Pennsylvania is once again processing applications for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance.
Pennsylvania stopped processing payments in September as a result of massive fraud discovered over the summer when a sudden surge in PUA applications occurred.
First-time applicants must now have their identity verified through a company the state has engaged to conduct the verifications.
In September, Labor & Industry said the number of claims went from about 5,000 per day to more than 20,000 a day, with many of the claims coming from out of state.
Pennsylvania Labor & Industry Secretary Jerry Oleksiak says they're using a system called ID.me. "Claimants who are not already receiving payments will need to follow the directions they receive from ID.me to verify their identity so their payments can be released," he said.
Oleksiak says it's only the new PUA applicants that need to go through the verification process.
Several dozen prison inmates and accomplices in Pennsylvania are charged with using stolen identities to receive benefits.
PUA payments go to gig and other non-traditional workers who missed out on unemployment benefits before COVID.
It's a response to massive fraud discovered during the summer months.
Several dozen prison inmates and accomplices in Pennsylvania are charged with using stolen identities to receive benefits.