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<blockquote data-quote="Babagounj" data-source="post: 878792" data-attributes="member: 12952">Billions in Unemployment Benefits Paid in Error&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Nearly $19 billion in state unemployment benefits were paid in error during the three years that ended in June, new Labor Department data show.The amount represents more than 10% of the $180 billion in jobless benefits paid nationwide during the period.(<a href="http://blogs.wsj.com/economics/2011/09/14/billions-in-unemployment-benefits-paid-in-error/tab/interactive/" target="_blank">See a sortable chart of each states’ overpayments</a>)&nbsp; The tally covers state programs, which offer benefits for up to 26&nbsp; weeks, from July 2008 to June 2011.Layers of federal programs that help&nbsp; provide benefits for up to 99 weeks weren’t included.The figures were released Wednesday as the Obama administration&nbsp; promotes its bid to reduce waste at federal agencies.The federal&nbsp; government foots the bill for administering the programs, and states are&nbsp; supposed to pay for the benefits.The Labor Department launched a plan to crack down on the improper&nbsp; payments, targeting Virginia, Indiana, Colorado, Washington, Louisiana&nbsp; and Arizona in particular for their high error rates. Those states will&nbsp; undergo additional monitoring and technical assistance until their error&nbsp; rates dip below 10% and remain there for at least six months, according&nbsp; to the Labor Department.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="Babagounj, post: 878792, member: 12952"] Billions in Unemployment Benefits Paid in Error Nearly $19 billion in state unemployment benefits were paid in error during the three years that ended in June, new [B]Labor Department[/B] data show. The amount represents more than 10% of the $180 billion in jobless benefits paid nationwide during the period. ([URL='http://blogs.wsj.com/economics/2011/09/14/billions-in-unemployment-benefits-paid-in-error/tab/interactive/']See a sortable chart of each states’ overpayments[/URL]) The tally covers state programs, which offer benefits for up to 26 weeks, from July 2008 to June 2011. Layers of federal programs that help provide benefits for up to 99 weeks weren’t included. The figures were released Wednesday as the Obama administration promotes its bid to reduce waste at federal agencies. The federal government foots the bill for administering the programs, and states are supposed to pay for the benefits. The Labor Department launched a plan to crack down on the improper payments, targeting Virginia, Indiana, Colorado, Washington, Louisiana and Arizona in particular for their high error rates. Those states will undergo additional monitoring and technical assistance until their error rates dip below 10% and remain there for at least six months, according to the Labor Department. [/QUOTE]

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