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The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics excludes self-employed workers and anyone who has run out of benefits. Author: Erica Proffer Updated: 6:52 PM CDT July 22, 2021 AUSTIN, Texas — Question:  “Will the unemployment rate be higher if those out of work and no longer qualified for benefits file claims away?” Sources: U.S. Department of Labor Result: False: The unemployment rate is not impacted by people filing claims even if they’re not qualified or have run out of benefits Context: Texas had more people file for unemployment recently than any other state...

Unemployment benefit scams are running rampant in Texas. We here from Texas Workforce Commissioner Ed Serna. Governor Abbott says no to vaccine passports.  

Fake unemployment claims tripled since start of pandemic, TWC says Texans who had their identity stolen through fake unemployment claims are finding themselves with nowhere to turn. TERRELL, Texas - Texans who had their identity stolen through fake unemployment claims are finding themselves with nowhere to turn. The Texas Workforce Commission says the number of fake claims has tripled since the pandemic began. Victims are finding it harder to clear things up because the agency is swamped. Many victims of unemployment fraud are worried about being held responsible for taxes on the money paid o...

The executive director of Texas Workforce Commission said a half billion dollars had gone out to suspicious claimants, but TWC stopped another $3 billion getting into the wrong hands.

Proffer: So you mentioned the debt from places like California, how we're much better off regarding Title XII advances. What has made it that way? Is it that we have fewer layoffs or is it that we had more money in the bank to begin with?  Serna: A couple of things, I think, in my opinion, made it that way. One, our businesses paid taxes back in the summer, almost $1 billion in taxes, even though they were already dealing with COVID. Two, while we have had a high unemployment rate, we still have a lot of folks that are working. So our numbers of the individuals that we're having to pay are n...