Unemployment frustrations continue in North Carolina as the state tries to keep pace with demand. | Stock Photo
Unemployment frustrations continue in North Carolina as the state tries to keep pace with demand. | Stock Photo
As the unemployment rate climbs, North Carolina locals aren’t thrilled about how long it continues to take to financial benefits.
Statewide unemployment applications have surpassed the 1 million mark, and Kent Nigro and many applicants have yet to receive a check, WITN reported on May 28.
“There’s always a fail-safe; there’s always a backup plan," Nigro told WITN. "You just have to make do with what you can.”
State legislators have retained thousands of additional workers in an effort to handle the boost, WITN reported.
“In the beginning, a lot of people were patient trying to just work throughout the process, the problems," Rep. Chris Humphrey said, WITN reported. "But in Raleigh, my phone was ringing every day, I got hundreds of emails from constituents and citizens across North Carolina that couldn’t access the system. It was ill-prepared to handle that volume.”
Still, he saluted the workers' ability to remain effective and help out as the claims increase to new heights. Humphrey said, WITN reported, “We’ve been able to help people. I’ve got to give them credit, they’ve put in the hours, and it’s been a thankless job. I’m just glad money is flowing back to the citizens of North Carolina.”
Rep. Kandie Smith (D-Pitt) echoed similar sentiments and told WITN, “They had to make sure they could accommodate because they’ve never had this amount of demand, ever. So, it’s unprecedented times, and unprecedented things happen in unprecedented times.
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