JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Democratic lawmakers say the Missouri Labor Department’s decision to offer clemency for some federal unemployment overpayments is too little too late.
The labor agency last year doled out $146 million in unemployment aid to 46,000 Missourians who didn’t qualify amid a crush of unemployment claims during the pandemic.
After discovering those workers didn’t qualify, the agency tried to get the money back.
That’s meant hardship for low-income people who already spent the money on rent and food.
The department on Tuesday offered waivers for the federal portion of the overpayments.
Missouri workers still owe the state portion of the overpayments.
