BOSTON (AP) _ Massachusetts is robo-calling tens of thousands of residents to retrieve undeserved unemployment benefits.
The Boston Globe reports that he state is targeting 63,000 people, about 1,000 a day, who it says received undeserved unemployment benefits as far back as 1985.
According to internal emails the newspaper obtained, the average amount of the debt the state is seeking to reclaim is about $2,500 a person. In some cases as little as $100 is owed.
Ignoring the calls could lead to a loss of future unemployment benefits or garnishment of tax refunds.
The state has made about 17,000 calls and collected more than $400,000 in overpayments since late July and could recover at least $157 million through the program.
The money will go into the state unemployment insurance trust fund to pay future benefits.
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Information from: The Boston Globe, http://www.bostonglobe.com
