- Audit: Illinois unemployment agency made $5.2 billion in ‘overpayments’ during COVID-19 (The Center Square, 7/26/2023)
- Illinois lawmakers are demanding answers after an audit revealed that the state’s handling of unemployment payments during the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in a massive $5.2 billion overpayment, including tens of millions of dollars paid to incarcerated or deceased individuals. The Illinois Department of Employment Security was criticized for not implementing sufficient fraud prevention tools, leading to susceptibility to fraud. In response to the audit, the agency stated that some of the blame lies with the federal administration’s poorly designed federal unemployment insurance program, which did not require necessary identity cross-matching controls, but said it would apply the audit recommendations to enhance internal controls and oversight for future programs.
- Illinois DCFS report card for past two years shows more failures than last review (CBS News, 9/26/2023)
- The Illinois Department of Child and Family Services (DCFS) received a critical review of its performance in the past two years, with 33 major failures identified by the state Auditor General, an increase from the previous count of 30. The report highlighted significant delays in notifying authorities in cases of child death, injury, torture, malnutrition, and sex abuse, with DCFS failing to notify local authorities within the required 24 hours in 20% of cases. Despite acknowledging the issues and accepting recommendations for improvement, concerns persist about the lack of urgency and accountability within the agency, which is set to receive an 11% budget boost, surpassing $2 billion in Illinois taxpayer money for the first time.
- Illinois lawmakers demand probe of Chicago center for troubled youth (Injustice Watch, 10/4/2024)
- Illinois lawmakers are calling for an independent audit of the state’s oversight of Aunt Martha’s Integrated Care Center, a youth facility in Chicago that was shut down after reports of physical and sexual abuse. The facility allegedly hired staff with felony convictions, and state officials were accused of attempting to backdate documents after its closure. The Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) is conducting its own internal review, but lawmakers and child welfare advocates demand a more comprehensive investigation.
