GDOL Response:
GDOL acknowledges this is a repeated finding from previous years, therefore the Department concurs with this finding and offers the following response.
GDOL now freezes the overpayment data at the end of every month so we can conduct periodic reconciliation of the overpayment recor...
GDOL Response:
GDOL acknowledges this is a repeated finding from previous years, therefore the Department concurs with this finding and offers the following response.
GDOL now freezes the overpayment data at the end of every month so we can conduct periodic reconciliation of the overpayment records. This will allow discrepancies to be identified faster and resolved before the deadline to submit the report for the specified period. GDOL consults with USDOL’s national 227 reporting specialists on an ongoing basis to work towards a reconciliation of previously submitted reports. Federal regulations require an actual person to review and establish fraudulent overpayments. Due to the volume of claims and the number of cross matches to be performed on all state and federal pandemic programs, it requires multiple GDOL staffing levels to manually review all cross matches, requiring increased levels of state and federal funding.
A cross match cannot be assumed to be an overpayment. GDOL must investigate cross
matches and provide due process to all parties.
GDOL developed an aggressive plan to complete all crossmatches. As of June 2024, GDOL was caught up and resume our regular crossmatch schedule.
The current unemployment system is aged and distressed. GDOL’s limited technology resources will hinder our ability to update our current system to perform reconciliation
between the multiple tools used to perform different functions. Therefore, we acknowledge that this finding may persist until a system-wide resolution is implemented
in the new modernized UI system.
The Department has a significant number of pending and potential overpayment investigations that may result in either a non-fraud or fraud determination. We are utilizing merit and time-limited staff to maximize productivity by conducting fact-finding interviews, assessing case details, creating overpayments in the system, and making overpayment determinations. The statutes provide that an overpayment be established up to four years after such occurrence, act, or omission. Additionally, GDOL has procured a vendor to build and implement a modernized UI system slated to be launched in 2026. We will continue to utilize available resources to investigate and establish overpayments in the legacy system as quickly as possible and will continue to do so within the program parameters in the new system.
Throughout CY 2024, GDOL participated in quarterly meetings with United States Department of Labor (USDOL) and other regional states to discuss fraud, overpayment
issues and best practices used. These meetings will continue in CY2025.
Summary:
GDOL greatly appreciates the feedback and recommendations and will ensure these and USDOL’s recommendations are incorporated into our new modernized system which is expected to be implemented in the Spring 2026.