MS Casino Workers to Pay Back Unemployment Benefits
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Mississippi Department of Employment Security (MDES) sent a letter to casino workers in South Mississippi asking them to repay part of the state unemployment benefits they got at the start of COVID-19 pandemic. The letter states that each recipient was in violation of state law due to their failure to fully report gross earnings. Treasure Bay Casino pit boss BJ Smith received a notice on the last day he could appeal the decision.
The MDES wants all casino workers to pay back unemployment benefits. Treasure Bay Casino and Hotel's general manager Susan Varnes offers to help clear up the issue. The MDEs claims it is complying with state law. The issue comes from the timing of reporting of base wages and tip-outs.
There are 26 casinos in Mississippi, with over 13,250 people working there as of November 2021. The first couple of months of COVID-19 were very busy for the MDES, as 45,000 people filed for unemployment benefits. MDEs mistakenly paid out $118m in 2020.
