Colorado Asks Unemployed To Pay Back $128 Million In Jobless Benefits - HuffPo

[WillyT]

Colorado Asks Unemployed To Pay Back $128 Million In Jobless Benefits
The Huffington Post | By Bonnie Kavoussi
Posted: 06/06/2012 3:29 pm Updated: 06/06/2012 5:29 pm

<snip>

In one state, the jobless now have to pay the government.

Colorado accidentally overpaid $128 million in unemployment benefits last year, and now the state is billing the jobless to get that money back, the Denver Post and Associated Press reported.

States across the country accidentally overpaid $5.1 billion in unemployment benefits, largely because of clerical mistakes rather than fraud, according to government officials quoted in the Denver Post. It is unclear whether other states will also bill the jobless.

This is not the first time that Colorado has paid more in jobless benefits than it was supposed to. Last year, it recovered $73 million in unemployment benefits that it had accidentally overpaid, according to the AP.

"If we deliberately lie about our information, they are quick to prosecute, but if they make a mistake, we still have to pay for their mistake," Amelia Kelii of Colorado told the AP. She owes the state more than $1,000, which she says she cannot pay.

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Link: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/06/06/colorado-unemployment-benefits_n_1574681.html?ref=business&ir=Business

[kestrel91316]

1. Something about blood and turnips comes to mind............

[Magoo48]

6. Ha....I had the exact same thought.....

[WillyT]

10. Me Too...

[leveymg]

2. Didn't I read yesterday that homeless can be fined $1,000 for having no fixed address in Denver?

Colorado - home of the last of the brave, saddle-hardened men of the West.

[KamaAina]

3. This is SOP with Social Security

Recipients can end on the hook for thousands, which, being SS recipients, they generally do not have.

[bluestateguy]

4. Are they asking or are the telling?

nt

[former9thward]

8. They are billing them.

If they refuse to pay they will seize any tax refunds they may get in the future.

[fascisthunter]

5. make them slaves or indentured servants

yeah, that's the ticket....

[Earth_First]

9. ...and I am sure this is not without a penalty assessment if not paid in full by xx/xx/xx

bank on it!