Since the beginning of the pandemic, the Kansas Department of Labor has been overwhelmed by unemployment claims, both real and fraudulent. The beleaguered unemployment insurance computer system and the record volume of activity created drastic delays and invited criminal actors to submit false claims.

A recent audit estimated the state paid out $700 million dollars in fraudulent benefits, about half from federal and half from state funds.

This episode of the Kansas Reflector Podcast examines an early September meeting of the Kansas Unemployment Compensation, Modernization and Improvement Council to see where progress is being made and what questions are still being asked.

Read more about KDOL partnership with a new federal modernization office.