Question about work search records during unemployment

September 3, 2020 4:06 PM

Have you had a Benefits Accuracy Measurement (BAM) audit for unemployment? Or maybe any kind of audit for unemployment? If so, I have a question.

Like many, I became unemployed in March and received unemployment benefits until I secured employment in August. I received an email today notifying me that I was randomly selected for a BAM audit. In the email, they instruct me to have my work search records for just a specific one-week period ready for the audit.

Although I was searching for work and answered the biweekly certification questions honestly, I didn't actually apply for any jobs that week. I hunted daily by browsing LinkedIn and following up on job searches I was getting emails on. But nothing for that five-day period was a good fit, and I didn't send out my resume or fill out any applications. The question they ask during certification is if I was available (yes) and if I actively searched for work (yes). Will they take my word for this?

Have you had a BAM audit? Do you know how this is handled? I'm trying to figure out how I should respond to that part of the audit, or if there's anything I should know ahead of time. State: Illinois

posted by anonymous to Law & Government (3 answers total)

“Actively searching for work” in many states means applications or resumes sent out, and attempting employer contact. Often there’s a minimum you need to do each week. Each state varies, and this may be different in your state, but ours requires you to actually report them each week.

For an audit, normally the UI office follows up on the contacts you’ve made, calling the business to confirm you In fact did. It’s possible, by their definition that you did not actually seek work that week.

Keeping a document of contact with employers to report, is important. To keep from inadvertently losing your benefits, you should only be reporting jobs that you know you won’t get. You may need to be sending out applications to NASA and shit just to appease the requirements of “searching for work.”

I’ve been audited in Oregon before, twice, and it ranges from asking for a list to follow up on, to sending PDFs of emails sent out.

Do not lie, but do not expect this to go well. Fraud in this area is way worse than losing your UI.
posted by furnace.heart at 4:35 PM on September 3, 2020 [1 favorite]

I don't know how you should respond, but in a similar situation in NY a while ago, I told them that I made phone calls, left messages as follow up to resumes I had sent earlier and searched the internet and listed some sites like LinkedIn. I told them it was a slow week.

If you are concerned, if you talked to any friends who are consultants about what it is like to be self employed and what it takes, etc. you can tell them that you explored alternatives to your previous traditional path. Have your friend back it up if need be.

Also, I have a friend who told them she was sick for most of the week and was unable to look that week, but here is the data for another week.
posted by AugustWest at 4:41 PM on September 3, 2020

You're probably in a better situation than you would be in regular times. In some states the requirement to be seeking work has been waived altogether during COVID.
This page for Illinois describes the specific situation of employees who were temporarily laid off because of COVID - they are considered seeking work if they are ready and able to return to their job. I know in the case of my job (at an establishment which is still basically closed due to COVID) it wasn't particularly made clear when or whether we'd be brought back.
posted by needs more cowbell at 5:07 PM on September 3, 2020