CHICAGO – A woman in Chicago who recently got a job after being out of work for 10 months was ordered by the state to pay back $31,000 in unemployment.
Christina Hill has had a challenging year. After first losing her job in January, Hill was thankful to secure unemployment, WBBM reported. In April, she was infected with the coronavirus, which she eventually recovered from.
Last month, she was hired at a new job. However, later in November, she was surprised to get a notice from the Illinois Department of Employment telling her she was ineligible for the unemployment benefits she previously received this year. The letter from the state said Hill must pay back more than $31,000, starting with at least $3,000 by Dec. 25.
“I can’t even believe it,” Hill said. “It upsets my stomach. I can’t even believe that they would do this, you know? Irresponsible for this to happen.”
Hill suspects she is a victim of unemployment fraud.
During the first week at her new job, Hill got a letter from the unemployment agency indicating someone had filed a new claim. Hill believes the state is confusing her legitimate claim from January with the more recent, fraudulent one.
“I know that they’re probably so overwhelmed, you know, with what’s going on and people filing claims and, you know, and everything, but I think now, at this point, they should have a handle on it,” Hill said.
Officials with the unemployment department said they cannot comment on individual cases, WBBM reported. There have been nearly 300,000 fraudulent unemployment claims in the state this year, WBBM reported.
FILE PHOTO: A woman in Chicago who recently got a job after being out of work for 10 months was ordered by the state to pay back $31,000 in unemployment.