News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
The state paid out two weeks of unemployment benefits to some 225,000 individuals during this week.
State Department of Labor Commissioner Jeff McCord said that equates to nearly 98 percent of those who have applied for benefits over the last 21 days.
“We know there’s frustration and worry and we understand that,” McCord said. “But we’re working as hard as we can, as fast as we can and as differently as we ever have to get those benefits to you.”
McCord said a new system to provide benefits to the self-employed will soon be processing claims for those Tennesseeans who are eligible for the first time. McCord said checks should begin arriving next week.
Admitting that the state website has been a challenge to many of those dealing with unemployment, McCord said another computer software upgrade will come online in the next few days to improve the system. In addition, McCord said the department has increased personnel and private call-center operators to help handle the increased call volume.
More than 3,000 new unemployment claims were filed in the Upper Cumberland last week.
