Labor Dept. estimates $14 billion over-payment of unemployment benefits

Despite the economy, the company I work for in Omaha was hiring quite a bit last year. Strangely, a lot of the “applicants” simply never returned phone calls to get an interview. Some even told the recruiter, “I just have to fill out these applications in order to continue receiving unemployment.”

Just thinking out loud here: I wonder if those in charge could change the #s and offer a job-finding bonus to those on unemployment. “Find a job within 1 / 2 / 3 months and keep it for 6 months, and we’ll give you $X / Y / Z.” with the bonus higher for finding a job sooner.

It’s akin to the principle on which dental insurance companies keep regular checkups free…they’d rather pay a stable amount to prevent costs running away indefinitely.