About the Benefit Accuracy Measurement program

Learn what to do if your unemployment claim is randomly selected for an audit as part of the Benefits Accuracy Measurement (BAM) program. BAM is federally regulated and helps ensure claims meet legal standards for fairness and accuracy.

About the Benefit Accuracy Measure (BAM) Program

BAM audits are required by the federal government under the Code of Federal Regulations, Title 20, Part 602.

BAM audits unemployment insurance claims to assess the accuracy of in paying and denying benefits to claimants. The Department of Unemployment Assistance (DUA) uses BAM audit findings to ensure compliance with federal and state laws, rules, and policies as well as to reduce improper payments.

Claims are randomly selected for federal BAM audits.

What if my claim is selected?

If your claim is randomly selected:

• You will be notified by the investigator auditing your claim
• The BAM investigator will contact you up to 3 times to request the necessary information if you do not respond
• You will need to provide information about your claim to the investigator, by phone or email
  • Most of the information required for BAM is information you needed to provide in your initial application. You should provide the information again.
  • You may need to provide proof of work search activities
• Your former employers may be contacted to verify information, including:
  • Past or present wages
  • Reasons for unemployment
  • Benefit eligibility
  • Work search activities
• The investigator will determine if the claim was paid or denied properly
  • If deemed improper, the claim will be modified

What if the audit modifies my claim?

The federal government requires claims be modified if the investigation determines it should be. 

For example, the investigator may conclude that your eligibility was not correctly determined. If so, you may get a notice that:

• Your claim was potentially overpaid:
  • This notice will give you 14 days to provide additional statements or documentation that might impact the outcome
  • You may waive the 14-day notice period, which allows the redetermination to be issued sooner
  • If your eligibility changes, a written redetermination will be issued with all applicable appeal rights
• Or, that your claim was potentially underpaid:
  • A payment will be issued to you if you are otherwise eligible
  • A written determination will be issued to the employer, if entitled, with all applicable appeal rights

Does BAM impact employers?

Yes. In addition to being contacted to verify claims for unemployment, audits help reduce improper payments, which can impact an employer’s experience rating.

If notified of a BAM audit, employers can help by:

• Promptly responding to requests for information
• Providing accurate information about filed claims
• Attending all unemployment insurance appeals hearings

The audit will continue even if the employer does not respond.