Alabama Labor Department Urges Patience For Unemployment Claims
The Alabama Department of Labor is swamped with unemployment claims thanks to the coronavirus, processing about 90,000 initial unemployment claims in the last two weeks of March. Public health officials have closed many businesses in an attempt to slow the spread of COVID-19. That’s forced employers to furlough or layoff workers. On Monday, the department said it has paid $6 million in coronavirus-related claims.
Labor Department spokeswoman Tara Hutchison says it’s been slow going for filers both by phone and through the web, although she recommends filing online. She says they’ve been making changes almost daily to speed up the website.
“We’re just telling people ‘please be patient,’” Hutchison says. “We’re doing our very best to process these claims as quickly as we possibly can.”
She says it can take up to 21-days for payments to be issued. But payments are retroactive, so recipients won’t lose out on funds.
The labor department has beefed up staffing to handle the extra load. About 100 agency employees who would normally staff career centers across the state are now helping with claims. Hutchison says they are also considering contracting with an outside call center.
The big federal aid package passed by Congress last month, the CARES Act, contains three new unemployment benefit programs. She says the department is starting to receive guidance from Washington, D.C. on how to implement those provisions.
“Our staff is beginning to figure out exactly who will qualify for all those programs and then how do we process those claims,” Hutchison says. “Maybe most importantly how will we pay those claims.”
Alabama’s preliminary unemployment rate was 2.7% in February. While the March rate isn’t due for a couple of weeks, Hutchison doesn’t expect it to rise much. That’s because the unemployment survey is performed around the 12th day of the month. The economic effects of the coronavirus didn’t start hitting Alabama until the second half of March. April will likely look much different.
The state has about $700 million in its unemployment compensation fund. Hutchison says the federal government will fully reimburse many coronavirus-related claims. There are also loans available to states. She hopes that will be enough, but there are many unknowns.
“It depends on the duration of the crisis, how long people are going to be on benefits and how many people it ultimately impacts,” Hutchison says.
In a ‘disheartening’ era, the nation’s former top mining regulator speaks out
Joe Pizarchik, who led the federal Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement from 2009 to 2017, says Alabama’s move in the wake of a fatal 2024 home explosion increases risks to residents living atop “gassy” coal mines.
‘It’s like feeling the arms of your creator just wrapped around you’: a visit to a special healing Shabbat
Members of Temple Emanu-El in Birmingham gathered recently for their traditional Friday Shabbat service. But this particular service was different, as could be seen by all the people dressed in their finest pink.
Space Command is coming to Huntsville. What might that mean for first-time homebuyers
While Huntsville has been a more affordable market than other growing cities, what’s it been like for those looking for their first home?
Colorado says relocation of Space Command to Alabama is ‘punishment’ for mail-in voting
The litigation announced by Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser asks a federal judge to block the move as unconstitutional.
Breaking down Alabama’s CHOOSE Act
It’s been a year since Alabama legislators passed the CHOOSE Act allowing families to apply for state funds to use towards homeschool expenses and tuition for participating private schools. The Alabama Daily News’ education reporter Trisha Powell Crain has been diving into how the funds are being used. WBHM’s Andrew Gelderman sat down with her to talk about what we’re seeing so far.
Huntsville is growing fast. Here’s how it’s stayed affordable
Home prices are rising in Huntsville, but so far, the city’s avoided the skyrocketing costs in other boom towns.
