A pandemic unemployment claim stuck in the agency’s backlog, Lunsford said, means there was an issue with the claim requiring additional information or scrutiny. Since the coronavirus pandemic triggered mass layoffs across the country in the spring, Martinez is one of more than 80,000 Kansans who were unemployed as of October this year. “This is a lifeline. Our stories are free to republish in accordance with these guidelines. “We believe we can aggressively work through this backlog and determine if a claim is valid and quickly get those checks out the door,” Lunsford wrote in an email to The Beacon. The inability to immediately speak with a representative has also meant that Kansans with discrepancies on their unemployment claims face even more delays in resolving those issues. Kristie Bonderson, 49, of Topeka, was already receiving unemployment prior to the pandemic. I have no car insurance on it because of this.”. After weeks of delays, the Kansas Department of Labor has started to process claims for an extra $600 in weekly unemployment benefits generated from federal coronavirus stimulus packages. Federal lawmakers are still debating over the next round of coronavirus relief legislation; Politico reports that the latest version of the $908 billion bipartisan plan would expand the federal unemployment programs to $300 a week over 16 weeks. “You’re afraid to eat because you don’t want to spend that money, because you don’t know when you’re getting paid next. The state has been plagued over the last year with delays in unemployment payments and paying out fraudulent claims. “I call anywhere from 500 to 800 times a day just to try to get through,” she said. “You can’t live daily, it’s almost impossible,” she said. “I almost lost everything. Be the first to read articles, hear about events and get updates on our newsroom. Kansas City (913) 596-3500 Topeka (785) 575-1460 Wichita (316) 383-9947 Toll-Free (800) 292-6333 Not only will they get state benefits but also federal because of the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance. And Kansans are still waiting. “You just literally have to sit there and keep calling, and then you’re on hold another hour or so before somebody can get to you.”. Apr 13, 2020 - 12:00pm She’s been trying to live minimally, she said, but it’s hard to live on nothing for 11 weeks. Eligibility rules must be broadly interpreted. According to unemployment figures from October, Kansas’ unemployment rate stands at 5.3%, a slight decrease from September’s unemployment rate of 5.9%. The Kansas Department of Labor said one reason for the delay could be Columbus Day, which was Monday (Oct. 12). — After weeks of delays, the Kansas Department of Labor has started to process claims for an extra $600 in weekly unemployment benefits generated from federal coronavirus stimulus packages. After exhausting regular unemployment and the 13 weeks of Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation, she applied for the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program Oct. 3. This is all we have. In the meantime, rent and utilities are still due, and Dugan needs the money. Both Kansas and Missouri have struggled to keep up with a deluge of unemployment claims that began in mid-March. Throughout the pandemic, a backlog of unemployment claims at the Kansas Labor Department has been causing delays in how quickly weekly payments are processed. free to republish in accordance with these guidelines, Proudly powered by Newspack by Automattic. If the payment is made in a lump sum, both the employer and claimant are asked the amount of time the pay was intended to cover. Bonderson once called the Department of Labor over 800 times one December day — once she got through, she was put on hold for three and a half hours. As of Dec. 11, Martinez has gone five weeks without receiving an unemployment payment. When Karyn Martinez of Wichita was furloughed from her job at the end of March, she immediately applied for unemployment. Those who have received the maximum 26 weeks’ worth of unemployment insurance and are still unemployed can apply for Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation, a federal extension of unemployment benefits available for up to 13 weeks from March 29 to Dec. 26. Kansas must work harder to accelerate training and hiring of unemployment officials. For many Kansans, getting in contact with the Department of Labor come with its own difficulties. The CARES Act also added an extra $600 on top of regular unemployment benefits. “You don’t have any hope,” Bonderson said. The Kansas Department of Labor has legal concerns over the executive order which provides the extra $400 per week in unemployment benefits. Martinez describes trying to call the Kansas Department Labor for answers as an “all-day experience.” There are some days where she calls hundreds of times. I’m not gonna get unemployment — it’s not gonna happen for me,’” Dugan said. — An increase in unemployment applications are causing state agency websites to crash. Since May, Bonderson has lost her car and her home — she’s been living with her son, her pregnant daughter-in-law and their 4-year-old child. “When you don’t know when your next payment’s coming in and you’ve got bills coming up,” Gavin said. Approximately 370 Phase Two and Three claimants will begin receiving payments beginning the week of March 1. Without a job, they’ve relied on state and federal support to get by — to pay rent, bills, utilities and food. We also learned that timing of payments is … TOPEKA, Kan. -- Thousands of fraudulent unemployment claims are prompting Kansas to shut down its processing system this weekend, meaning some jobless workers will have payments delayed as the state installs new anti-fraud protections, Gov. Closings and Delays. The amount of the benefit will vary based upon the amount of money that the individual has previously earned, but will be between $122 and $488 per week. You don’t want to go anywhere. Since the spring, the federal government has implemented several pandemic-specific programs to provide additional aid to unemployed workers. There’s nothing else.”, Celisa Calacal covers economics and civic engagement issues for The Beacon. But a study from WalletHub found that of all 50 states, unemployment claims increased the most in Kansas from Nov. 28 to Dec. 5. Follow her on Twitter @celisa_mia or email her at celisa@thebeacon.media. The department of labor said 108,000 more Kansans certified last week and will likely be on a different payment schedule. The claims website confuses some workers and should be simplified. You are returning to the home page. For Kansans like Samantha and Gavin McKaig, not knowing when their unemployment benefits will deposit makes planning ahead nearly impossible. Technology problems, delays in filing for Kansas unemployment get much worse; website essentially down LJWORLD | 04-13 Kansans seeking to file unemployment claims are now facing even larger hurdles as the state’s website became all but inoperable over the weekend. We expect the migration to be completed and for the contact center to be open by 1 p.m. on Sunday. “I’ve had to sell all my belongings in my house,” Martinez said. According to data provided by the Department of Labor, the agency saw a backlog of claims under the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program ranging from 20,000-25,000 as of Dec. 4. KDOL will conduct a server migration starting Friday, March 12 at 9 p.m. Individual Filing for Unemployment Insurance Benefits Unemployment insurance benefits may be available to individuals who are involuntarily unemployed as a result of COVID-19. The struggle of trying to reach the department for answers further underscores the immense strain the agency’s systems have faced in processing the high volume of claims throughout the pandemic. Then the payments stopped again in November. The Kansas Department of Labor also said the Kansas unemployment insurance program paid about $140 million to fraudulent claims in 2020. The Kansas Department of Labor's unemployment benefits website is pictured Dec. 29, 2020. You don’t want to put gas in your car. She’s had to tell her 10-year-old daughter that there won’t be any gifts from Santa this year. Kansas Senate Commerce Committee Chair Rob Olson, R-Olathe, makes a point during a hearing on a bill that would make changes in the state's unemployment system, Wednesday, Feb. 17, 2021, at the Statehouse in Topeka, Kan. That’s left 25,000 claims waiting … For Martinez, each day is another day of not knowing what to do — she’s always had a plan B and a plan C. She can’t pay her bills, from her car payments to her car insurance to her water bill. Delia Garcia, Kansas Secretary of Labor, answers a question about delays … There’s nothing else.”. “… I will probably lose everything.”. The Kansas Department of Labor (KDOL) today announced that Phase 1 of the Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC) program extension has begun paying out to approximately 4,800 claimants. To meet the high volume of claims, Lunsford said the agency has also increased its staffing numbers. The week ending Dec. 12, 64,552 continuing claims under the program were filed in Kansas. 44-704, severance pay delays the date that an applicant may begin receiving unemployment benefits. “Because for a lot of us, this is a lifeline. The department of labor said it will begin processing the second round of $300 payments this week, but many unemployed Kansans say they expected to already have that money in their accounts. Former President Donald Trump signed the legislation on Dec. 27, causing some delay for workers to receive payment at the same time outdated and legacy technology … The entire system was shut down over … Laura Kelly announced Wednesday. Philip Dugan, 33, of Topeka, who’s been out of work since early March, hasn’t received any unemployment payment since filing in July — he won’t be able to until he clears up the issues on his unemployment claim with the Department of Labor. The Contact center representatives will be unable to take calls on Saturday, March 13. I need this.”, “Because imagine, if I were to actually get paid for all those weeks that I wasn’t paid yet, I can catch up on my car payment, I could pay the rest of my lease off for our rent.”. Martinez received 10 weeks’ worth of back pay at the start of October and continued to receive payments for three weeks. Last week, KDOL said it processed more than $9 million to more than 30,000 people who certified when the program went live Oct. 2. “And then I have moments where I’m like, I can’t stop fighting. Advertisement. Kansas Gov. But nine months since unemployment claims began skyrocketing in the spring, Martinez and other Kansans are experiencing delays in receiving their payments and a lack of clarity from the Kansas Department of Labor. KANSAS CITY, Mo. Bonderson has since gone 11 weeks without receiving an unemployment payment or income of any sort. We also learned that timing of payments is highly dependent on when the claimant self-certified. We will never spam you. More by Celisa Calacal. Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC) is a program that provides an extra 13 weeks of unemployment insurance after you have exhausted your regular benefits. The … Choose one of the options below to continue. Jan Lunsford with the Labor Department said the agency will be able to “make significant progress” in its backlog of pandemic and regular unemployment claims by the end of the year. TOPEKA, Kansas — The Kansas Department of Labor has struggled to handle an explosion of unemployment filings. The Kansas Department of Labor said one reason for the delay could be Columbus Day, which was Monday (Oct. 12). If you log into your unemployment benefits account and get a message that says, "Claim status is not available at this time," don't panic! “I had to wait 10 weeks just to get it,” Martinez, 40, said. Severance pay does not reduce the amount of weeks a claimant is eligible for unemployment benefits. With KDOL processing the second week of Lost-Wages-Assistance-Program payments this week, the department said those expecting the benefit should check their accounts frequently. She’s had to visit a food bank. We do not expect any delays in benefits due to this server migration. WICHITA, Kan. (KWCH) - Kansans who are unemployed due to COVID-19 started receiving additional $300 payments last week as part of the Lost Wages Assistance Program. Copyright 2020 KWCH. With an unemployment system running on decades-old technology, the slowness in responding to claims has translated into a backlog that impacts the ability for unemployed Kansans like Martinez and Bonderson to receive their payments in the first place. All rights reserved. According to data provided by the Department of Labor, the agency saw a backlog of claims under the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program ranging from 20,000-25,000 as of Dec. 4. May 13, 2020, 5:28 PM. KS Department of Labor explains delay in unemployment-benefit payment, Okla. broadcaster heard using racial slur at HS game cites ‘blood sugar spike’, Earthquakes shake Wichita early Sunday morning, Wichita police seek help to locate missing man, School bus, garbage truck crash in north Wichita, Blue Valley North wins 6A State Championship, Sterling wins first state title in girls basketball. “I have moments where I’m like, I give up. “You get up in the morning, you start dialing, and you get nothing.
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