KY Workforce Development Expands Services For Unemployment Claims

By RACHEL COLLINS

The Kentucky Education and Workforce Development Cabinet is currently training new employees to total 1,000 people available to manage incoming phone calls regarding unemployment insurance. Deputy Secretary Josh Benton said the department also restructured call priorities to ensure those with the most urgent need receive assistance first. He anticipates these initiatives will help decrease the wait time for callers.

“It took us a little bit of time to get what we needed to be able to add staff but we’ve done that and we’re adding. We’re already seeing more calls being answered and I think we’ll continue to be able to do that throughout this week and next,” he explained. “We know that there are some people, in order to file their claim, need to talk to somebody and we know that this volume on the call line is preventing some people from even getting started.”

During a conference call Wednesday morning hosted by the Paducah Chamber of Commerce, Benton said in the last 10 days his department has paid more than $100 million in claims to about 175,000 Kentuckians. He said his department has processed more than 300,000 claims since March 16 and receives approximately 14,000 new claims per day.

Benton reiterated, just as he did during the daily update with Gov. Andy Beshear yesterday, that the first unemployment insurance payment for those approved is automatic which means those receiving the benefit do not have to file a request for the first payment. In fact, he says every time someone files a request for the first payment one of his employees has to go in and undo the request to renew the automated payment, which further slows the response time for everyone.

Benton also said about 80,000 Kentuckians who wouldn’t normally have qualified for unemployment insurance claims have received approval and because of changes rolled out yesterday through the CARES Act, the state will now have the ability to extend benefits for an additional 13 weeks to those who have already exhausted their time limit in the program.

Also referencing the CARES Act, Benton said Kentuckians will begin to see the additional $600 in federal funding when the federal government provides the funding stream to the commonwealth to distribute. He said anyone who was on unemployment insurance was eligible effective March 29 and he anticipates the payments will be retroactive to that date, once funding is available for distribution. He said as of now, the payment is scheduled to end July 31.

Benton also addressed a number of concerns brought up by business owners/managers in the conference call including claims that there are individuals who are quitting their jobs for the benefit of drawing unemployment. He said the U.S. Department of Labor mandated the workforce cabinet accept claims for those who had to quit their job because they or a family member fell ill or if they had no means of childcare.

But if the employer is implementing practices to provide a safe workplace including accommodations for proper social distancing, the employer has the opportunity to protest the claim. He said the employee would have to be able to verify their employer was not making appropriate accommodations such as working remotely from home or creating social distancing in the workplace.

“We want to help individuals and employers make good choices and we don’t want to see anyone just walk off the job, but we also don’t want to see people who need it not qualify,” he added.

The workforce cabinet will be able to accept partial unemployment claims also, Benton confirmed today. He said some businesses are having to temporarily lay off employees while some are just having to reduce hours. In either instance, he said that creates people who need financial assistance so they may apply to fill in the gaps. He directed companies who employ a minimum of 50 and have to lay off at least 15 to file an e-claim by emailing [email protected].

Benton said the workforce cabinet is doing what it can to prevent the unemployment insurance tax rate from increasing for employers. In order to achieve that goal, he said the cabinet has to keep the trust fund secure. Because we’re in the midst of a declared national emergency, he said, there’s more flexibility for all the resources flowing into the states which allows for stabilization of the states’ trust funds. He said that should help in the long run, but warned if the trust fund takes a huge hit like it did during the 2009 recession the unemployment insurance tax paid by employers will increase like it did then.

In the meantime, Benton said the workforce cabinet is not going to charge employer accounts in the second quarter so there’s as little impact there as possible.

Anyone with questions may reach the West Kentucky Workforce Board in Paducah by calling 270-575-7000. To file for unemployment insurance or reach the Kentucky Education Workforce and Development Cabinet click here.

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