Two well-known Northwoods residents who are officials at the Department of Workforce Development say tougher enforcement has cut the amount of unemployment fraud.
Assistant Deputy Secretary David Anderson says the emphasis has shifted unemployment payments from a benefits program to a short term assistance program. Administrator of the Unemployment Insurance Division, Joe Handrick, says they wanted to have a greater accuracy in what was being paid out...
"....there used to be a belief within the unemployment insurance program that 'when in doubt, pay it out'. We've changed the focus to 'when in doubt, check it out'. We've placed a great emphasis on reducing unemployment fraud and overpayments..."
Handrick says they focus on deterring fraud including stiffer penalties. He says increased use of data analysis is also helping to catch people as they attempt to fraud the system. He says last year overall, unemployment claims dropped by 15 percent in Wisconsin due to an improved economy. But unemployment fraud dropped 34 percent.
Anderson says another change is getting people back into the workforce quicker...
"....we've connected unemployment insurance now with our Division of Employment and Training through our reemployment services so that we can give unemployment recipients the tools they need to get to that next job which is really what unemployment insurance is all about...."
Anderson says they've increased requirements for people getting unemployment checks including increasing the number of job applications a person must do each week they are claiming benefits.
