Illinois State Rep. Jeff Keicher (R-Sycamore) | Stock Photo
Illinois State Rep. Jeff Keicher (R-Sycamore) | Stock Photo
The House State Government Administration Committee is being asked to hold an immediate hearing by two Illinois House Republicans to discuss the news of Illinois residents being hung up on when calling about stolen identities with the Illinois Department of Employment Security, which have stemmed from false claims.
“People across Illinois are having their identity stolen left and right in an avalanche of phony unemployment claims. An estimated 250,000 fraudulent claims for unemployment benefits had been filed in Illinois since the onset of the pandemic. We have a responsibility to act on this matter not only to hold the Administration accountable on behalf of our constituents, but to fix the damn problem that’s been largely ignored thus far," Illinois State Rep. Jeff Keicher (R-Sycamore), member of the Agency Operation Subcommittee, said in a press release from his website.
Illinois State Rep. Mike Murphy (R-Springfield), a member of the Government Process Subcommittee, stated in the release that the need to address the fraud is urgent.
Fraud is on the rise in Illinois because of phony unemployment claims
| Stock Photo
“The fraud plaguing the administration’s handling of unemployment claims at IDES is urgent,” Murphy said in the press release. “We must have public hearings to get to the root problem and find solutions to not only rein in this problem, but to ensure the families rightfully in need of unemployment benefits has access to them.”
Both Republican lawmakers said the Illinois House State Government Administration Committee has a responsibility to the state to oversee the fraudulent issue, call witness and resolve it. They said an in-person hearing should be held for the matter, which would abide by all health and safety precautions.
“This is a critical support structure for our residents. I’m crushed that we cannot get the Administration to be more responsive in the face of such overwhelming need,” Keicher said in the press release. “I’m hopeful Chairwoman Kifowit will agree our work is urgent.”
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