WorkForce West Virginia paid nearly $83 million in fraudulent unemployment claims during the COVID-19 pandemic.

PERD’s objectives were to provide information on the unprecedented number of unemployment claims filed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the amount paid in fraudulent claims, and the causes for many fraudulent claims being paid. WorkForce West Virginia paid nearly $83 million in fraudulent unemployment claims during the COVID-19 pandemic. The total number of unemployment claims processed by WorkForce increased from 52,816 in CY 2019 (pre-pandemic) to 457,399 in CY 2020. WorkForce’s claims process was not designed for the unprecedented number of claims received, and the allowances of self-certification of federal pandemic unemployment assistance program claims.