{"id":78829,"date":"2020-04-21T07:58:59","date_gmt":"2020-04-21T11:58:59","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.owegopennysaver.com\/PS\/?p=78829"},"modified":"2020-04-21T07:58:59","modified_gmt":"2020-04-21T11:58:59","slug":"department-of-labor-launches-streamlined-application-for-unemployment-filers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.owegopennysaver.com\/PS\/2020\/04\/21\/department-of-labor-launches-streamlined-application-for-unemployment-filers\/","title":{"rendered":"Department of Labor launches streamlined application for unemployment filers"},"content":{"rendered":"

The New York State Department of Labor (DOL) recently announced the launch of a new application for New Yorkers to apply for traditional Unemployment Insurance or the new COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Assistance. This one-stop-shop for unemployment benefits will connect New Yorkers with the benefits they deserve faster, without <\/span>requiring<\/span> them to call the Department of Labor.<\/span><\/p>\n

Prior to this, due to cumbersome federal guidelines, New Yorkers were required to apply for regular Unemployment Insurance and be rejected before applying for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance. With this new application, which aligns with updated federal policy, New Yorkers will be able to simply fill out one form to get the correct benefits.<\/span><\/p>\n

In conjunction with the rollout of the improved application, DOL has been deploying over 3,100 representatives solely dedicated to answering unemployment benefit needs seven days a week. This is up from 400 who previously manned the DOL call center prior to the pandemic.<\/span><\/p>\n

Since the COVID-19 crisis began, DOL has paid approximately $2.2 billion in Unemployment Insurance benefits to 1.1 million New Yorkers. The application call backlog prior to April 8 has been reduced to 4,305 from 275,000.<\/span><\/p>\n

“I have been unemployed before myself, and I understand the pain, fear and anxiety New Yorkers are facing. The DOL’s mission is to help our neighbors through some of their toughest days, and in the last week we have made great strides in updating our systems,” New York State<\/span> Department of Labor Commissioner Roberta Reardon said.<\/span> “While it appears the coronavirus pandemic is beginning to stabilize \u2014 at least from the public health perspective \u2014 we know that many New Yorkers are still facing an uncertain economic future, and the Department of Labor will continue to dedicate every resource available to helping New Yorkers weather this storm.”<\/span><\/p>\n

The updated unemployment benefits application system, available through https:\/\/www.labor.ny.gov<\/a>,<\/a> will determine which unemployment program \u2014 unemployment insurance or Pandemic Unemployment Assistance \u2014 New Yorkers should apply for and then prompt them to answer a specific set of questions. The application builds on the new online system the department rolled out on Friday, April 10, in partnership with the State Office of Information Technology Services and Google Cloud, to help manage the exponential and unprecedented increase in new claims resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. <\/span><\/p>\n

The Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) program, which was included in the Federal CARES Act, provides unemployment benefits for individuals who are ineligible for traditional unemployment insurance. Examples of those covered by PUA include:<\/span><\/p>\n