Prisoners collect unemployment while serving time

Investigations show that inmates were paid $2 million in unemployment compensation while they were incarcerated.  The checks were paid on their behalf even though they were not able to work at the time.  This is another step to reduce waste and fraud under the Integrity Initiative.

The worst offender discovered through the investigation was an inmate inCookCountythat received almost $43,000 in unemployment benefits.  In all,CookCountyinmates received more than $700,000 in wrongful payments.  Inmates face criminal charges for the fraud.

For more details and figures see, “Integrity Program Uncovers Nearly $2 Million in Fraud