The state fell victim to more than $5 billion in unemployment fraud during the pandemic. 

A recent auditor general report says overpayments, identity theft and other forms of fraud were an issue for both regular unemployment programs and pandemic support programs. Governor JB Pritzker says fraud was a problem in every state in America during that time and much of the fraud was part of a thrown-together federal program.

The Illinois Department of Employment Security says they stopped or recovered over $500 million in fraudulent payments in both state and federal unemployment programs.