HR 3268 — Combatting COVID Unemployment Fraud Act of 2021

Summary

Combatting COVID Unemployment Fraud Act of 2021 This bill requires additional documentation for individuals seeking pandemic unemployment assistance, requires state unemployment agencies to use designated fraud prevention tools, and otherwise addresses pandemic-related unemployment benefits.

Bill Text

• Introduced Introduced in House Current html May 17, 2021

Compared against current U.S. Code AI-generated reading aid — verify against the official bill.

The bill amends existing law to enhance verification processes for pandemic unemployment assistance, limit retroactive payments, and implement measures for fraud prevention.

• 15 U.S.C. 9021

  provides self-certification → provides, not later than 30 days after the date of application, such documentation as the State may require, demonstrating

  This change requires individuals to provide documentation verifying their eligibility for pandemic unemployment assistance within a specified timeframe.

• 15 U.S.C. 9021

  and

  This change modifies the formatting to clarify a list of conditions for eligibility.

• 15 U.S.C. 9021

  provides documentation to substantiate employment or self-employment or the planned commencement of employment or self-employment not later than 21 days after the later of the date on which the individual submits an application for pandemic unemployment assistance under this section or the date on which an individual is directed by the State Agency to submit such documentation in accordance with section 625.6(e) of title 20, Code of Federal Regulations, or any successor thereto, except that such deadline may be extended if the individual has shown good cause under applicable State law for failing to submit such documentation; → provides, not later than 30 days after the date of application and prior to the authorization of pandemic unemployment assistance, such documentation as the State agency may require (in accordance with section 625.6(e) of title 20, Code of Federal Regulations, or any successor thereto, except with respect to the deadline for submission) to substantiate prior employment or self-employment or the planned commencement of employment and earnings, as applicable, except that the deadline for submission may be extended if the individual has shown good cause under applicable State law that justifies a delay in submitting such documentation;

  This change alters the timeline for providing documentation related to employment, making it more stringent before benefits can be authorized.

• 15 U.S.C. 9021

  provides self-certification that the principal source of income and livelihood of the individual are dependent upon the individual's employment for wages or the individual's performance of service in self-employment;

  This adds a requirement for self-certification regarding the individual's reliance on their employment or self-employment for income.

• 15 U.S.C. 9023

  Notwithstanding any other provision of this subsection, no Federal pandemic unemployment compensation may be paid retroactively for a week of unemployment to claimants who apply for regular compensation for such week more than 14 days after the dates specified in clauses (i) and (ii) of subsection (b)(3)(A) with respect to such week.

  This establishes a new limitation preventing retroactive payments for federal pandemic unemployment compensation if the application is submitted late.

• 42 U.S.C. 503

  The State agency charged with administration of the State law shall use the system designated by the Secretary of Labor for cross-matching claimants of unemployment compensation under State law against any databases in the system to prevent and detect fraud and improper payments.

  This mandates the use of a designated system for verifying unemployment compensation claims to prevent fraud.

Action History

1. May 17, 2021

   Introduced in House

2. May 17, 2021

   Introduced in House

3. May 17, 2021

   Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

Sponsors

• Kevin Brady · Primary

Subjects