Following the release by the Legislative Audit Bureau (LAB) of its audit findings regarding the overpayments of unemployment insurance (UI) benefits in April, Department of Workforce Development (DWD) Secretary Caleb Frostman released the following statement:
“I thank the Legislative Audit Bureau for their analysis of the UI program, which has expanded greatly with the addition of three federal programs in a little more than three months. With over $2.59 billion in benefits paid to approximately 433,000 claimants, our staff has worked diligently to get much needed benefits to Wisconsinites who are out of work due to the pandemic, while also constantly looking for ways to improve program administration.
The issues we have discovered since the April incident have emphasized the importance of improving our UI policies and procedures. The Department immediately began our own internal investigation to identify and address outstanding issues and developed new written policies that ensure we verify the accuracy of payment files before sending them for distribution.
“We are grateful for the additional review and recommendations provided through LAB’s audit, as well as the audit conducted by the Department of Administration’s State Controller’s Office and Division of Enterprise Technology. Implementing the recommendations included in these independent audits will help guide us as we further our goal of administering Wisconsin’s UI program efficiently and effectively while ensuring that benefit payments are paid promptly and accurately.”
