Ohio paid out $478 million in fraudulent unemployment claims during the pandemic. The state’s government watchdog is looking into that, and it’s found a few problems.
For instance, it said an employee for the agency that administers jobless benefits improperly got access to and changed claims for federal pandemic unemployment assistance.
The Ohio Inspector General said in May, remote worker Y’Nesha Jackson improperly accessed and changed or backdated four pandemic unemployment assistance claims.
The Department of Job and Family Services froze the debit cards for those four accounts. But one was activated and nearly $1,100 was either withdrawn or spent.
The inspector general also said Jackson tried to release funds on six other accounts but wasn’t successful. The case has been referred to the Hamilton County prosecutor.
Last week, the inspector general reported interim employee Angela Calderon received around $10,000 working for Ohio Department of Jobs and Family Services between December and March, while also taking in $9,650 in unemployment benefits.
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