Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development Commissioner Dr. Tamika L. Ledbetter announced today (May 12th, 2021) that Alaska’s Unemployment Insurance program continues to investigate and address any reported refusals of suitable work or other work related activity that would reduce an individual’s availability for work in order to collect UI.
“The Department of Labor and Workforce Development will vigorously pursue all fraudulent activities to the fullest extent of the law,” said Commissioner Ledbetter.
Individuals commit UI fraud by knowingly submitting false information, knowingly continuing to collect benefits when ineligible, intentionally collecting benefits without reporting wages or income, or not reporting when suitable employment or available work is refused.
If an individual refuses an offer of work because UI pays more than their weekly wage, is asking to be laid off, requests to have their hours reduced, or quits available work so they can obtain UI benefits, they may be committing fraud. Employers should immediately report these activities for investigation.
Employers may send the following information to the UI office by email at [email protected] or by fax to (907) 375-9520. A representative will contact the business for additional information:
Business name
Employer contact information
Individual’s first and last name
Last four of the individual’s Social Security Number, if available
A brief description of the activity in question
If reported activity is a refusal of work please also provide:
Date of job offer
Who made the job offer and their title
Details of the job offer (position, location, wages, hours)
Method of the job offer (phone, email, text, etc.)
The individuals response to the job offer
The department takes fraudulent activities to collect UI benefits seriously. If an individual obtains benefits through fraud, the individual is ineligible for any additional benefit payments, must re-pay the benefits received and is subject to criminal prosecution.
