’s (DOCS) Undercustody Population file to determine if UI claimants received benefit payments inappropriately. We identified 11 claimants who inappropriately received UI benefits of $29,339 while incarcerated and stopped an additional $18,261 in payments that would have been paid to these individuals. We identified another 14 claimants who potentially were in a State Facility at the time they received benefits.

DOL and DOCS officials agreed to greed to work collaboratively to investigate the results of our match. To date, we learned one claimant admitted that he and his wife were certifying for benefits while he was incarcerated and another individual was incarcerated under another person’s name, social security number, and date of birth. The latter case was referred to the Manhattan District Attorney for prosecution.

For a complete copy of Report 2008-BSE-3A-002 click here.