The U.S. Department of Labor recently released their January-March 2016 quarterly report on the status of the Unemployment Insurance (UI) program. Around the same time, the U.S. Government Accountability Office released a report on customer service within the national UI landscape.  More...

Enhanced detection and data analytics for food stamp fraud saving taxpayers’ money

The arrest of a Little Rock, Arkansas, woman charged with 17 counts of fraud is the culmination of a multi-state and federal investigation initiated by Utah’s Department of Workforce Services Eligibility Services Division.

In early March 2016, the Eligibility Services Division investigations unit and data analytics specialist uncovered an extensive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP or food stamps) fraud case centered in Arkansas. The team acted quickly to notify Salt Lake City’s special agent with the United States Department of Agriculture Office of Inspector General (USDA/OIG), and identified possible suspects and began gathering evidence. More...

The U.S. Department of Labor most recent quarterly summary report for October-December 2015 ranks Utah 7th overall when it comes to duration of an individual collecting benefits and 2nd when taken within the context of the maximum number of weeks available.

The average individual qualifies for 21.7 weeks and only collects 12.1 weeks, about half of the benefits they qualify for before returning to work. More...