An audit of the Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency (UIA) has given some insight into some of the issues that happened during the height of the pandemic.
The 126-page report that was released this week shows software issues and changes in processes that led to billions of dollars in overpayments.
The report critiqued the agency for how it handled situations during the height of the pandemic.
Many have known that there were problems within the agency, but the audit laid it all out.
Here are some of the key findings in the UIA audit:
- $1.7 billion in overpayment waivers
- UIA did not investigate inaccurate information or require PUA claimants to meet federal eligibility
- UIA did not regularly require claimants to certify they were able to work
- UIA did not require 314,000 claimants to provide critical information
- Audit reveals a number of management and technology concerns that created problems for users
There were many management shifts within the agency throughout the pandemic, including changes in the top spot.
In response to the audit, the new UIA Director, Julia Dale, said:
This report gives leadership within the agency, like Director Dale, a better understanding of what the big issues are within the UIA and the changes that need to be made in the future.