Kansas unemployment fraud has two very different readers: the person who just got a letter or a 1099-G for a claim they never filed, and the claimant who wants to know what the state counts as fraud and what it costs.
This guide covers both — how to report Kansas unemployment fraud, the identity-theft steps, how to get a corrected 1099-G, what counts as claimant fraud, the penalties and disqualification, and when it becomes a criminal case. Verified against Kansas Department of Labor as of October 2026.
Kansas Unemployment Fraud at a Glance
| Report fraud | https://dol.ks.gov/fraud |
| Hotline | 785-575-1460 (Kansas Unemployment Contact Center, the number printed on the KDOL fraud report form; KDOL lists no separate fraud-only hotline) |
| Penalty | K.S.A. 44-706(g) adds a civil penalty of 25% of the benefits unlawfully received, paid into the employment security trust fund. |
| Disqualification | Under K.S.A. |
| Criminal charge | Under K.S.A. 44-719(a), knowingly making a false statement to get or increase benefits is charged as theft under K.S.A. |
In This Kansas Unemployment Fraud Guide:
How to Report Kansas Unemployment Fraud
Report it at https://dol.ks.gov/fraud or call 785-575-1460 (Kansas Unemployment Contact Center, the number printed on the KDOL fraud report form; KDOL lists no separate fraud-only hotline). Reports can be made anonymously; the agency investigates both claimant and employer fraud.
Kansas Unemployment Fraud in Your Name: If Someone Else Filed
- Report the fraudulent claim to the KDOL Fraud Investigation team at dol.ks.gov/fraud
- Keep the police report number the reporting system gives you
- If you got a 1099-G, file a “1099 Protest” in the KDOL Self Service Portal (Individual > 1099 Protest)
- Complete and attach the Unsworn Declaration form KBEN 7105 (Option 2: someone filed in my name)
- Notify your bank and check your credit reports for other misuse
Getting a Corrected 1099-G
File a 1099 Protest in the KDOL Self Service Portal, or mail a written dispute with your full name and the last 4 digits of your SSN, along with form KBEN 7105 (Unsworn Declaration, Identity Theft), to KDOL’s Fraudulent 1099 Inquiry address in Topeka. If KDOL confirms the fraud, it issues a corrected 1099-G showing 0 and files the correction with the IRS.
If the corrected form has not arrived by tax time, IRS guidance says to report the income and then subtract it as income not received.
What Counts as Kansas Unemployment Fraud by a Claimant
Under K.S.A. 44-706(g), fraud means knowingly making a false statement, or knowingly leaving out an important fact, to get benefits or to get more of them. Common examples are not reporting wages earned while claiming, working while claiming without reporting it, giving a false reason for leaving a job, and filing false work-search reports. Someone else doing this on your behalf, with your knowledge, also counts.
Kansas Unemployment Fraud Penalties and Disqualification
K.S.A. 44-706(g) adds a civil penalty of 25% of the benefits unlawfully received, paid into the employment security trust fund. You also have to repay the full overpayment plus interest, costs and fees. Instead of penalty weeks, Kansas uses a disqualification period (see below). Identity theft victims are not subject to this subsection. Under K.S.A. 44-706(g), you are disqualified until the full overpayment is repaid, including interest, penalties and fees.
After KDOL confirms full repayment, the disqualification runs 1 year more for a first occurrence and 5 years for any later occurrence.
When Kansas Unemployment Fraud Becomes a Criminal Case
Under K.S.A. 44-719(a), knowingly making a false statement to get or increase benefits is charged as theft under K.S.A. 21-5801. The class depends on the amount: under 1500 is a class A misdemeanor, 1500 to under 25000 is a severity level 9 nonperson felony, 25000 to under 100000 is level 7, and 100000 or more is level 5.
It is a severity level 5 nonperson felony no matter the amount if someone with no covered employment files in another person’s name 3 or more times within 30 days. Confirm the current amount brackets with the statute.
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Employer-Side Kansas Unemployment Fraud
Kansas treats intentionally labeling employees as independent contractors as tax and insurance evasion, and the employer is the one penalized. Kansas also bars employers from obtaining, or trying to obtain, a lower unemployment tax rate illegally (SUTA dumping), including through business transfers designed to cut the rate (K.S.A. 44-710a). Workers can report at dol.ks.gov/unemployment/report-fraud by choosing “Worker Misclassification.” The Kansas Department of Revenue accepts anonymous reports.
Honest Mistakes Are Not Kansas Unemployment Fraud
A wrong number on a weekly claim is a mistake, not fraud, if you correct it when you notice; fraud requires a knowing false statement. Fix it through the portal or by phone before the agency finds it.
The Kansas fraud disqualification only starts once the full overpayment, interest and penalties are repaid. It then runs 1 more year for a first occurrence or 5 years for a later one, so the ban can last much longer than the period written in the statute. K.S.A. 44-706(g) also requires KDOL to investigate alleged false statements so that no identity theft victim is disqualified, made to repay, or penalized.
Related: if the state says you were overpaid on your own claim, that is a different process — see the Kansas overpayment guide for waivers, repayment plans and the appeal deadline.
Kansas — the bottom line
- Report Kansas unemployment fraud the same day you suspect it — an unreported claim in your name becomes an overpayment in your name.
- Kansas unemployment fraud by a claimant means a knowing false statement; an honest mistake corrected promptly is not fraud.
- Penalties for Kansas unemployment fraud stack: repayment, a monetary penalty, penalty weeks, and in large cases a criminal referral.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I report unemployment fraud in Kansas?
Use the state fraud page (https://dol.ks.gov/fraud) or call 785-575-1460 (Kansas Unemployment Contact Center, the number printed on the KDOL fraud report form; KDOL lists no separate fraud-only hotline).
Someone filed for unemployment in my name in Kansas — what do I do?
Report the fraudulent claim to the KDOL Fraud Investigation team at dol.ks.gov/fraud; Keep the police report number the reporting system gives you; If you got a 1099-G, file a “1099 Protest” in the KDOL Self Service Portal (Individual > 1099 Protest); Complete and attach the Unsworn Declaration form KBEN 7105 (Option 2: someone filed in my name); Notify your bank and check your credit reports for other misuse
What is the penalty for unemployment fraud in Kansas?
K.S.A. 44-706(g) adds a civil penalty of 25% of the benefits unlawfully received, paid into the employment security trust fund.
Is an honest mistake on a weekly claim fraud in Kansas?
No. Correct it as soon as you notice; fraud requires a knowing false statement.
Official Kansas Sources & Resources
- Kansas Department of Labor: https://www.dol.ks.gov/ui-benefits
- Report unemployment fraud in Kansas: https://dol.ks.gov/fraud
- Kansas unemployment statute: K.S.A. 44-701 et seq.
- U.S. Department of Labor — Unemployment Insurance: dol.gov
- IRS — Form 1099-G: irs.gov
This Kansas unemployment fraud guide was last verified against official Kansas sources in October 2026. Rules change — confirm the current figure with the state agency or a licensed attorney.
More Kansas Unemployment Guides
- Kansas Unemployment Overpayment: Waivers and Repayment
- Kansas Unemployment Appeal: Deadline and Hearing
- Kansas Unemployment Benefits: How Much and How Long
- Unemployment Guides for All 50 States
Disclaimer: This guide is general information, not legal or financial advice. My Unemployment Rights is an independent educational resource, not a government agency and not a law firm. Unemployment benefit amounts, deadlines and rules change — every figure here carries the date we verified it. Confirm the current figure and any deadline with your state unemployment agency before you act.