Government Seeks To Recoup $14 billion In Over-Paid U/E Benefits

[Conan71]

Great example of our efficient federal and state government bureaucracies at work.  But according to Nancy Pelosi, it's great for our economy!!!

NEW YORK (CNNMoney) -- Don't spend that unemployment check too fast. The government might ask you to pay it back.
Overpayments are a rampant problem in the unemployment insurance system. The federal government and states overpaid an estimated $14 billion in benefits in fiscal 2011, or roughly 11% of all the jobless benefits paid out, according to reports from the U.S. Labor Department.

Of the states, Indiana was the worst offender, making more improper payments than it did correct ones.

Now, the U.S. Department of Labor and the states are in the midst of a massive effort to try to recoup some of their lost funds and avoid future overpayments.

Where does the money go?

The vast majority of unemployment benefits do go to people in need. In 2010 alone they helped keep 3.2 million Americans out of poverty, according to the Census Bureau.

But of the overpaid funds, most end up in the hands of three types of people: Those who aren't actively searching for a job, those who were fired or quit voluntarily, and those who continue to file claims even though they've returned to work. Any of those circumstances would make a person ineligible for benefits.

The overpayment typically results from an administrative error made either by the government, the employer, the worker or a combination of the three.

In much rarer situations, people deliberately defraud the system, using fake documents or identities. Common scams involve prison inmates, illegal immigrants or even the deceased.

http://money.cnn.com/2012/07/09/news/economy/overpaid-unemployment-benefits/

[nathanm]

Ladies and Gentlemen, I give you the man in charge of the worst state in the union at paying unemployment benefits properly:

[Conan71]

Ladies and Gentlemen, I give you the man in charge of the worst state in the union at paying unemployment benefits properly:

'Cause we all know Mitch signs each and every check!

[nathanm]

'Cause we all know Mitch signs each and every check!

What happened to "the buck stops here"?

[guido911]

Did I just read "the buck stops here"? For the past three years we have been reading/hearing Obama blaming Bush for every damned thing wrong in this country. NOW, the buck needs to stop somewhere other than with Barry. Guess we'll have to throw these pics out Conan...

[Townsend]

Only took 5 posts

[Hoss]

Only took 5 posts

Pretty predictable actually.

[Red Arrow]

What happened to "the buck stops here"?

Send your bucks here.  I'll make sure they don't go anywhere, for a while.

[guido911]

Saw this story linked in Conan's story. I like it.

NEW YORK (CNNMoney) -- Millions of jobless Americans now have another hurdle to pass before collecting federal unemployment benefits.

New rules passed by Congress this year require that the jobless go to their local One-Stop Career Center for an in-person assessment if they want to receive federal unemployment checks.

This means the unemployed now have to trek to these centers, which has left some states scrambling to find space and personnel to handle all these one-on-one meetings. Some 9 million people are expected to go through these assessments by year's end.

Plus, in order to comply with the new federal rules, some states are ramping up their requirements on documentation of the jobless' attempts to return to the workforce.

Previously some states, like Ohio for instance, did spot-checks, but are now requiring regular submission of job search efforts. Other states, such as New Hampshire, collected the information electronically but must now tell claimants to bring paper records to their assessment meeting.

http://money.cnn.com/2012/06/15/news/economy/unemployment-benefits-rules/index.htm?iid=EL

[nathanm]

You do like it when other people have to jump through hoops. Also, I don't know if you are aware of this, but the UI programs are run by the states, as has always been the case. You may want to get your brain checked, there seem to be some cobwebs in there today.