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FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Tammy Cavender (573)
751-7500
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 30, 2006
Missouri’s Unemployment Insurance Program Collects Over $7 Million in Delinquent Taxes, Overpayments and Penalties
Jefferson City, MO – The Missouri Department of Labor and Industrial Relations’ Division of Employment Security today announced $7,490,812.35 was collected in unemployment insurance delinquent taxes, overpayments, penalties and interest from claimants and employers in October 2006.
“Unemployment compensation is a vital and worthy benefit earned and deserved by those who qualify,” said Rod Chapel, director of the Missouri Department of Labor and Industrial Relations. “Workers and employers who exploit the system by either claiming benefits when not qualified or failing to file wage reports should be held accountable for their actions.”
The Division of Employment Security actively investigates individuals that have received improper unemployment benefits. The most common reason for improper payment is the collection of unemployment benefits after returning to work. The Division uses several methods to detect overpayments including cross-matching unemployment insurance records with information from the national and state directory of new hires database. Cross-matching of this information is used to detect if a person has gone to work almost anywhere in the United States and continued to claim Missouri unemployment benefits. In October 2006, the Division collected $804,622 in restitution for overpaid benefits and monetary penalties from claimants.
In addition to overpaid benefits and investigating claimant fraud, the Division also collects unemployment insurance penalties, interest and delinquent taxes from employers. Penalties are imposed if an employer fails to file any required report by the specified due date. Interest accrues on contributions that are due and unpaid after each quarterly due date. In October, the Division collected $6,686,190.35 in delinquent taxes, penalties and interest from employers.
The Division of Employment Security actively investigates individuals and employers who file fraudulent claims or fail to pay their unemployment taxes. Such actions raise employer taxes and reduce the fund that is used for paying benefits.
For more information regarding the Division of Employment Security or to report potential unemployment insurance fraud, call (573) 751 – 3215 or visit www.dolir.mo.gov/es.###
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