The state has shut down its unemployment insurance computer system to tighten security in the midst of what officials say is organized and massive fraudulent activity. Governor Beshear said Thursday this criminal activity is being seen in many states.
Amy Cubbage, legal counsel for the Labor Cabinet, said the system shutdown started Thursday and runs for four days. “You will not unfortunately be able to file new claims or request benefits. If you needed to file a new claim during that time, we will be able to back claim for you. If you needed to ask for benefits during that time, you will be able to get those benefits. No one will lose out on their chance to request those weeks of benefits,” said Cubbage.
Using predictable user information like social security numbers, bad actors employed automated tools to attempt to gain unauthorized access to claimant accounts. Asked how much unemployment had gone to undeserving claimants, the governor replied those numbers are not yet known because the operation is so recent and sophisticated.
Claimants are asked to, among other things, create a new 12-digit password and use a new eight-digit pin number mailed to them.
Governor Beshear continued to stress the importance of coronavirus vaccination and called on citizens to not be too selective about which vaccine they get. During Thursday’s briefing, Beshear said there’s been a substantial drop in the amount of one-shot Johnson and Johnson vaccine coming to Kentucky. “If individuals, Kentuckians, wait on the Johnson and Johnson vaccine, we might not win the race against the variants. It’s going to take us longer to fully ease the restrictions that we all want to get rid of, so come on, get out there, get your vaccine,” explained Beshear.
The governor says he expects to provide more information Monday about goals to eliminate capacity limitations for groups as large as one thousand people.
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