Iowa agency issues extra unemployment checks; tries to keep it quiet

DES MOINES, Iowa — Iowa Workforce Development may have trouble managing money, but at least its management understands the importance of politeness.

In early March, the agency, which oversees unemployment claims in the state, issued unemployment benefits to 85 people who didn’t ask for them.

According to a March 13 email sent by Regional Operations Manager David Eklund, the plan to recover the improperly issued benefits was simple: Don’t contact any of the lucky 85, just wait to see if anyone voluntarily returns the money.

“We can gladly accept their offer to return the benefits, with a ‘thank you,’” Eklund wrote.

Iowa Watchdog tried to learn how many people returned the unexpected windfall in exchange for a polite “thank you,” but multiple phone calls to Iowa Workforce Development went unreturned.

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