America .. $ 45 billion embezzlement of unemployment benefits

Yesterday, the US Department of Labor announced that more than $ 45 billion in unemployment benefits went fraudulently to people who did not deserve it during the Covid outbreak and the large numbers of workers laid off due to the consequences of the pandemic.

A new report from the ministry's inspector general, published yesterday, showed that between March 2020 and April 2022, a total of $45.6 billion in unemployment benefits was disbursed fraudulently.

An earlier report, published in June, had estimated the value of these embezzlement at one-third of that amount.

So far, more than a thousand people have been charged with their involvement in these frauds.

Inspector General Larry Turner said in a statement that the figures "underscore the extent of the problem," noting "unprecedented levels of fraud and other unearned payments."

The Office of the Inspector General stated that "in the course of five months, more than 57 million unemployed persons were registered."

The fraudsters embezzled unemployment assistance, especially by applying in more than one state, or by exploiting the identities of dead or imprisoned people.

The report stated that the ministry departments "did not take adequate steps to implement" the recommendations issued in the various guidance circulars.

Officials acknowledged at the time that some aid programs had loopholes, but stressed the need for benefits to be disbursed quickly.

Departments faced difficulties as they received an unprecedented number of demands, highlighting the weakness of their resources.

At that time, pictures spread of men and women waiting for hours in their car to register, as well as testimonies of people who waited weeks for an answer or a deed of assistance and were unable to pay their rent or cover their daily expenses.

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