Unemployment claims assistance

My office has received numerous requests for assistance with the processing of unemployment claims. If you have filed for unemployment and have yet to hear from DWD or receive payments, my office is happy to help expedite the process. If you do require assistance with your unemployment claim, please fill out this form on my website, email me: Rep.Rob.Brooks@legis.wisconsin.gov; or call my office: 608-267-2369. 

This week, the Senate Committee on Labor and Regulatory Reform held an informational hearing to better understand the unemployment claim process. Several of the senators inquired as to what the delay was to process and payout benefits. Senator Chris Kapenga asked Secretary Frostman, "Why are people working 7-5 p.m. on the phones when we have people waiting eight weeks to get a paycheck that they needed in order to make ends meet?"

In response to senators' questions regarding the delay, Secretary Frostman argued that "an antiquated computer system has hampered efforts because it cannot simultaneously handle accepting new claims and processing payments. Instead, the system must switch from one function to the next to work properly. Otherwise, it risks errors in the payments to those who qualified for unemployment benefits."

As a result, customer service representatives answer and return calls from 7-5. According to Secretary Frostman, "After 6:00 p.m. each weekday, the system switches over accepting the inputting of claims by those working the call center to processing them for payment. If attempts are made to change a claim once the processing function begins, it disrupts the payment process and leads to errors."

DWD, this week, said it has received more than 2.4 million unemployment claims and paid more than $1.7 million. What is more, 11.2 percent of the claims received by DWD were denied due to eligibility issues. 

In an effort to more robustly and expeditiously process unemployment claims, DWD has increased the number of individuals staffing the calling and claims processing center from 50, prior to COVID-19, to 1,300 by July. 

Several of my constituents have applied for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) and have yet to receive payment. According to DWD, PUA payment commenced last Thursday and are being made nightly to the more than 80,000 individuals who have applied. The average wait time for PUA claims and money to be paid is roughly 30 days from the time of application. For more information regarding PUA or to apply, please click the following link. 

Again, if you need assistance with your unemployment or PUA claim, please contact my office. 

"Routes to Recovery: Local Government Aid Grants" program

This week, Governor Evers announced the launch of the "Routes to Recovery: Local Governmental Aid Grants" program, a $200 million effort aimed at helping local leaders address some of the most urgent and unique COVID-19 recovery needs. These grants will be allocated to every Wisconsin county, city, village, town, and federally recognized tribe. 

The effort is funded by the $200 million in federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act dollars and will be administered by the Department of Administration. Of the $200 million, $10 million will be allocated to Wisconsin tribal nations, with the remaining funds being distributed to every Wisconsin county, city, village, and town. 

"Routes to Recovery" grant money for counties, villages, cities, villages, and towns will provide reimbursements for unbudgeted expenditures incurred this year because of the COVID-19 pandemic, in the following categories:

• Emergency operations activities, including those related to public health, emergency services, and public safety response.
• Purchases of personal protective equipment.
• Cleaning/sanitizing supplies and services, including those related to elections administration.
• Temporary isolation housing for infected or at-risk individuals.
• Testing and contact tracing costs above those covered by existing state programs.
• FMLA and sick leave for public health and safety employees to take COVID-19 precautions. 
• Meeting local match requirements for expenses submitted for reimbursements by FEMA, to the extent allowed by federal law.

The determination of a local government's "Routes to Recovery" grant amount is a formula based on the jurisdiction's population, as well as the priority of providing Wisconsin's units of local government no less than $5,000, regardless of population. 

According to DOA, Ozaukee County is eligible for $1,461,634.00 in grant funding. Washington County is eligible for $2,237,639.00. 

More information regarding the "Routes to Recovery" grants, including the allocation amounts for counties and municipalities, can be found here.

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