The executive director for the Kentucky Office of Unemployment Insurance said they are continuing to combat fraud and offer more ways to get assistance for claims.
Buddy Hoskinson spoke to the Pennyrile Area Development District board of directors during their virtual meeting Monday.
Hoskinson said they have been dealing with numerous fraudulent claims before the state shut down the unemployment system to upgrade security and reset everyone’s pin numbers.
He added this would not solve all of the fraud issues but deters it for a while.
Hoskinson said most of America’s fraudulent claims are being paid to Nigeria.
A state task force comprised of state and federal officials is working on other ways to continue improving the Kentucky unemployment system to prevent fraud.
To date, more than 132,000 Kentucky residents have reset their pins and re-registered. Since mid-April, unemployment call centers have taken over 51,000 calls for assistance on claims.
Hoskinson added they would soon be adding more call center shifts to allow centers to be open later during the week and possibly operate during weekends.
During the discussion, Hoskinson said the work search requirement went into effect Sunday for every person on Kentucky unemployment. He added they are the 22nd state to re-instate the requirement, following Indiana.