Missouri Department of Labor and Industrial Relations Director Anna Hui Archives

Missouri lawmakers in both parties critical of Labor Department’s reimbursement request for unemployment overpayments

February 3, 2021 By Brian Hauswirth

Missouri’s labor director was grilled by state lawmakers in both parties, during a Tuesday hearing in Jefferson City involving unemployment overpayments and the department’s subsequent request for reimbursement.

State Rep. Richard Brown, D-Kansas City, speaks on the Missouri House floor in Jefferson City on January 13, 2021 (file photo courtesy of Ben Peters at House Communications)

State Department of Labor and Industrial Relations director Anna Hui testified before the Missouri House Special Committee on Government Oversight, saying the state overpaid more than $150 million in unemployment benefits last year. She also says overpayments are a regular part of the unemployment program.

The $150 million number frustrates committee chairman Rep. Jered Taylor, R-Nixa, who notes the number was about $100 million three days ago. Director Hui says the number changes each day.

Director Hui testifies that about 46,000 Missourians have been impacted by the unemployment overpayments, and emphasizes that her department will work with them on a payment plan. She also says it’s critical for Missourians who have received unemployment overpayments to communicate with her department, for a repayment plan.

“And they can cover a number of different things whether it’s offset against future benefits, offset against tax returns, refunds or again, we establish a payment plan,” Director Hui testifies.

Lawmakers in both parties are critical of that. State Rep. Doug Clemens, D-St. Ann, has filed a bill to change current law that mandates that the Labor Department collect on overpayments. State Rep. Richard Brown, D-Kansas City, tells Director Hui that a woman he knows has received a letter, asking her to repay $23,000. Brown says the woman doesn’t have the money.

State Reps. Tony Lovasco, R-O’Fallon, and Peter Merideth, D-St. Louis, say Missourians who didn’t commit fraud should not have to repay money, because the state made the error.

“I think we need to figure out a way to let these people keep this money because ultimately they’re never going to trust us again if we don’t,” Lovasco says.

As for Representative Merideth, he’s filed a resolution that calls on Governor Parson to forgive the balance of non-fraudulent overpayments.

During the three-hour hearing, State Rep. J. Eggleston, R-Maysville, read a letter from a northwest Missouri teacher who’s being told she must repay $9,000, because of the state’s error. He says the teacher wishes she had been denied unemployment, to begin with.

Lawmakers also learned new details about the pandemic’s impact on the state’s economy and the unemployment system.

Director Hui testifies that Missouri paid out $236 million in unemployment benefits in 2019. That number increased to $5.1 billion in 2020, due to the pandemic.

Missouri House oversight committee chair wants to make sure unemployment issue is being handled correctly (AUDIO)

February 2, 2021 By Brian Hauswirth

The Missouri House oversight committee chair says the state overpaid more than $100 million in unemployment benefits last year, and he’s hearing that some residents are being told they’ll have to repay up to $12,000.

State Rep. Jered Taylor, R-Nixa, speaks on the Missouri House floor in Jefferson City on January 13, 2021, as State Rep. Don Rone, R-Portageville, (left) listens (file photo courtesy of Ben Peters at House Communications)

The House Special Committee on Government Oversight will hold a hearing on the issue Tuesday afternoon at 2 in Jefferson City. Committee chairman Rep. Jered Taylor, R-Nixa, tells Missourinet it’s important to find out what happened.

“I’m hearing over $100 million now, the first number I heard was $40 million and then $90 million and now it’s over $100 (million) on overpayments, and they’re requesting that money back,” Taylor says.

The committee will hear testimony Tuesday from state Department of Labor and Industrial Relations director Anna Hui on what caused the unemployment overpayments. The committee also wants to hear about the department’s subsequent request for reimbursement.

As for Governor Parson, he says Missourians mistakenly paid unemployment benefits by the state should be required to pay the money back. The governor also told the Missouri Press Association on Thursday that “some people did try to defraud the system.”

Director Hui will likely face some tough questions from lawmakers in both parties today. Chairman Taylor says taxpayers who didn’t commit fraud should not have to repay money.

“But I don’t think that these people that, through no fault of their own, they submitted the paperwork, everything was correct on their end and it was the Department (of Labor) who made these erroneous overpayments,” says Taylor.

State Sen. Brian Williams, D-University City, has expressed similar concerns. Senator Williams says if the state overpaid someone, that’s on the state, not the individual.

Chairman Taylor is encouraging Missourians who can’t attend today’s hearing to fill out written testimony.

Click here to listen to Brian Hauswirth’s full three-minute interview with State Rep. Jered Taylor, R-Nixa, which was recorded on February 1, 2021:

Missouri is first state in nation to receive maximum funding for shared work program (AUDIO)

September 1, 2020 By Brian Hauswirth

The Missouri Department of Labor and Industrial Relations (DOLIR) has received $1.8 million in grants for the shared work program, which allows employers to bring laid-off employees back to the job by dividing available work among employees.

Missouri Department of Labor and Industrial Relations (DOLIR) Director Anna Hui briefs Capitol reporters in Jefferson City on June 16, 2020 (file photo courtesy of the governor’s Flickr page)

DOLIR Director Anna Hui says the grant will enable the Labor Department to build on a 30-year program.

“And it’s really about making sure that employers and workers have the ability to remain attached in the employment cycle,” Hui says.

Director Hui tells Missourinet that about 50,000 employees in Missouri and about 1,200 employers participate in the shared work program. Missouri was one of the original states to establish the program.

Hui says the Show-Me State is the first in the nation to receive maximum funding under the program, which allows employees to receive a portion of their unemployment benefits while working reduced hours and retaining benefits like health insurance. She says the shared work program can be used in situations like plant re-tooling and during economic downturns.

“The shared work program allows for any sort of 20 to 40 percent reduction in work hours to be spread over your entire workforce,” says Hui.

She says the program is beneficial to employers of all sizes, and to their employees.

“Because you get to have your benefits and you’re attached to the workforce, your skillset still stays fresh and you still have that level of engagement with the organization with your co-workers,” Hui says.

Governor Mike Parson describes the program as “a win for employers, a win for workers and a win for local Missouri economies.”

Missouri plans to use the grant money to ensure that businesses in the state are aware of the program, to enroll more businesses and to streamline the reporting process for both employers and employees.

State officials say Missouri’s unemployment rate was 6.9 percent in July, down from June’s rate of 7.8 percent.

Click here to listen to Brian Hauswirth’s interview with Missouri Department of Labor and Industrial Relations (DOLIR) Director Anna Hui, which was recorded on August 28, 2020:

Required job hunting to resume next month for unemployed Missourians

June 17, 2020 By Alisa Nelson

Beginning the week of July 5, Missourians who want to continue getting unemployment benefits will be required to do work searches. The condition had been lifted for those who had filed a coronavirus-related unemployment claim.

Required job hunting to resume next month for unemployed Missourians

During a press conference Tuesday, Missouri Department of Labor and Industrial Relations Director Anna Hui made the announcement.

“We all know that a system that rewards individuals to be unemployed is unsustainable,” says Hui. “It is time for employers and workers to have thoughtful and productive conversations on plans and steps that they are taking now to plan on how to return to work.”

Unemployed individuals will be required to do three work searches per week to remain eligible for benefits, including a $600 federal supplement available through July 25.

“Work search activities will be required of anyone on regular unemployment, the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance Program, extended benefits and the Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation Program,” says Hui.

Workers with an employer-submitted recall date, in approved training, and those employees on the Shared Work program are exempt. Union members with a hiring or referral hall may contact their hall three times per week or attend training for the required number of work search activities.

In one week, Missouri receives nearly 30% of total unemployment claims filed in 2019

March 25, 2020 By Alisa Nelson

The number of Missourians filing for unemployment has escalated this month. During a Capitol press briefing, Gov. Mike Parson says COVID-19 is taking its toll on the state’s workforce.

In one week, Missouri receives nearly 30% of total unemployment claims filed in 2019

“In just the past week, the Missouri Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, has received nearly 30% of the total number of unemployment claims filed in 2019,” says Parson.

State Labor data shows that Missouri had a total of about 180,000 claims filed last year.

Missouri Department of Labor and Industrial Relations Director Anna Hui says she expects the number of claims filed weekly to continue to grow.

“But please know we are actively monitoring the web-based system 24/7,” says Hui. “We have added capacity. We have added staff.”

Hui says the most efficient way to file an unemployment claim is on the Missouri Department of Labor and Industrial Relations website.