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unemployment fraud examples

FGA Research Reveals the 10 Most Outrageous Examples of Unemployment Fraud in 2020—And How to Fix It

The COVID-19 pandemic has devastated state budgets and pushed welfare programs to the brink. Much of this financial strain is due to increases in unemployment benefits and individuals’ attempts to steal these benefits. New research by the Foundation for Government Accountability (FGA) highlights the 10 most outrageous instances of fraud during COVID-19, and ways to enact commonsense program integrity reform to help states stop the fraud. 

“A $600 weekly unemployment bonus on top of typical state benefits created a tidal wave of fraud,” said Joe Horvath, senior fellow at FGA and one of the authors of the paper. “Fraud’s impact is far reaching—when state resources are depleted, small businesses, workers, and vulnerable populations are the ones who suffer. Fortunately, states like Louisiana offer a blueprint for how to prevent further fraud as we continue to navigate this pandemic.”

You can view the paper here.

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The Foundation for Government Accountability is a non-profit, multi-state think tank that specializes in health care, welfare, and work reform. To learn more, visit TheFGA.org

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