People trying to log on to file claims for unemployment are still having trouble.
The Employment Security Department upgraded its website the first weekend in January. While the upgrade made the website more secure, it also prevented many users from being able to access it to file their weekly unemployment claims.
Viewers are still contacting KIRO 7 asking for help filing their weekly claims.
Faith Radishiasl said she hasn't been able to get on the website on a regular basis to check the status of her claim. Since the upgrade, she's only been able to log on five times. Her claim was denied, but she appealed and is waiting for an answer.
She's been unable to get through on the phone. She said she's been on hold for more than 2 hours at a time and other times she is unable to leave a message, the phone just disconnects.
Tami Jacobs lost her job 10 days ago and has had trouble getting her claim filed on the website. She has four children and is worried about running out of food. Jacobs, 33, works as a medical assistant. This is the first time she has filed for unemployment.
The state acknowledges there are still problems with the upgrade but says the situation is improving, more people are able to access the website.
On Jan. 3, the first day the upgraded website went live, the state said the call center received nearly 750,000 phone calls.
The Employment Security Department says about 60,000 people receive unemployment benefits and were calling multiple times.
Three weeks later the state says more people are filing their claims on line but the call center is still flooded with calls.
The state has more people working and has extended the hours of the call center. Workers are returning calls between 4 p.m. and 7 p.m.
The state says people who have been able to leave messages should be prepared to answer their phones during those extended hours.
When KIRO 7 asked why the phone system hangs up on some people without allowing them to leave a message, a spokesperson said if that happens it means all of the phone lines are busy and other callers are stacked up in the queue ahead of them.
If you do get put on hold, a spokesperson for the Employment Security Department says the caller should stay on the line and they will get a chance to talk to a person at the call center.
After our story aired on KIRO 7 News at 5 p.m., the Employment Security Department offered to have the claims help center contact Rashidiasl and Jacobs to try to help them with their claims.
Cox Media Group
