WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Thom Tillis and 10 of his Senate colleagues recently introduced the bipartisan Unemployment Insurance Integrity and Accessibility Act, legislation that would make critical improvements to the nation’s unemployment insurance system.
“COVID-19 exposed vulnerabilities in our unemployment insurance system that must be addressed,” said Senator Tillis. “This commonsense legislation protects taxpayer dollars by stopping fraud in our unemployment insurance system while ensuring it is available for those who need it.”
Background:
Specifically, the Unemployment Insurance and Integrity Accessibility Act:
- Extends the federal statute of limitations for pandemic unemployment insurance fraud to 10 years (from 5 years under current law).
- Allows states to waive overpayments of pandemic unemployment insurance that have not been recovered as of date of enactment in non-fraud cases where repayment would be contrary to equity and good conscience. States are required to waive these non-fraud overpayments if no overpayment is established by December 31, 2025.
- Requires states to crossmatch unemployment compensation claims against the National Directory of New Hires (NDNH) to prevent claimants from collecting UI if they are working.
- Implements new access and technology requirements for online claim filing systems and in-person alternatives.
- Provides for oversight of federal investments into the administration of UI programs.
Full text of the bill is available HERE.
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