
The U.S. House Ways and Means subcommittee on Human
Resources held a hearing today entitled “Unemployment Insurance: An Overview of
the Challenges and Strengths of Today’s System.” As part of the hearing, Utah’s
Unemployment Insurance Division Director Michelle Beebe testified about the
successes within Utah’s program and the current challenges states are facing.
“Utah is one of the top states in the country when it comes
to having low duration and exhaustion rates, and has one of the healthiest
Unemployment Trust Funds,” said Beebe. “Even with our success in re-employment,
there are challenges every state is experiencing regarding funding constraints
and the partnership with the federal government. States need flexibility to
continue along the path of sustainability and innovation.” More...

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...