California's Employment Development Department has been slammed for missing out on over 500 million dollars in revenue. In a new report, the state auditor described the beleaguered department as "appalling" after it ignored federal assistance to help recover millions in overpaid unemployment benefits.
EDD officials told auditors they lacked the manpower and finances to make necessary software upgrades in order to join the Treasury Offset program in February 2011. Yet a whistleblower informed the auditor's office that EDD would have needed just 323 thousand dollars in staff time to make the changes.
This comes amid calls from California lawmakers to explain why the EDD is denying so many unemployment insurance claims. What issues have you had with the EDD? How long has it taken you to deal with a claim?
Guest:
Marc Lifsher, business reporter in the Sacramento bureau at the Los Angeles Times.