Report: Reservists got unemployment in error

[unhappycamper]

Report: Reservists got unemployment in error
By Karen Jowers - Staff writer
Posted : Sunday Nov 23, 2008 10:54:00 EST

A sharp spike in the number of veterans receiving unemployment compensation from 2002 to 2005 is at least partly due to a number of reservists receiving payments erroneously because they voluntarily left their premobilization civilian jobs, a recent Rand Corp. report says.

Unemployment Compensation for Ex-Servicemembers, known as UCX, might provide valuable financial support to those considering a career change, but Pentagon and Labor Department officials need to do better at determining whether UCX is the right way to provide that support, Rand researchers said.

Their analysis indicates that many mobilized reservists began to rethink their civilian careers after deployment and voluntarily left their jobs.

The number of recent veterans receiving UCX rose by more than 70 percent between 2002 and 2004, going from an average of 16,243 veterans to an average of 27,986 veterans. The cost to the Defense Department nearly doubled, from $265 million in 2002 to $497 million in 2004.

UCX is the military counterpart to the civilian Unemployment Insurance program, which offers income aid to the unemployed who are searching for work.


Rest of article at: http://www.airforcetimes.com/news/2008/11/airforce_unemployment_112308w/%2e