The demand on the state’s Department of Economic Security due to the coronavirus is unprecedented as it received more than 72,000 first-time unemployment insurance claims last week.
That’s up from nearly 3,900 just a month ago, according to the department’s communications director, Tasya Peterson.
“What we really want to remind people is that they must file weekly claims to continue to receive benefits,” she said. “So, even if an initial claim is still pending, individuals must file a weekly claim to receive benefits for that week.”
Peterson said the department has taken steps such as increasing staff and call center hours as well as enhancing its web presence with a chat bot.
