Tipline Investigation: Goleta man tells state, ‘I don’t want your unemployment money, take it back’
SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - We’ve reported on many frustrating stories involving major problems in California’s Unemployment System. Sadly, we have another one for you.
Hundreds of thousands of Californians are struggling to survive as the state's Employment Development Department implodes under a crush of fraud and a tidal wave of claims. Some state officials estimate more than two billion dollars in taxpayer money has been lost to fraud. They don't know how much money has been lost to a broken system. The NewsChannel has heard from hundreds of people who filed for unemployment benefits when the pandemic started and have received nothing so far.