22 states receive $10 million from US Department of Labor to enhance their unemployment insurance integrity systems

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced $10 million in grant funds to 22 states to make technology improvements leading to more accurate unemployment insurance benefit payments.

"We must constantly strive to improve the systems that prevent improper payments within unemployment insurance systems," said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis. "Technology improvements can save money both by preventing overpayments and in staff time that otherwise would be dedicated to recovering improperly paid benefits."

The fiscal year 2010 appropriation for unemployment insurance provided funds for states to make technology infrastructure improvements to better prevent, detect and collect overpayments of unemployment insurance benefits. These grants demonstrate the department's commitment to the development of integrity systems focused on the proper payment of UI benefits.

Today's grants also help to support the efforts of states that have expressed a need for enhanced automation for integrity systems. Technology upgrades will result in significant savings in staff costs for and will increase the amount of overpayments that are recovered. Additionally, improvements will assist states in proactively preventing future overpayments.

To learn more about the federal-state unemployment insurance system, visit http://www.ows.doleta.gov/unemploy/aboutoui.asp.

Editor's Note: A list of states and funding amounts follows this release.

2010 Unemployment Insurance Integrity Grants