LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Kentucky’s Auditor of Public Accounts, Mike Harmon, said the state’s Office of Unemployment Insurance is unable to accurately determine the amount of claims still outstanding while a large backlog of claims remain unresolved.

In a letter to Kentucky’s Finance and Administration Cabinet Secretary on Tuesday, he noted that the removal of some internal controls in order to hasten the processing of unemployment benefit payments increased the risk of fraud and misstatements. He also reported that the audit found that payments were paid to claimants without verifying whether or not they were eligible.

“It is imperative for UI officials to address the problems that led to this issue, so that reliable data can be provided for the current fiscal year and going forward,” Harmon said.

In a statement on the auditor’s report, a spokesperson for the Kentucky Labor Cabinet insisted that the audit report did not include information on how the Office of Unemployment Insurance cooperated with the auditor to provide numbers, and added that the auditor did not accept the information the cabinet offered.

“Kentuckians can expect the Governor’s next budget will include funding to upgrade the unemployment insurance system, to replace the more than 90 employees the General Assembly cut in previous budgets and reopen offices to help Kentucky workers when they need it most,” Kevin Kinnaird said.

LIBERTY TOWNSHIP, Ohio — In a push to get people back to work, Ohio governor Mike Dewine is opting the state out of the Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation program at the end of June.

The program allows those collecting jobless benefits to receive an extra $300 weekly.

Sarah Russell of Liberty Township said the decision to stop the program shouldn't be so cut and dry.

"I am very frustrated for the whole situation,” Russell said.

Russell said the end of program could mean life or death for her six-year-old daughter, Emmalee, who has a rare gene mutation and kidney disease.

"They've put me in a position where I have to choose between protecting my daughter's life or being able to provide shelter and food for my children,” Russell said. "She is more susceptible to the virus."

According to a doctor's note from Cincinnati Children's Hospital, Emmalee can't go to daycare right now. Russell must be her caregiver. Meaning she hasn't been able to return to work cleaning homes over the last year. Instead, she relies on the extra pandemic assistance so she can take care of her children until Emmalee can be vaccinated.

"They should not be making that decision when everyone cannot be vaccinated,” Russell said.

Dewine said the assistance was always intended to be temporary. On Thursday, the Governor announced Ohio will opt out of the federal program starting June 26. Three months earlier than when the program actually ends.

"That extra $300 a week is in some cases certainly discouraging people from going back at this point in time," DeWine said Thursday.

Tim Proud of Liberty Township also applied for the Federal Pandemic Unemployment Benefits.

He hasn't been able to work his job at Starbucks during the pandemic because of an underlying health condition. After nearly a year of waiting, he finally received his pay this week.

"The extra 300 came in handy, it helped as well,” Proud said. "Thank god I haven't been in a situation where I had to pay rent, or put food on the table. I feel for all those people who have a situation."

Proud said he is still supportive of the state's decision.

"I think it's a good thing because people aren't going back to work because they're making more money on unemployment. And we need to get the economy going,” Proud said.

Russell said it’s not about work ethic.

"This isn't just people being lazy. The impacts are still happening,” Russell said.

Currently, it is unclear when children younger than 12 will be cleared for vaccination.