Unemployment fraud crackdown
Updated: October 3, 2012
SPRINGFIELD -- The state plans to crack down even harder on people who take jobless benefits when they do not deserve them. Illinois is using a $2.7 million federal grant to help make sure unemployment checks do not end up in the wrong hands.
The grant will improve anti-fraud programs already in place. That means building-up programs like cross-checking unemployment lists against prisons and keeping up-to-date new-hire directories. It will also fund an expansion of the Attorney General's Anti-Fraud Unit.
Experts say unemployment has become too much of a safety net and fraud is a bigger problem than you might think. When people lie about unemployment, businesses lose millions of dollars. They fund unemployment insurance.
Anti-fraud programs have saved Illinois companies more than $120 million in the past year. That helps put more money in the pockets of people who really do need the extra help.
The grant will improve anti-fraud programs already in place. That means building-up programs like cross-checking unemployment lists against prisons and keeping up-to-date new-hire directories. It will also fund an expansion of the Attorney General's Anti-Fraud Unit.
Experts say unemployment has become too much of a safety net and fraud is a bigger problem than you might think. When people lie about unemployment, businesses lose millions of dollars. They fund unemployment insurance.
Anti-fraud programs have saved Illinois companies more than $120 million in the past year. That helps put more money in the pockets of people who really do need the extra help.
