Understanding Georgia unemployment insurance fraud
Unemployment Insurance fraud is a crime that affects everyone. The Georgia Department of Labor (GDOL) works hard to prevent UI fraud and abuse.
You are encouraged to report fraud if you observe something unfairly collecting Georgia unemployment benefits. By getting involved, you can help make sure that UI benefits go only to those who truly deserve them.
How to report Georgia unemployment fraud
GDOL offers several ways for you to report any suspicious activities, such as unemployment benefit fraud, identity fraud, job refusals, or failed pre-employment drug screening tests. Every tip the GDOL receives is investigated.
Report fraud online
The best way to submit your report of suspected UI fraud and abuse is through their Online Reporting system. Provide as much detail as you can when submitting your report.
Call the Fraud Hotline
You can also call the Fraud Hotline at 877-709-8185. Say “Integrity” when prompted.
When reporting fraud, it’s important to give as many details as you can about the fraudulent activity, like the person’s address, phone number, date of birth, and the last four digits of their social security number. Providing this information will help the GDOL more easily identify the person in their claim records.
Examples of Claimant Fraud
Here are some examples of Georgia unemployment fraud:
- Receiving UI benefits without reporting earned income: Some individuals might get unemployment insurance benefits without informing GDOL about their earnings, which is considered fraud.
- Not informing GDOL about job refusals or unreported work: Failing to notify GDOL when you refuse a job offer or don’t report to work after accepting an employment opportunity is another form of unemployment fraud.
- Falsifying job search efforts: Claiming unemployment benefits while not actively searching for work or giving false information about your work search requirements is considered fraudulent activity.
- Providing false information to GDOL: Withholding important details or giving incorrect information to the Georgia Department of Labor is a dishonest action that can lead to unemployment fraud.
- Working “under the table” while receiving UI benefits: Individuals who accept cash payments for work without reporting their income to GDOL are committing fraud while receiving unemployment benefits.
- Failing to report pre-employment drug test results: Not informing GDOL about a failed pre-employment drug screening test while collecting UI benefits is considered fraudulent behavior.
- Receiving UI benefits while incarcerated: Claiming unemployment benefits during incarceration is a form of fraud, as the person is not available for work.
- Committing identity theft for UI benefits: Filing a fraudulent unemployment claim or receiving benefits using someone else’s personal information (e.g., name, social security number) is a serious criminal offense.
- Claiming benefits while unable to work: Receiving UI benefits when you’re not capable of seeking or accepting work due to factors like illness, injury, or being on vacation is fraudulent activity.
- Not reporting self-employment while receiving UI benefits: Failing to notify GDOL about self-employment activities while collecting unemployment insurance benefits is considered fraud.
- Conspiring with employers for fraudulent claims: Collaborating with an employer to make false claims for unemployment insurance benefits is illegal and undermines the integrity of the system.
Overpayments
If you provide the wrong information when applying for Georgia unemployment insurance, you may receive an overpayment. You are required to pay back the money. If the overpayment is caused by a mistake made by the GDOL, you may be eligible for a waiver that allows you to keep the money. To help prevent overpayments, you can use the Georgia unemployment calculator to estimate your weekly benefit amount. This way, you’ll know what to expect ahead of time.
Reasons for receiving an overpayment can include:
- The claimant failed to inform the agency that they don’t meet Georgia eligibility requirements of being able, available, and actively seeking employment.
- An unemployment appeal reversal occurred, causing the claimant to be disqualified from receiving benefits they were previously awarded.
- The claimant or employer didn’t report the accurate amount of gross earnings when certifying for weekly benefits.
- The claimant didn’t disclose that they received vacation or severance pay
How to repay an overpayment
To make a payment, pay online at the Repayment of Overpaid Benefits page.
You can also mail your payment to:
Georgia Department of Labor
Attn: Overpayment Unit
P.O. Box 3433
Atlanta, GA 30302. Make the check or money order payable to the “Georgia Department of Labor.”
Overpayment Waiver of Recovery
If the overpayment wasn’t your fault, and it’s determined that asking you to pay it back would be unfair, you might be allowed to keep the overpayment. This situation is called a waiver of recovery.
If you’re eligible for a waiver, a written notice will be sent to you. Additionally, any money collected on this overpayment will be refunded to you. Please be aware that this process may take 30 to 45 days from the date you submit your waiver application.
If you disagree with the overpayment and believe you were entitled to receive unemployment benefits for the week(s) in question, you can file an appeal. If you don’t want to file an appeal but still think the overpayment wasn’t your fault, you can request a waiver of overpayment recovery.
To request a waiver, download and fill out the Application for Overpayment Waiver form.
Email your application and any supporting documentation by email to [email protected].
You can also mail the application to:
Georgia Department of Labor
Attn: Overpayment Unit – Waiver Request
P.O. Box 3433
Atlanta, GA 30302
Tips for preventing Georgia unemployment fraud
Here are some ways you can avoid unemployment fraud so you can continue to receive your unemployment benefit.
Accurately report the reason you are unemployed: When you initially file your claim for benefits, make sure to accurately report your reason for separation from your job. After a claim is filed, your most recent employer will receive a Notice of Claim Filing and Request for Separation Information.
Actively search for work: You must complete Georgia work search requirements each week you claim UI benefits unless you are notified you are exempt. Make at least three job contacts each week and submit evidence of your job contacts when filing your weekly claim. GDOL conducts random audits on claimants’ work search records and contacts employers to verify the information provided.
Report any wages you have earned: Report your gross wages (earnings before taxes and other deductions) for each week you work and claim unemployment benefits, even if you haven’t been paid for the work. This includes part-time or temporary work. GDOL can track your wages using a cross-match system that compares your claim to wages reported by employers under the same Social Security Number.
Report when you are not able or available to seek or accept work: You must be physically able and available to perform some type of work. Notify GDOL if you are not ready, willing, and able to work while collecting UI benefits. This includes being out of the area, on vacation, sick, or having a disability that prevents you from working.
Report all job refusals: If you refuse an offer of work, report your refusal to GDOL, who will determine if there was a good cause to refuse the work.
Avoid errors and ensure proper payment of benefits: To prevent errors that may result in an overpayment, be very careful when entering your personal information.
Stop claiming unemployment benefits as soon as you begin working: As soon as you start working, stop filing a weekly claim. Don’t wait until you receive your first paycheck.
Ask for help: Navigating the UI system can be confusing. If you have a question, UI customer service representatives are here to help. Call Customer Service between 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Unemployment Identity Fraud
Another form of unemployment fraud is identity theft.
Unemployment identity theft occurs when criminals use other people’s information to unlawfully obtain unemployment benefits. This is becoming increasingly common. In some cases, criminals use stolen personal information to access a person’s unemployment account and steal the unemployment benefit payments meant for the actual claimant.
Often, individuals who experience unemployment identity fraud only discover it when they receive something in the mail, such as a notice from a state unemployment agency or a state-issued 1099-G tax form reporting unemployment benefits that they never requested or received.
Warning Signs of Unemployment Identity Fraud
You might be a victim of unemployment identity fraud if the Georgia Department of Labor sends you mail about an unemployment claim or payment, and you did not recently file for unemployment benefits.
Another sign of Georgia unemployment identity theft fraud is if you receive a 1099-G tax form reflecting unemployment benefits you weren’t expecting and did not receive.
How to report identity theft fraud
You can report identity theft fraud online or by phone.
- Report UI Fraud & Abuse – Report fraud using the online reporting form.
- Fraud Hotline: Call 877.709.8185 and say “Integrity” when prompted.
You should also inspect your credit report for any strange activities or unauthorized credit lines. You have the right to obtain a free copy of your credit report every year from each of the three major credit bureaus: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion.