New Position to Target Workers’ Comp Fraud in Rhode Island

Officials in Rhode Island are creating a new position to prosecute fraud in the state’s unemployment and workers’ compensation program.

The state’s Department of Labor and Training announced the new position on Monday.

The prosecutor will be tasked with rooting out cases in which individuals wrongfully receive unemployment or workers’ compensation benefits.

Gov. Lincoln Chafee says that by targeting misuse of public benefits the state is sending a message that fraud won’t be tolerated.

The Department of Labor and Training says it recovered $5.5 million in overpayments to beneficiaries last year.