White Assists Constituents, Businesses On Reporting Unemployment Fraud

COLUMBUS – State Rep. Andrea White (R-Kettering) today urged area residents and businesses who have been victims of unemployment fraud to file business and unemployment fraud cases through new tools designed to help speed reporting. 

“Ohio paid out at least $330 million in fraudulent unemployment claims last year, much of it linked to the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance Program,” said White.  “Countless Ohioans are receiving 1099 forms in the mail for unemployment benefits they never filed for and money they never received.  On top of that, businesses will get billed for these erroneous charges. I want to ensure the people and businesses in my district know how to take action if this happens to them.”

Ohioans who suspect their personal information has been stolen and/or received an unexpected 1099-G tax form from the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) should report the fraud to https://unemploymenthelp.ohio.gov/IdentityTheft/. The ID Theft Hotline is also available toll-free at 833-658-0394 between 8:00am to 5:00pm Monday through Friday. 

Ohio businesses can report fraud by also visiting https://unemploymenthelp.ohio.gov/IdentityTheft/, where they can access a template that employers can download, complete and then upload to provide the names of multiple employees whose personal information may have been comprised. 

According to the ODJFS, the state has paid over $8 billion in employment benefits to over 908,000 Ohioans since the beginning of the pandemic. Last month, ODJFS issued 1.7 million 1099-G tax forms to individuals in whose names unemployment benefits were paid in 2020.