Alabama Improves Speed and Reduces Fraud for Workers' Unemployment Compensation Claims With Integrated Computer Solutions, Inc.

    MONTGOMERY, Ala., March 2 /PRNewswire/ -- The Alabama Department of
 Industrial Relations (DIR)(1) has once again seen significant progress in its
 ongoing efforts to deter and prevent abuse of the state's unemployment
 insurance program while expediting the processing of legitimate unemployment
 claims.  Alabama DIR is only one of two states in the nation to achieve
 certification for interactive connectivity to the Social Security
 Administration via the Interstate Connection Network to validate a claimant's
 social security number.
     Alabama DIR teamed with Integrated Computer Solutions, Inc. (ICS), of
 Montgomery, Alabama to successfully complete the certification via an
 Independent Verification and Validation (IV&V) process.  The validation
 process ensures that Alabama citizens are protected against identity theft
 while using their social security numbers to apply for unemployment
 compensation benefits.
     The DIR Unemployment Compensation division is built around one central
 idea: a worker who loses his job through no fault of his own, deserves
 financial help -- the foundation of which is that legitimate claims should be
 processed as swiftly as possible.  As a result of this certification, valid
 claims will be processed more promptly while simultaneously reducing the
 number of fraudulent claims.  Immediate validation of a claimant's social
 security number will significantly decrease the likelihood of a fraudulent
 claim being accepted and processed.
     DIR's executive team proactively supported the efforts of its staff and
 ICS during the IV&V to ensure Alabama met all requirements to be certified by
 the U.S. Department of Labor, the agency charged with approval authority. DIR
 employees Neil Smart Jr., Paul Riley, and Dennis McKinney were instrumental in
 providing ICS the necessary documentation, site visits and system
 demonstrations to rapidly complete the IV&V.  As a result, Faron Golden and
 Kathi Lee of ICS were able to expedite the certification process enabling
 Alabama to become one of the first states to interactively validate social
 security numbers for unemployment claims.
     In a previous article, DIR Director Phyllis Kennedy, said, "Alabama places
 a high priority on thorough follow-up on claims and paying attention to small
 details." With this implementation, once more Alabama leads the way in
 supporting both workers and employers alike while reducing fraudulent
 activity. ICS CEO, Stephen Goldsby, said, "ICS was happy to play a part in the
 process for Alabama to become one of the first in the nation to achieve
 certification."
 
     (1) Industrial Relations is an umbrella organization of state governmental
 agencies that administer the Employment Service, Unemployment Insurance,
 Workers' Compensation, and Labor Market Information divisions. Smaller
 programs also administered include Abandoned Mine Land Reclamation, Mine
 Safety and Inspection, and Surface Mining of Non-Fuel Minerals. For more
 information on the Alabama Department of Industrial Relations, visit the Web
 site: http://dir.alabama.gov/ .
 
 

SOURCE  Integrated Computer Solutions, Inc.