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Pandemic poked holes in system for jobless benefits, says GAO
Jun 9, 2022

Pandemic poked holes in system for jobless benefits, says GAO

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The Government Accountability Office added unemployment insurance systems to its list of programs at high risk for fraud, waste, abuse and mismanagement. Though jobless claims have remained low, the office has said the pandemic exposed a variety of weaknesses in the system. China correspondent Jennifer Pak provides another update from Shanghai, where she has a little more freedom of movement. Hundreds of thousands of children have lost a parent or guardian to COVID-19, and that also comes with devastating financial consequences.

Segments From this episode

For kids who lost parents to COVID, the financial consequences compound the emotional toll

Jun 9, 2022
Losing a parent can have long-term financial implications for children.
Aidan (left), and Julius Garza (center), lost their father, David (right), to COVID-19 almost two years ago.
Courtesy Margaret Garza

GAO report highlights vulnerabilities in the unemployment insurance claims system

Jun 9, 2022
The report says decades of underinvestment in personnel and technology have led to weaknesses that were exposed during the pandemic, when there was high demand for benefits.
The GAO said the demand for unemployment benefits during the pandemic brought to light a variety of  weaknesses in the system.
OLIVIER DOULIERY/AFP via Getty Images

The team

Victoria Craig Host, BBC
Stephen Ryan Senior Producer, BBC
Jonathan Frewin Producer, BBC
Jay Siebold Technical Director
Meredith Garretson Morbey Senior Producer
Erika Soderstrom Producer
Rose Conlon Producer
Alex Schroeder Producer
Redmond Carolipio Digital Producer
Ariana Rosas Producer
Jarrett Dang Digital Producer (gone fishing)
Jesson Duller Media Producer