Hard fraudState · CaliforniaConfirmed

$20 billion+: Unemployment money California paid to fraudsters

California's unemployment agency told lawmakers at least $20 billion in pandemic benefits went to fraud.

FraudBadPublic receipt
California

Fraudulent benefits, confirmed by EDDAt least $20B¹
Share of all benefits paid since the pandemic beganMore than 11%¹
Confirmed atLegislative oversight hearing, Oct 2021¹
Final total████████████████

fraudbad.comNo taxation without receipts

What happened

In October 2021, the head of California's Employment Development Department told a legislative hearing that at least $20 billion in unemployment benefits had gone to fraud since the pandemic began. That was more than 11 percent of everything paid.

Why nobody caught it

Claims surged into the millions within weeks, and identity checks didn't keep up.

How sure are we?

Confirmed

Proven in court, admitted in a guilty plea, or confirmed by the agency that paid it.

The agency confirmed the figure itself. The true total may be higher.

Sources

California's unemployment fraud reaches at least $20 billion10News (ABC San Diego) · Oct 25, 2021

Spot an error? Send the source and we'll fix it.