The Gov and the Leg are sparring over how to fund an update of the unemployment system that's left thousands waiting for help during the pandemic.

But that's a long term fix that could take years. There are quicker fixes that could bring relief sooner https://buff.ly/3dsIyl4 

There's no question the tech is a problem. New federal programs take months to program. People have to mail or fax documents. The system literally has to stop taking calls in the call center before it can start writing checks for people.

One guy who briefly worked as an adjudicator for DWD found the tech so frustrating he quick after two weeks, found our previous coverage and reached out to vent

But the thing about our unemployment system is that while it's hugely overwhelmed, it basically doing what it was designed to do.

During the Walker era the state enacted a series of laws toughening access to unemployment insurance in the name of limiting fraud and saving money

Now those are issues that can kick an unemployment claim into an adjudication process that can take months.

Many other states have found solution to this issue: temporarily waive some restrictions.

eg: Why investigate job separations from 2019 to determine eligibility now?

Brandon Cacek is a Marine Corp vet and father of two in Marinette. He applied for unemployment insurance in March when he was laid off from his substitute teaching job.

11 months later, he's still waiting for the aid.

He's pretty clearly qualified. A judge even ruled in his favor in late December. But it still could be weeks more before he actually gets the assistance.

Why? He's gotten stuck in what some call the 'administrative sludge' of administering the unemployment program

- First he was denied because he gets federal disability help and WI was denying all unemployment aid to SSDI recipients until June
- Then his claim was denied due to a misunderstanding an application question
- Then he joined the queue of thousands waiting for an appeal hearing

Now he has to wait for his ruling to go from the hearing office to the processing office — the one that must shut down calls before it can write checks. It could take a while...

Meanwhile, there is a legit international fraud ring targeting state unemployment systems — there are 53!

So people like Amy Moreland who have had no trouble with the unemployment system in the past suddenly find holds on their accounts for suspicious activity

Amy waited 13 weeks for a call so she could verify her identity to someone from DWD's fraud department.

Apparently someone in Kentucky tried to claim her benefits

One more note about modernizing the system: it's not a panacea! It's only as good as the programs that go into it.

Michigan's modernization of it's system a decade ago resulted in false allegations of fraud that ruined people's lives https://www.bridgemi.com/michigan-government/broken-human-toll-michigans-unemployment-fraud-saga