Investigation Reveals Michigan Unemployment Agency's Potential Mishandling of Millions in Payments to Deceased Individuals, Prisoners, and Minors
A recent state audit revealed that Michigan’s Unemployment Insurance Agency may have mistakenly paid more than $245 million in benefits to ineligible recipients. This includes people who were either deceased, incarcerated, or outside of the usual age range for unemployment assistance. The audit indicated that over $90 million was paid to children aged 15 and under, and about $86 million was granted to people aged 80 and over between January 2020 and October 2022. The report also found that prisoners received over $35 million and dead people nearly $20 million during the same period. The audit, the last of five examining the agency’s claim processing during and post-COVID-19, also discovered instances where the agency made unsuitable payments to its own employees.