Idaho attempting to recover overpaid unemployment benefits
December 14, 2020 GMT
BOISE, Idaho (AP) The state of Idaho is trying to recover overpaid unemployment benefits disbursed as part of an effort to mitigate the economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic.
The Idaho Department of Labor said there were 11,222 weekly overpayments in the third quarter of this year, affecting thousands of residents, The Idaho Statesman reports.
The labor department said 97% of the excess payments resulted from mistakes by people claiming unemployment benefits.
An example of a claimant error would be taking a vacation and traveling outside their residential area, which is prohibited under the program’s regulations.
The state says it overpaid your unemployment benefits. Now it demands the money back
David Staats, Idaho Statesman
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Gov. Brad Little talks about his frustration with the Department of Labor’s delays in making unemployment compensation payments to laid-off Idaho workers, but defends Idaho’s standards against fraud. | BY DAVID STAATS
IDAHO FALLS (Idaho Statesman) Is this you?
You’re an Idahoan who lost your job when the coronavirus wreaked havoc. You needed an income. So you applied for unemployment benefits. You started getting payments, week after week.
Suddenly, the online portal you used to certify your weekly eligibility coughed up an unpleasant surprise: You were overpaid. You must pay thousands of dollars back to the state.