Hotline for unemployment benefits disconnects majority of callers

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Most Wisconsinites who call a special hotline for questions about their unemployment benefits get disconnected before they can talk to somebody.

According to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 86 percent of those calling in get stuck on hold and then are told “goodbye” before getting cut off.

Sixty-two thousand calls a week got disconnected in August. That includes many calls from people who repeatedly called back after being cut off.

Some call the hotline to find out why their benefit checks are delayed. Others must use it when the state has questions about their applications.

Dick Jones of the Department of Workforce Development says they’ve added more staff members and phone lines and they’ve added more capacity to their computer servers so more people can be served online.

The Journal Sentinel says folks have praised the online system for filing initial claims and a different phone number for initial claims works pretty well, too.

Some wonder why they just can’t drive to an office to see somebody.

Allan Alt of the unemployment insurance division said local offices closed almost 15 years ago, and the state found it can handle more cases with an online system.

With the recession, the system is getting a lot more use.

Initial jobless benefits are up 80 percent from a year ago. Continued claims from longer-term unemployed are up 95 percent.

Tags: unemployment benefits, wisconsin, hotline