Name: Fight against identity fraud leading to unemployment benefit delays in Mass.
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Fight against identity fraud leading to unemployment benefit delays in Mass.

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AdvertisementFight against identity fraud leading to unemployment benefit delays in MassachusettsHide TranscriptShow Transcript&gt;&gt; FIVE INVESTIGATES WITH SOME NEW PROBLEMS FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE COLLECTING ON EMPLOYMENT RIGHT BEFORE THE HOLIDAYS. AS THE STATE IS CRACKING DOWN ON MASSIVE UNLIMITED FRAUD, IT IS ALSO STOPPING SOME BENEFIT CHECKS FROM BEING ISSUED. KAREN ANDERSON IS LEARNING THAT GETTING THAT FIXED IS NO EASY TASK. &gt;&gt; SCARED, KIND OF DESPERATE LIKE THAT PANICKY FEELING. &gt;&gt; SAMANTHA SAYS SHE IS WORRIED ABOUT BEING ABLE TO PROVIDE FOR HER DAUGHTER THIS CHRISTMAS. SHE SAYS THAT SHE WAS LAID OFF AS A SERVER AT THE CHEESECAKE FACTORY AND WAS NOT ABLE TO FIND ANOTHER JOB. SHE HAD BEEN COLLECTING ON EMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE EVERY WEEK AT THIS WEEK, HER CHECK NEVER CAME. SHE CHECKED HER ACCOUNT AND LEARNED IT WAS ON HOLD AND CAN FIND OUT WHY. &gt;&gt; WHAT ARE THE QUESTIONS YOU HAVE? &gt;&gt; HOW DO I FIX IT? I’M NOT ON UNEMPLOYMENT BECAUSE I’M UNEMPLOYABLE, IT IS BECAUSE OF A CORONAVIRUS EPIDEMIC. &gt;&gt; THE DEPARTMENT OF UNEMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE SAYS DUE TO THE NATIONAL EMPLOYMENT FRAUD SCAM, THE DEPARTMENT OF UNAPPOINTED ASSISTANCE CONTINUES TO LAMENT IDENTITY VERIFICATION MEASURES WHICH MAY DELAY PAYMENT TIMING FOR CERTAIN CLAIMANTS. AN ANSWER TO OUR QUESTION OF HOW LONG IT WOULD TAKE AND HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE IMPACTED. GOVERNOR BAKER SAID YESTERDAY THE VERIFICATION CAN TAKE TIME. &gt;&gt; MANY OF THESE TOUCHES ABSOLUTELY CREATE AN UNFORTUNATE LAG BUT IT IS IMPORTANT FOR THESE GUYS TO GET THIS THING RIGHT. QUITE SAMANTHA SAID IT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO KNOW HOW LONG. THAT WAY SHE AND OTHERS CAN PLAN FOR WHAT IS AHEAD AND MAKE SURE HER DAUGHTER AND OTHER CHILDREN GET TO HAVE CHRISTMAS. &gt;&gt; TO THINK THAT THEY ARE GOING TO HAVE TO BELIEVE THAT THEY WERE BAD KIDS AND THAT IS WHY THEY DID NOT GET PRESENTS THIS YEAR, IT IS SCARY TO THINK OF WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN TO THE KIDS. &gt;&gt; IF YOU’RE LOOKING FOR HELP, THE GOVERNOR SAYS YOU CAN CALAdvertisementFight against identity fraud leading to unemployment benefit delays in MassachusettsSome Massachusetts residents collecting unemployment benefits are running into a new problem that is putting their checks on hold just before the holidays: the state's effort to crack down on widespread fraud is leading to the stoppage of legitimate benefits being paid out. "Scared" is how Samantha Erbe described her feelings after her benefits were put on hold. "Kind of desperate, like that panicky feeling," Erbe said "I have a 7-year-old daughter and I don't know what to do besides try to explain that Santa got the coronavirus."Erbe says she was laid off as a server at the Cheesecake Factory and has not been able to find another job. She had been collecting unemployment assistance every week, but her check never came this week.Erbe says she checked her account and learned it was on "hold," and that she cannot find out why. "How do I fix it? What other resources could be available to me? I'm not on unemployment because I'm unemployable. I'm on unemployment because of a corona epidemic," she said.Erbe is not alone.In a statement, the Massachusetts Department of Unemployment Assistance says the following:"Due to the criminal activity surrounding the national unemployment fraud scam, the Department of Unemployment Assistance continues to implement identity verification measures, which may delay payment timing for certain claimants."A spokesperson for the DUA did not respond to 5 Investigates' questions about how long the identity verification process would take or how many people are impacted by it.Gov. Charlie Baker said Tuesday that fixing the integrity checks can take time. "Many of these touches absolutely create an unfortunate lag, but it's important for these guys to get this thing right," Baker said.Erbe says it would be helpful to know how long the lag will last, so she and others can plan for what's ahead and make sure that her daughter and other children get to have a good Christmas."To think that they're going to have to believe that what they were bad kids, and that's why they didn't get presents this year. You know, it's scary to think of what's going to happen to the kids because of it all, you know," she said.Baker said Massachusetts residents who are looking for more help with unemployment assistance can call his constituent service office or their local state representative or state senator.Some Massachusetts residents collecting unemployment benefits are running into a new problem that is putting their checks on hold just before the holidays: the state's effort to crack down on widespread fraud is leading to the stoppage of legitimate benefits being paid out. "Scared" is how Samantha Erbe described her feelings after her benefits were put on hold.Advertisement"Kind of desperate, like that panicky feeling," Erbe said "I have a 7-year-old daughter and I don't know what to do besides try to explain that Santa got the coronavirus."Erbe says she was laid off as a server at the Cheesecake Factory and has not been able to find another job. She had been collecting unemployment assistance every week, but her check never came this week.Erbe says she checked her account and learned it was on "hold," and that she cannot find out why."How do I fix it? What other resources could be available to me? I'm not on unemployment because I'm unemployable. I'm on unemployment because of a corona epidemic," she said.Erbe is not alone.In a statement, the Massachusetts Department of Unemployment Assistance says the following:"Due to the criminal activity surrounding the national unemployment fraud scam, the Department of Unemployment Assistance continues to implement identity verification measures, which may delay payment timing for certain claimants."A spokesperson for the DUA did not respond to 5 Investigates' questions about how long the identity verification process would take or how many people are impacted by it.Gov. Charlie Baker said Tuesday that fixing the integrity checks can take time. "Many of these touches absolutely create an unfortunate lag, but it's important for these guys to get this thing right," Baker said.Erbe says it would be helpful to know how long the lag will last, so she and others can plan for what's ahead and make sure that her daughter and other children get to have a good Christmas."To think that they're going to have to believe that what they were bad kids, and that's why they didn't get presents this year. You know, it's scary to think of what's going to happen to the kids because of it all, you know," she said.Baker said Massachusetts residents who are looking for more help with unemployment assistance can call his constituent service office or their local state representative or state senator.Loading more articles...

AdvertisementFight against identity fraud leading to unemployment benefit delays in MassachusettsHide TranscriptShow Transcript&gt;&gt; FIVE INVESTIGATES WITH SOME NEW PROBLEMS FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE COLLECTING ON EMPLOYMENT RIGHT BEFORE THE HOLIDAYS. AS THE STATE IS CRACKING DOWN ON MASSIVE UNLIMITED FRAUD, IT IS ALSO STOPPING SOME BENEFIT CHECKS FROM BEING ISSUED. KAREN ANDERSON IS LEARNING THAT GETTING THAT FIXED IS NO EASY TASK. &gt;&gt; SCARED, KIND OF DESPERATE LIKE THAT PANICKY FEELING. &gt;&gt; SAMANTHA SAYS SHE IS WORRIED ABOUT BEING ABLE TO PROVIDE FOR HER DAUGHTER THIS CHRISTMAS. SHE...

Fight against identity fraud leading to unemployment benefit delays in Mass.

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