# Unemployment fraud **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 23, 2020, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unemployment-fraud/854326 "2020-05-23T03:20:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![sbright33](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8e8cbc/32.png) [@sbright33](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sbright33)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2020, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unemployment-fraud/854326/1 "2020-05-23T03:20:17Z")
I tried to report unemployment fraud using the website and they ignored it. State of PA. The claimant ended his seasonal job at UPS in the beginning of January. They seem to want to pay everyone who applies no matter what the circumstances? Has anyone seen this? Any suggestions? His not working was driving me crazy. Now he’s working and collecting at the same time. ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Feldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lord_feldon/32/341_2.png) [@Lord\_Feldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Feldon)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2020, 5:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unemployment-fraud/854326/2 "2020-05-23T05:25:34Z")
State unemployment agencies are struggling to do their first job right now. Other tasks are pretty much not going to happen at all. ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2020, 8:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unemployment-fraud/854326/3 "2020-05-23T08:29:33Z")
How do you know that they ignored it? ---
**Author:** ![doreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/858c86/32.png) [@doreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doreen)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2020, 12:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unemployment-fraud/854326/4 "2020-05-23T12:08:16Z")
I’m confused. First you say he ended a seasonal job at the end of January - which would normally make someone eligible for benefits. Then you say he’s working and collecting at the same time, and that unemployment ignored your fraud report -although you don’t give any specifics regarding his working, or how long ago you reported the fraud. But just for your information, in at least some states you can collect unemployment even if you are still working if your hours have been cut/days have been cut below a certain threshold. ---
**Author:** ![Carryon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9fc29f/32.png) [@Carryon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carryon)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2020, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unemployment-fraud/854326/5 "2020-05-23T17:00:20Z")
Throughout my career other people have told me they have had people illegally working, cheating on their taxes and so forth. I’ve never heard of one time anyone getting followed up on that Just google around and you will see the chance of a government agency following up is not very great. When they find fraud, it’s because something in their own system trips up the person. (Usually the fraudster gets greedy) ---
**Author:** ![sbright33](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8e8cbc/32.png) [@sbright33](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sbright33)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2020, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unemployment-fraud/854326/6 "2020-05-23T17:14:54Z")
Good point Doreen about continuing to work and collect. You are not eligible after a seasonal job ended. Until now. Is that true? Links please? ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2020, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unemployment-fraud/854326/7 "2020-05-23T17:30:21Z")
> [@sbright33](#): > > Now he’s working and collecting at the same time. Unless he’s being paid under the table, isn’t this sort of thing easy to catch? They just need to cross-reference the income tax records (showing he reported wage income) and the unemployment claims. ---
**Author:** ![sbright33](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8e8cbc/32.png) [@sbright33](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sbright33)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2020, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unemployment-fraud/854326/8 "2020-05-23T18:07:46Z")
Door dash and other delivery. Reported almost 2 months ago. ---
**Author:** ![doreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/858c86/32.png) [@doreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doreen)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2020, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unemployment-fraud/854326/9 "2020-05-23T18:14:15Z")
Seasonal jobs depend on the specifics - in my state you’ll be eligible for unemployment after working a seasonal job unless that seasonal job is specifically excluded. > [@](#): > > If you worked in New York State within the last 18 months, you have the right to file a claim for benefits. > You must meet the qualifying conditions set by law to qualify for benefits. (See list above.) > We can only determine your eligibility to benefits after you file a claim and we have all the required information. We determine your eligibility based upon the New York State Unemployment Insurance Law and precedents of the Law as set by court decisions. > You may be eligible for benefits if: > You lost your job due to lack of work > The temporary or seasonal employment ended > Your job was eliminated > There was an involuntary reduction in force > The company downsized or shut down > The company restructured or reorganized > There was a lack of company operating funds/orders > You were out of work for any other business reason that you did not choose or control > Your employer discharged or fired you because you could not meet their performance or production standards, or their qualifications for the job This is the only info I could find about exclusions > [@](#): > > Teachers and other school employees generally do not qualify for Unemployment Insurance benefits during breaks in the school year or the time between school years or terms. This applies when: > > They have a contract for a similar job in the next school year or term > There is reasonable assurance of a similar job in the next school year or term, after the break. > Reasonable assurance exists when an educational institution: > > Has said it will employ a worker AND > Will make a good faith effort to do so AND > Offers a salary and benefits similar to the prior job Most seasonal jobs won’t cause you to be ineligible in NYS just because the job is seasonal, and from what I recall the exceptions all involve that “reasonable assurance of a job” next season" so that the lifeguards at the city pool who return summer after summer may not be eligible , while the ride operators at an amusement park who have no expectation that they will be rehired next year are eligible. ---
**Author:** ![sbright33](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8e8cbc/32.png) [@sbright33](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sbright33)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2020, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unemployment-fraud/854326/10 "2020-05-25T14:49:16Z")
In this case it’s a 3 week “season”. He will not be rehired. Every state is different. But the biggest difference is the Pandemic. Our governor was just quoted everyone who applies will get their unemployment checks. Except in NJ. Nobody I know is getting paid. ---
**Author:** ![doreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/858c86/32.png) [@doreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doreen)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2020, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unemployment-fraud/854326/11 "2020-05-25T15:22:23Z")
> [@sbright33](#): > > In this case it’s a 3 week “season”. He will not be rehired. Every state is different. But the biggest difference is the Pandemic. Our governor was just quoted everyone who applies will get their unemployment checks. Except in NJ. Nobody I know is getting paid. Apparently PA [changed](https://www.post-gazette.com/news/politics-state/2016/11/03/Restrictions-on-unemployment-compensation-loosened-for-Pennsylvanias-seasonal-workers/stories/201611030216) their rules in 2016 so that people are eligible for unemployment as long as they earned no more than 63% of their wages in a single quarter. But a person would still need to have worked 18 weeks in their base year, so a 3 week seasonal job by itself wouldn’t be enough work to qualify. Although I’m kind of wondering what sort of seasonal job has a three week season - usually a job that is only expected to last three weeks is considered “temporary” not “seasonal”. That’s even less likely to disqualify someone than seasonal work since some people work nearly year-round in different temp jobs while some people work seasonal jobs and earn their entire year’s income in a single quarter or two. ---
**Author:** ![sbright33](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8e8cbc/32.png) [@sbright33](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sbright33)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2020, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unemployment-fraud/854326/12 "2020-05-29T18:48:50Z")
Looks like he will magically find a job before the $450 return to work bonus deadline. The only obstacle is that he will be competing with millions of qualified experienced workers with the same goal. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2020, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unemployment-fraud/854326/13 "2020-05-29T18:55:31Z")
Just WAGing here but, the agency only has so many investigators. They need to spend their time on major fraud to earn their salaries. Someone potentially scamming then out of several hundred dollars isn’t an effective use of resources, in particular now when they are overwhelmed with applicants. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2020, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unemployment-fraud/854326/14 "2020-05-29T20:34:50Z")
Since the state gets quarterly reports, it is very hard to do UC fraud. They can see where you worked, and where you are working recently. So, they saw where he _was_ working, and determined that that made him eligible. Thereby, that’s not fraud. Now, yes, when the next quarterly report comes in, they can see he is now working. But of course since there is a delay, you can be working and still getting checks for a even up to a month. And in many states, if you go from FT to PT, you can still get a UC check, even tho they are much smaller. They subtract a portion of what you are currently earning from your benefits. “Door dash and other delivery” would be PT sorts of work. So, I dont think there is any fraud here at all.