Citing 'sharp increase' in fraud, Vermont suspends online unemployment applications
New filers can still submit applications over the phone, labor officials say
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Updated: 5:39 PM EDT Apr 30, 2021
NBC5 News
SOURCE: NBC5 News
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New filers can still submit applications over the phone, labor officials say
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Updated: 5:39 PM EDT Apr 30, 2021
Vermont labor officials say they disabled the state's online unemployment claim system for new filers Wednesday, citing a "sharp increase" in fraud through the system. In a press release delivered Friday, a spokesperson with the Department of Labor announced the suspension and said more than 90% of initial claims being submitted were flagged as fraudulent. "In this case, the most secure solution was to remove the application and make the criminals have to open a claim," Labor Commissioner Michael Harrington wrote. "When we did this, the number of claims being filed dropped by 90% and so too did the fraud." The move was described as temporary by the Department of Labor, but no timeline was provided for a return of the online service. Anyone hoping to file a first-time claim is instead being asked to call the state's Claimant Assistance Center at 877-214-3330. The line is open between Monday and Saturday, 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Labor officials are also asking that anyone who has not applied for benefits but receives mail or notices from the agency, especially those from the Unemployment Insurance Division, to file an online fraud report. This process can also be completed over the phone by calling 802-828-4104.