Will County Gazette

Illinois unemployment claims have been surging in the face of rising COVID-19 infection rates, and former Republican House candidate Rick Laib is pushing for greater safeguards against fraudulent claims in the state’s unemployment security office.

“Like any fraudulent claims that are made the individual making the claim must be made accountable,” Laib told the Will County Gazette. 

“Those making these claims with hopes to benefit from a benevolent state ought to be aggressively investigated and prosecuted. For now, the state must continue to warn employers who may be named and turn whatever attention it can to sift out legitimate claims from fraudulent ones," Laib said. 

Illinois is currently investigate some more than 212,000 fraudulent unemployment claims | File Photo

The Center Square reported in an article from the Chicago Tribune, the Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) said it is now investigating upwards of 212,000 questionable claims, with many of them targeting individuals that rated as their companies highest earners.

While a trio of GOP House members is now calling attention to the mounting problem, Laib argues more needs to be done.

“The governor should use whatever power he has at his disposal to address this issue,” Laib said. 

“Illinois has marked itself as an easy target for years as it has wanted to be the giver of financial funds. Now as we continue through a season where the state will see less revenue with increased requests for assistance, getting a hold on fraudulent claims will be difficult," Laib said.

With the state having issued more than $17 billion in unemployment assistance since the beginning of the pandemic, IDES' Rebecca Cisco claims much of the potential fraud can be blamed on data breaches outside the confines of the agency.

Laib said he thinks the focus has to be on prevention.

“Turn whatever attention it can to sift our legitimate claims from fraudulent ones and begin, as soon as possible, investigating and prosecuting those filing fraudulent claims,” Laib said.