It look's like you don't have Adobe Flash Player installed. Get it now.
Callers seeking information about the extensions for unemployment benefits may have some trouble getting through to talk to someone. The Missouri Department of Labor has been flooded with calls about the benefits and they say there are thousands of calls each day that can’t be answered. In response, the office has set up a new online tool to get information to those who need it and to lessen the call volume at their offices. KSMU’s Adam Murphy reports.
The Department of Labor says that most people are under the misconception that everyone looking to receive the extension on their unemployment benefits needs to call in. They say this is incorrect. So they have set up an easy-to-use online tool to help answer questions, and save callers from frustration.
Andrea Susan is with the Missouri Department of Labor. She says, to use this tool, visit labor.mo.gov/extension and enter your information. Someone from the office will email you within five working days. They will let you know whether or not you need to call, and what you need to do to claim your benefits.
Susan says the state has had over 1,000 people use this tool since it was put online Tuesday. She says this is clearing up the phone lines for people who do need to call.
“Hopefully more individuals can utilize the phones and get a hold of someone. That’s the whole goal behind this, is to further direct people and instruct them on whether or not they need to call us, so we can encourage more people to use this tool and free up the phones for other individuals that do need to call us to process those claims and receive those benefits,” said Susan.
Susan says anyone who calls in will probably have to call several times an hour to get through, so she encourages people to use the online tool.
The department says this tool is only for people whose benefits ran out between June 2nd and now. Anyone who is still receiving benefits does not need to call the department to receive the extension.
The online tool can be found at www.labor.mo.gov/extension
For KSMU News, I’m Adam Murphy.
