UNCLAIMED PROPERTY & UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS
Have you or your employees received a notice about unclaimed unemployment insurance benefits? States maintain a database of unclaimed property that could be from a variety of sources, including unemployment benefits. To relieve some of the administrative burden of getting unclaimed funds back to the people who are owed, states will contract with an outside vendor to try to reunite these funds with the rightful owners.
While there are legitimate vendors like Conduent State and Local solutions, there are also scams that exist. Bad actors may pose as government agencies or third-party services, in an attempt to collect fees or personal information from you. If you receive an unclaimed property notice, here are a few things you can do to verify if the notice is legitimate.
- If you receive unsolicited messages about unclaimed property, do not provide personal information or click suspicious links. When in doubt, begin your search with your states Department of Revenue (Look for an Unclaimed Property link) or use unclaimed.org. This site is operated by the National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators (NAUPA) and is your trusted starting point for searching across all states.
- If you are being asked to pay a fee to get your money back – this is an immediate red flag. Remember: reclaiming your own unclaimed property never requires payment. The process is free—legitimate agencies or websites will never ask you for money to return your funds.
If you discover unclaimed unemployment benefits under your name, but you never filed for unemployment, this could be a warning sign that you are the victim of unemployment fraud. Fraudsters may have used stolen personal information to file claims without your knowledge, resulting in benefits being issued in your name. It is important that you do not attempt to claim any unwarranted unemployment benefits as repayment and additional penalties/fees may be associated with illegitimate benefits.
Instead, if you did not file for benefits and suspect fraudulent activity, it is important to alert the relevant state workforce agency and take action to protect your identity. Visit Thomas and Company’s website for additional information and resources on unemployment fraud.
COLORADO – NASWA AND CDLE WARN OF MALICIOUS PHISHING ATTEMPTS
Employers in multiple states have received malicious and fraudulent emails with instructions to provide employee and account login information.
This serves as a reminder that state workforce agencies will not request employee(s) personal identifiable information or employer login information via email.
If you receive a request like this from the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment – or any other state workforce agency, do not respond, do not provide the requested information, and do not click on any links within the email.
When in doubt, access your account to determine any outstanding requests or call the state workforce agency with a phone number found directly on their legitimate website.
KENTUCKY – DUA APPLICATION DEADLED EXTENDED TO JULY 25
Individuals in Kentucky impacted by recent severe storms, including straight-line winds, and tornadoes have received a 30-day extension to file for DUA benefits. The application deadline is now August 22, 2025.
Assistance may be available to impacted individuals in Caldwell, Laurel, Pulaski, Russell, Trigg and Union Counties.
Impacted individuals can file an initial claim at https://kcc.ky.gov/Pages/index.aspx or by calling (502) 564-2900.
