The Indiana Department of Workforce Development is responding to concerns about a backlog in unemployment claims.
During last week’s COVID-19 press conference, Department of Workforce Development Commissioner Fred Payne said that 80 to 85 percent of those who file start getting payments within 21 days. “Our claims that go beyond 21 days, it’s not in the millions,” he said. “That is not accurate.”
Payne said some of the delays are due to standard claims adjustor issues. He also noted that when the pandemic-related programs were put in place, there wasn’t time for the usual troubleshooting process.
But Payne said a big reason it takes time to process claims is to protect the system from potential fraud. “If we ended up having a system that paid quickly and that we didn’t require individuals to jump through a few steps, then fraud would overtake our system,” he said. “And right now, I think everyone is aware of the amount of fraud that’s occurring in the United States right now. Indiana is not a state that’s left out of that mix.”
Payne said the Department of Workforce Development has significantly increased its staff across the program. He stressed that the outside contractors who staff the call center are helping people every day, even if they aren’t necessarily part of the claims investigation process. “That’s not what they were all hired to do,” he explained. “Some do help on specific issues that are outside of customer service calls. But keep in mind claims investigation work requires significantly more training than could be accomplished in a short period of time.”
Payne promised that every eligible Hoosier will get their unemployment benefits, but cautioned that not everyone who applies will be eligible.
