The Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development Commissioner Dr. Tamika Ledbetter announced that Alaska’s Unemployment Insurance program is investigating and addressing reported refusal of suitable work or other work related activity that would reduce an individual’s ability for work in order to collect Unemployment Insurance.
Commissioner Ledbetter said, “The Department of Labor and Workforce Development will vigorously pursue all fraudulent activities to the fullest extent of the law.”
The Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development states that Alaskans commit Unemployment Insurance fraud by knowingly submitting false information, knowingly continuing to collect benefits when ineligible, intentionally collecting benefits without reporting wages or income, or not reporting when suitable employment or available work is refused. If someone refuses an offer of work because Unemployment Insurance pays more than their weekly wage, is asking to be laid off, requests to have their hours reduced, or quits available work so they can obtain benefits, they may be committing fraud, according to the Department. Employers are asked to immediately report these activities for investigation.
If employers do report the activities, they’re advised to send detailed information to the Unemployment Insurance office by email at uifraud@alaska.gov or by fax to (907) 375-9520. A representative will ask for the following information:
- Business name
- Employer contact information
- Individual’s first and last name
- Last four of the individual’s Social Security Number, if available
- A brief description of the activity in question
- If reported activity is a refusal of work please also provide:
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- Date of job offer
- Who made the job offer and their title
- Details of the job offer (position, location, wages, hours)
- Method of the job offer (phone, email, text, etc.)
- The individuals response to the job offer
The department states that if someone obtains benefits through fraud, they are ineligible for additional benefit payments, must re-pay those received benefits and is subject to criminal investigation.