McHenry Times

Sen. Donald DeWitte (R-West Dundee) wanted an update about the Illinois Department of Employment Security during the Senate Appropriations Personnel and Procurement Committee hearing after Jennifer Ricker, acting secretary of the Department of Integrated Technology (DoIT), mentioned its budget request.

Ricker enumerated that the department seeks $650 million for the technology management revolving fund, $15 million in GR, $5 million for the DoIT special projects fund and $318.1 in capital appropriation for infrastructure and maintenance.

“Tell me where you are with regard to re-engineering at IDES,” DeWitte asked. “Can you talk a little bit how you were brought into that process?”

DoIT is working on fine-tuning the IDES system, according to Ricker. Adam Ford, chief information security officer, said that unemployment insurance as a whole has mainly been under attack by criminal operations and is a national trend — not just Illinois. He assured the senator that they have worked on new techniques to stop the fraud.

According to the IDES, unemployment benefits fraud was a national-level issue in 2020 as the federal government provides COVID-19 relief.

IDES has partnered with law enforcement to deter unemployment insurance fraud and the DoIT was also instrumental in securing IDES’ digital connections.

“IDES is aware of phishing schemes targeting Illinoisans,” according to its website. “Please note that individuals will never receive a text message from IDES seeking personally identifiable information, like your social security or driver’s license numbers. For more info on phishing schemes, please visit the FTC website.”

DoIT supports statewide technology, innovation, and telecommunication services. It is responsible for the information technology functions of agencies under the jurisdiction of the governor. The department also manages the Illinois Century Network (ICN), which provides net connectivity statewide.

Gov. J.B. Pritzker proclaimed April as Innovation and Technology Month in Illinois.