Department of Labor Suggestions

January 19, 2009

As you already know, Kansans are feeling the impact of the national economic recession. Many Kansans have been placed in the very real and difficult situation of being without a job in tough economic times.

The Kansas Department of Labor's Unemployment Contact Center is seeing the effects of the recession with an unusually high number of calls and wait times. Increased inquiries regarding both regular unemployment and extended unemployment programs are causing an average wait time of 25 to 35 minutes to speak with a claims representative. Due to a high volume of calls, some individuals are not able to get through and have to call back more than once.

Although our federal unemployment budget is tight, the Department of Labor recently hired 10 new staff members to take unemployment claims. They also made staff available on evenings and weekends to process claims that have been filed. Additionally, the agency is working to improve its Web site to make it easier for people to file claims online. 

We are committed to responding back to each Kansan who needs help in a reasonable timeframe, but please keep in mind that the Department of Labor is also overwhelmed with inquiries. We appreciate your patience as we all work together to help each Kansan who contact us with an unemployment inquiry.

Here are some suggestions for optimized claim submissions:

1) Use the Web site. The unemployment Web site, www.uibenefits.dol.ks.gov, can be a good tool for filing claims and answering many questions, without having to pick up the phone.

2) Try calling the Unemployment Call Center later in the week. Wait times are typically shorter on Wednesdays and Thursdays, but with the magnitude of calls coming into the contact center they are experiencing long wait times every day of the week.  Wait times are typically at their highest on Monday mornings and Friday afternoons.

3) Try to call in first thing in the morning at 8:00 a.m. when the Call Center opens. Callers have a better chance of getting through.

4) Contact Citi with debit card questions. The Department has recently replaced all unemployment checks with debit cards provided by CITI Card Services. Claimants who have already been approved to receive unemployment benefits and have questions specifically regarding your Unemployment Benefits Debit Card can contact CITI directly at www.prepaid.citi.com/kansas or contact Citi's toll-free Customer Service number at 1-800-582-4910.

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Paid for by Cindy Neighbor for State Representative - Kathleen Jenkins, Treasurer