Illinois overpaid unemployment benefits to the tune of $5.2 billion during the first 18 months of the COVID-19 pandemic, with much of it paid to fraudulent claimants, according to a comprehensive new audit.
, published Wednesday by the state’s auditor general, hearkens back to the chaotic early weeks of the COVID-19 pandemic, when Illinois Department of Employment Security phone lines and the agency’s website couldn’t handle the sudden spike of individuals trying to file for unemployment benefits.
So in March 2020, IDES temporarily suspended some of that crossmatching in favor of getting benefits out the door more quickly. At an unrelated news conference in southern Illinois on Thursday, Gov. J.B. Pritzker acknowledged the findings of the audit, but pointed to other large states that saw even bigger COVID-era unemployment fraud, like $20 billion in California and $8 billion in New York.
While overpayments in “regular” unemployment insurance accounted for a little over $2 billion, overpayments in the PUA program amounted to $3.2 billion, according to the audit.
Norge Siste Nytt, Norge Overskrifter
Similar News:Du kan også lese nyheter som ligner på denne som vi har samlet inn fra andre nyhetskilder.
COVID unemployment surge led to at least $5.2 billion in overpaid benefits in Illinois -- including fraudIllinois overpaid unemployment benefits to the tune of $5.2 billion during the first 18 months of the COVID-19 pandemic, with much of it paid to fraudulent claimants, according to a comprehensive new audit.
Les mer »
Unemployment fraud, overpayments total $5.2 billion, audit findsThe state agency that distributes unemployment benefits paid out more than $5 billion in fraudulent or excessive claims over the initial two years of the pandemic.
Les mer »
President Biden establishes Emmett Till National Monument at sites in Illinois, MississippiPresident Joe Biden established a national monument honoring civil rights icon Emmett Till and his mother Tuesday on what would have been his 82nd birthday.
Les mer »
President Biden establishes Emmett Till National Monument at sites in Illinois, MississippiPresident Joe Biden established a national monument honoring civil rights icon Emmett Till and his mother Tuesday on what would have been his 82nd birthday.
Les mer »
Officials identify remains found at Indiana farm in 1983 as Chicago teen slain by late serial killerLarry Eyler confessed to at least 20 killings before dying in 1994 at an Illinois prison.
Les mer »