The results of the investigation into UIA employee fraud should be transparent and released to the public.
July 16, 2020
Reports: Investigation Underway Into Michigan Unemployment Agency Employees Stealing As Claims Continue To Mount
Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s administration is under fire again as reports surfaced of an investigation into newly hired employees at Michigan’s Unemployment Insurance Agency stealing and charging users to get their benefits sooner as thousands of Michiganders continue to wait on their unemployment payments.
WDIV Channel 4 reports: “Michigan investigating if new hires are stealing from Unemployment Insurance Agency” as “staggering number of residents still waiting for benefits”
“Michigan officials are investigating whether some recently-hired employees are stealing from the Unemployment Insurance Agency… Recently hired employees are accused of creating accounts of charging users to help get them their benefits sooner.”
The potential fraud and stealing are coming to light as the Detroit Free Press reports “Michigan residents continued to file tens of thousands of new jobless claims last week, a troubling sign for the progress of the state’s economic recovery.”
Meanwhile, FOX 17 reports that “a retired state trooper says he’s frustrated with the state’s unemployment system.”
“He’s now been waiting since March for an answer to his claim and says the UIA is not responding online or by phone. It’s an issue the FOX 17 Problem Solvers is constantly getting emails about.”
The Whitmer administration’s failure to resolve the ongoing problems with unemployment payments and stop potential employee fraud is hurting Michigan families across our state. The results of the investigation into UIA employee fraud should be transparent and released to the public along with a real plan and timeline to ensure every Michigander who qualifies for unemployment finally receives their payment. – Tori Sachs, executive director of Michigan Rising Action