WASHINGTON – Arizona senior Senator Kyrsten Sinema called on the administration to support states in providing timely and accurate delivery of unemployment insurance payments and better identify fraudulent claims during the coronavirus pandemic. Specifically, Sinema urged federal leaders to follow a plan laid out by Congress in the Unemployment Insurance Technology Modernization Act—legislation cosponsored by Sinema.
“Arizonans suffering economic harm through no fault of their own shouldn’t face delays and other hardships because of outdated state unemployment insurance systems. The administration must work with states like Arizona so that hardworking Americans get the support they need to get back on their feet as quickly as possible,” said Sinema.
Sinema’s letter ensures the administration follows Congressional intent in investing the $2 billion provided in the coronavirus-relief law to modernize unemployment insurance technology systems in order for states to uphold program integrity without delaying benefits to Arizona workers struggling during the pandemic.
During the coronavirus pandemic, Arizona’s and many states’ outdated unemployment systems were not equipped to handle the increased demand and higher fraud rates. Sinema’s Unemployment Insurance Technology Modernization Act gives Arizona and states access to modernized unemployment insurance technologies.
Sinema’s casework team assisted hundreds of Arizonans navigate the overwhelmed state unemployment insurance system, fight fraudulent unemployment insurance claims, and help legitimate unemployment insurance claimants who had their benefits denied because of broad fraud sweeps. The Unemployment Insurance Technology Modernization Act strengthens security and accurate and timely delivery of unemployment payments to Arizonans during the coronavirus pandemic.
Click HERE to read Sinema’s letter.
