|
 Printer-Friendly Version
Archived News Release--Caution:
information may be out of date.
For more information call: (202) 219-6871
The U.S. Labor Department is granting 10 states $8.3 million to help
make it easier for dislocated workers to file for unemployment insurance
benefits, Secretary of Labor Robert B. Reich announced today. Workers in the 10
states who lose their jobs will soon be able to file for unemployment benefits
by phone rather than filing in person.
"These telephone claim systems are another part of President Clinton's
bridge to the 21st Century," said Reich. "Telephone lines will be replacing
waiting lines for dislocated workers all over this country."
Colorado and Wisconsin already have systems to accept all initial
claims by telephone, and several other states are piloting this concept in
selected offices. The new systems provide savings to employers by reducing
administrative costs, and they benefit claimants by eliminating the need to
file claims in person at their local unemployment insurance offices.
Individuals may still visit local offices for various types of
assistance including job search activities, training evaluation, referral to
training or job opportunities and other supportive services.
"Telephone claim systems bring us another step closer to fulfilling our
promise to transform the unemployment system to a reemployment system for the
American worker," said Reich. "Although job loss is still a difficult fact of
life for many individuals, these systems will help make their transition to the
next job a little smoother and easier."
States receiving these grants will attend a training session conducted
by the Unemployment Insurance Service Information Technology Support Center
(ITSC). Training tools will include software programs designed to help States
evaluate their telecommunications and equipment needs, as well as a voice
simulator which states can use to evaluate the effectiveness and costs of
potential sets of instructions that claimants will hear on the phone when they
file for benefits.
At the invitation of the Labor Department, 21 states submitted
proposals requesting financial assistance. In February 1996, nine states --
Idaho, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island,
South Carolina and Texas -- received $60,000 grants for planning how to
automate their unemployment insurance claims systems.
The 10 states receiving implementation grants, and the amount of each
grant, are listed below.
State Amount
Florida $732,555
Kansas 386,849
Massachusetts 1,000,000
Missouri 659,769
Montana 845,676
New Jersey 974,927
Pennsylvania 942,700
Texas 1,000,000
Utah 1,000,000
Washington 784,890
Archived News Release--Caution:
information may be out of date.
| 
