The Employment Security Department told legislators it caught all fraudulent applications for state benefits filed by workers at a Pasco, Wash., fruit and agricultural services company.
Responding to allegations of widespread fraud, the department confirmed Jan. 15 it received a small number of false claims for paid family and medical leave from workers at Douglas Fruit Company and Douglas Ag Services.
The company raised concerns about fraudulent claims, and ESD met with managers. The department’s internal controls would have caught the fraudulent claims anyway, ESD Commissioner Cami Feek said in a letter to Republican leaders.
“None of those claims were paid,” she stated. Feek did not specify fraudulent claims the department identified.
Senate Republican Leader John Braun and House Republican Leader Drew Stokesbary raised the issue in a letter Jan. 9 to Feek. Braun and Stokesbary alleged an investigation by ESD and the company in October uncovered a pattern of brazen fraud.
Many employees worked while collecting leave payments, Braun and Stokesbary said. Neither Braun nor Stokesbary had immediate comment on Feek’s response.
The company was concerned that employees collected benefits while working and paid someone to file applications, according to Feek. ESD doesn’t recommend paying someone to prepare an application, but it’s not against the law, she said.
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