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PrintJonathan Hall Uncovers: Unemployment delays
It's bad enough losing your job, now try collecting unemployment.
Diane Wojdag, unemployed worker
"It's nerve wracking!"
After a high tech company laid her off, Diane Wojdag spent days trying to call the Massachusetts unemployment office. When she finally got through to a live person, she was told to call back next week.
Diane Wojdag, unemployed worker
"And I said well, can't you take the information. And she goes no, you have to call back. And I said oh please don't make me do that. Please."
It took Erica Duggan three days to set up her unemployment payments over the phone. But after weeks, even months, of waiting, her check didn't come.
Erica Duggan, unemployed worker
"I'm looking at my checking account and fearing for my life, fearing for my being able to buy groceries."
After 9 weeks, a dozen calls and a trip to an unemployment office in person, Erica finally got some money.
Erica Duggan, unemployed worker
"Tell that to my landlord, that it's going to take 9 weeks. Tell that to my student loans. Tell that to the Cobra health insurance that I'm paying."
Federal standards say once you file your claim, the state should do its very best to get you your first check within about three weeks. But we're finding here in Massachusetts, it's taking twice that.
The Massachusetts Secretary of Labor admits delays are getting worse as more and more people lose their jobs.
Secretary Suzanne Bump, Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development
"The system is definitely stressed."
Here's part of the problem. Unlike most New England states, in Massachusetts you can not file for unemployment on-line.
Secretary Suzanne Bump, Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development
"It's rather ironic that we have a high tech state and we don't have a high tech system yet."
That means every person who needs a check has to either speak to someone on the phone or talk to them face-to-face. And there are more people than ever trying to do that right now.
The number of Baystaters looking for work has jumped 60 percent in a year. The jobless rate was 6.9 percent in December, a 15 year high. That's more than 235,000 people out of work.
Secretary Suzanne Bump, Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development
"We have hired more claims takers. We've expanded hours. Put more staff into the career centers."
For now, if you need to file for unemployment compensation, state officials say calling is the best option, though when 7News visited, the wait at walk-in centers was under an hour. If you do call, do it after 2pm and later in the week.
But there's no guarantee you'll get through easily.
Jonathan Hall, 7News
"So you've got a full time job just calling for unemployment?"
Diane Wojdag, unemployed worker
"Absolutely."
Governor Patrick secured funding for a new computer system for the state's unemployment office, but it will take a while to install, and people still won't be able to file online until late 2010.
(Copyright (c) 2009 Sunbeam Television Corp. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
Diane Wojdag, unemployed worker
"It's nerve wracking!"
After a high tech company laid her off, Diane Wojdag spent days trying to call the Massachusetts unemployment office. When she finally got through to a live person, she was told to call back next week.
Diane Wojdag, unemployed worker
"And I said well, can't you take the information. And she goes no, you have to call back. And I said oh please don't make me do that. Please."
It took Erica Duggan three days to set up her unemployment payments over the phone. But after weeks, even months, of waiting, her check didn't come.
Erica Duggan, unemployed worker
"I'm looking at my checking account and fearing for my life, fearing for my being able to buy groceries."
After 9 weeks, a dozen calls and a trip to an unemployment office in person, Erica finally got some money.
Erica Duggan, unemployed worker
"Tell that to my landlord, that it's going to take 9 weeks. Tell that to my student loans. Tell that to the Cobra health insurance that I'm paying."
Federal standards say once you file your claim, the state should do its very best to get you your first check within about three weeks. But we're finding here in Massachusetts, it's taking twice that.
The Massachusetts Secretary of Labor admits delays are getting worse as more and more people lose their jobs.
Secretary Suzanne Bump, Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development
"The system is definitely stressed."
Here's part of the problem. Unlike most New England states, in Massachusetts you can not file for unemployment on-line.
Secretary Suzanne Bump, Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development
"It's rather ironic that we have a high tech state and we don't have a high tech system yet."
That means every person who needs a check has to either speak to someone on the phone or talk to them face-to-face. And there are more people than ever trying to do that right now.
The number of Baystaters looking for work has jumped 60 percent in a year. The jobless rate was 6.9 percent in December, a 15 year high. That's more than 235,000 people out of work.
Secretary Suzanne Bump, Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development
"We have hired more claims takers. We've expanded hours. Put more staff into the career centers."
For now, if you need to file for unemployment compensation, state officials say calling is the best option, though when 7News visited, the wait at walk-in centers was under an hour. If you do call, do it after 2pm and later in the week.
But there's no guarantee you'll get through easily.
Jonathan Hall, 7News
"So you've got a full time job just calling for unemployment?"
Diane Wojdag, unemployed worker
"Absolutely."
Governor Patrick secured funding for a new computer system for the state's unemployment office, but it will take a while to install, and people still won't be able to file online until late 2010.
(Copyright (c) 2009 Sunbeam Television Corp. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)