People who lost their jobs are now demanding answers as to why they say it’s so difficult to apply for unemployment benefits.
The Department of Labor is blaming the slowdown on a rush of people applying for benefits. But some say job cuts are leaving the department short-handed.
“You try and you try and you keep getting hung up on or you get a busy signal,” says Robert Gilmore.
That’s been the frustrating end so far to Gilmore’s calls to apply for Unemployment Benefits.
The Shelton man recently lost his job as a TV engineer.
He’s been attempting to reach someone for a week.
“It is very frustrating. You keep trying and trying and you wonder when am I going to get through? I haven’t gotten through yet,” says Gilmore.
Gilmore is not alone.
The state Department of Labor says this period is usually a busy time for people to apply for benefits.
In a statement, the department’s Communications Director, Nancy Steffens, wrote in part,
"staff with knowledge on processing claims have been temporarily reassigned from their regular duties to answer calls and process claims. People are getting through, but it does take patience and perseverance."
But Council 4, the union which represents Department of Labor workers, says there’s more behind this slowdown than just the time of year.
“The problem is that the agency laid of nearly 100 workers last fall and what we have is a shortage of front-line workers who can help people in their time of need,” says Larry Dorman, Council 4 Public Affairs Coordinator.
In response, the department says while there was a cut in the number of workers the real difficulty is the number of people calling for benefits.
Either way it’s left some people, including Robert Gilmore, just waiting for someone to answer to get the help he needs.
“It’s important to get this done. I want to see this done and not have to worry about it. I want to put my efforts into looking for work,” says Gilmore.
The department says it is looking at long-term solutions including technology upgrades, which would include applying online.
It expects the busy call time to last into mid-February.
Photo Credit: NBC Connecticut