Audit: State paying unemployment to people in jail

OLYMPIA,. Wash. — Many people in county jails are receiving unemployment benefits they're ineligible for, according to a state audit released on Monday.

Washington's auditor's office scrutinized eight county jails and identified 1,911 potential overpayments worth about $656,000 from July 1, 2013 to Sept. 30, 2014.

People in jail or prison aren't eligible for certain government benefits. To find incarcerated people who received unemployment benefits, the audit looked at jails in King, Pierce, Thurston, Clark, Spokane, Kitsap, Snohomish and Yakima counties, matching records of unemployment benefits to jail records such as Social Security number, last name and date of birth. But the employment department, which distributes unemployment money, can't access some of the confidential jail records necessary to find improper payments, according to a report by the auditor's office.

The report says the auditor's office recommends allowing the employment agency to access confidential jail records needed to identify improper payments.

Of the 1,911 potential overpayments, the report says 756 were confirmed, totaling $257,000. Of the remaining ones, 736 are likely overpayments but 419 might be acceptable payments because people can receive benefits in certain circumstances, such as work release.

There are 57 jails in the state, run by counties, cities and Native American tribes.

Cox Media Group