State seeks repayment of unemployment claims

The state is sending letters telling people to repay unemployment claims dating to COVID-19 pandemic. Nearly half owe more than $5,000 and face liens or garnished wages.
Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly, left, and Kansas Department of Labor secretary Amber Shultz announce the launch of the state’s new online unemployment system Nov. 22, 2024, at the Statehouse in Topeka. Agency staff say the new system has allowed them to identify 8,526 overpayments made since Jan. 1, 2019. Photo by Anna Kaminski/Kansas Reflector
by SHERMAN SMITH, Kansas Reflector
Published: April 23, 2026
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The state is sending letters telling people to repay unemployment claims dating to COVID-19 pandemic. Nearly half owe more than $5,000 and face liens or garnished wages.

TOPEKA — The Kansas Department of Labor is notifying more than 8,500 individuals that they received overpayments for unemployment insurance, including some issued during the COVID-19 pandemic, and must repay the funds.

Nearly half owe more than $5,000 and could face liens or garnished wages if they don’t respond.

Amy Selm, deputy labor secretary, and Nicole Struckhoff, deputy unemployment director, told reporters 2,700 of the cases involve suspected fraud.

SHERMAN SMITH, Kansas Reflector

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