COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio Auditor Keith Faber has issued an advisory regarding a new wave of potentially fraudulent unemployment claims being filed in the name of county and local government employees. These claims are mostly being filed on behalf of employees who are still currently employed.
It has been reported that local governments received guidance from the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) stating that reimbursing employers would be responsible for payment of the employer’s share of unemployment compensation claims, even when the claims were clearly fraudulent.
Faber’s office has provided clear guidance on the issue and has assured local governments that they will not face any negative consequences for paying invoices from ODJFS for potentially fraudulent claims. They have also stated that they will not make an audit finding of non-compliance where the entity relies on a well-reasoned legal opinion.
Faber urged local governments to continue reporting fraud directly to ODJFS and assured them that he stands ready to work with them to fix the problem. He believes that Ohio’s local governments should not be burdened with the cost of fraudulent unemployment claims.
In a statement, Faber said, “We are committed to working with the General Assembly, our local government partners, associations, and the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services to fix this problem. Ohio’s local governments should not be made to bear the burden and cost of fraudulent unemployment claims.”