Evening star., 1948-07-07


currently each claim ri, there Is much
more that can be donenot only by this
board, but also by localtnployers and the
general public. With eequate financial
aid, which should eomefom the Federal
unemployment fund estathed for admins
trative expenditures, our Ird could intensity
and expand It's efforts to brehend claimants
who are seeking benefits dishonest means.
We should for example. lsthen interviewing
time to permit US to ferrent information In
sufhcient detail to dete9ne whether the
claimant is making dishott representations
In order to get unemploynE benefits Sufd-
cient administrative fundSbuld permit us to
review thoroughly the claents' records for
contradictory statements 4 to institute Inn
mediate "follow-up" actionA all questionable
cases. There are many her steps, fraud
deterrent in themselves, VII could be taken
but these would require hsidersbly more
money to administer.
District employers have sal responsibility
in this program. 1t is to iir advantage to
cooperate fully with the lrd in order to
protect the money they nd contributed to
the local unemployment 1t fund. The
boards regulations requireh employer to
submit . separation reportHthin 48 hours
after q worker leaves his etoy. This sep
aration report tells us whene employe was
separated, and why he was Arated If the
report indicates the employSas discharged
for misconduct, voluntarily d without good
cause, or was directly involvdn a strike or
labor dispute, an automatidisoualifcatio
could be imposed as provided, the law. 1t
is regrettable that almost 50 Icent of local
employers fail to comply Wltthe provision
of the regulations requiring II to send us
separation reports, and conssntly permit
claimants to receive benefits whitney should
be disqualified.
Employers can further assist and protect
their own interests as well, by paring and
giving employees q Low EarRs Report"
whenever workers are employed Il than full
time during any week; by verifyin1e workers
Social Security numbers and datn employ
ment before submitting wage ports: by
promptly reviewing and replying notices
sent them by our office; and by rrting any
misrepresentation made by an ploye or
former employees involving unployment
benefit rights.
Willful Frauds Infrequen5
In this consideration of fraud, nScareful
distinction must be made betweendberate
dishonesty and innocent mistakes ,de by
claimants because Of the complexitiof the
law. As mentioned before, have d here
only with fraud that Is knowingly" cnitted
by claimants 1t is my considered opirs that
"willful" fraud Is involved In relativ few
Of the total applications filed for unempn pnent
benefits. However, there are some cas- and
We must and will continue to do evetine
administratively possible to stamp them
Here is partial solution to this probltof
willful fraud The use of an accession IA
separation" report in every instance. Isl
the cure? don't know. Furthermore, |
would pay the bill for this additional VIC
The boss. 1t might be well for me to add HI
that there has never been and will never
law or regulation written which would ma
an Intentionally dishonest person honest. U
fortunately, we will always have thiev
murderers, and = few just-plain dishon'
people.
recent analysis Of benefit payments ma
by this board reveals that:
The lowest average check for any ye
was 1921.
The highest average check for any ye
was $1769.
The average check for the entire period sir
the inception of the law, is 1929.
For two years. the average duration Of clail
was only ~ weeks.
The longest average duration, for one ye
was 1871 weeks.
And the average duration for the ent
period-109 weeks.
These figures clearly indicate that there h
not been too much chiseling by District el
ployes under this program, but we must strive
eliminate the few chiselers without establish
unreasonable restrictions affecting the gre
majority of honest and deserving claiman
We are engaged In the administration
employe-legislation, and the workingman
Urgently requested to cooperate with the proy
officials. and with his employer to prevent t
undermining or abuse Of this. one Of the M
valuable and important programs establish
for his economic security.