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Unemployment claims soar in Wisconsin
Unemployment claims soar in Wisconsin
MADISON -- Each day amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development has received thousands of new claims for unemployment insurance benefits. Still, some applicants feel there's not enough being done to process them in a timely fashion.
One state lawmaker on Thursday, May 7 blamed Governor Tony Evers' administration for the backlog of claims; however, another state lawmaker said he believes the DWD is doing what it can to expedite the process.
"I haven't received any money whatsoever," said Angelyn Kingston on Thursday, May 7. "Nothing. Zero."
Angelyn Kingston
On the other end of a busy signal, Kingston said her patience is wearing thin. A teacher's aide for the School District of Waukesha, she tells FOX6 News that she was furloughed in early April, and filed for unemployment insurance right away. As of Thursday, her claims were still pending.
"What is my next step?" said Kingston. "I don't know. That's where I'm at right now."
The DWD announced on April 29 the Unemployment Insurance Division had received a total of 479,596 applications and distributed more than $290 million in unemployment benefits since March 15.
An additional 24,000 applications have been received between Sunday, May 3 and Thursday, May 7 -- adding up to more than a half-million initial claims to date.
State Rep. Scott Allen
On the steps of the DWD building in Madison Thursday, State Rep. Scott Allen (R-Waukesha) said he believes Governor Tony Evers' administration is to blame for a backlog in claims.
"The Legislature gave the administration the tools it needed to meet the challenges of shutting down the state for an unknown period of time," said Rep. Allen. "Unfortunately, the Evers administration continues to fail to rise to the challenge."
State Senator Chris Larson
Meanwhile, State Senator Chris Larson (D-Milwaukee) said there's no doubt the process is a frustrating one, but believes the DWD is making an effort to speed it up by hiring more staff.
"I share the frustration," said Larson. "I've got friends and relatives in the same situation. I know there are efforts by the DWD to hire more people to make sure those experiencing the pain of unemployment are getting their calls addressed as quickly as possible. I think making sure people are informed that their benefits will go out from the date of unemployment, not the date they are approved is important so there isn't that anxiety."
FOX6 News on Thursday learned the DWD's contract with a call center was finalized -- to bring on an additional 500 people to answer phones, and 100 others to process paperwork. Additionally, a spokesman for the DWD said they are currently hiring claims specialists, adjudicators, and other positions. He also said that employees from other state agencies are being reassigned to the DWD's Unemployment Insurance division to increase staffing.
Below are State Rep. Allen's remarks regarding unemployment from Thursday's press conference: