State: More than $2M in unemployment benefits went to inmates

Chicago Tribune ^ | October 9, 2012 | Ray Long

[John W]

SPRINGFIELD — More than 1,100 people have collected nearly $2 million in unemployment benefits while they were in county jails or state prisons, including $43,000 that went to a person in the Cook County Jail, a state agency said Tuesday.

In Cook County alone, there were 296 inmates tied to $722,689 in wrongful payments. In Will County, 21 inmates collected $85,159. Lake County was another leader with 20 inmates collecting $84,533, the agency said.

[JRandomFreeper]

They are unemployed, after all.

This is the problem with government 'fixing' problems. You wind up with more problems that need 'fixes'.

/johnny

[nascarnation]

revenge of the 99ers....

[cripplecreek]

This is the problem with government 'fixing' problems. You wind up with more problems that need 'fixes'.

Yup. Remember in the aftermath of Katrina we were paying unemployment to people regardless of whether they had a work history or not.

[GeronL]

are they also getting food stamps?