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More than 22 million Americans have filed for unemployment aid since President Trump declared a national emergency four weeks ago, a staggering loss of jobs that has wiped out a decade of employment gains and pushed families to line up at food banks as they await government help.
Last week, 5.2 million people filed unemployment insurance claims, the Labor Department reported Thursday, making it among one of the bigger spikes, although smaller than the 6.6 million people who applied the week before and the record 6.9 million people who applied the week that ended on March 28.
The United States has not seen this level of job loss since the Great Depression, and the government is struggling to respond fast enough to the deadly coronavirus health crisis and the economic crisis triggered by shutting down so many businesses.
*** UPDATE *** IDES…
The Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) today released new statewide data showing the department processed over 141,000 new initial unemployment claims for the week ending April 11.
As of March 1, the department has processed more than 650,000 initial unemployment claims, 12 times more than the number of claims over the corresponding time period last year, when it processed 53,000 initial unemployment claims. It is also five times greater than the amount processed during the first six weeks of the Great Recession. Statewide unemployment claims data, which reflects activity for the week prior, will be available on the IDES website every Thursday afternoon.
posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Apr 16, 20 @ 10:02 am
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That number could be artificially low. How many States are like Illinois where so many people can’t even access the system yo file. And, this probably doesn’t include nationally the gig workers who had to wait to file
Comment by Wow Thursday, Apr 16, 20 @ 10:23 am
I think the unemployment situation at IDES is the biggest hole in the daily briefings by Governor Pritzker. Someone needs to ask “How long does it take to process a claim?” and “How large is the backlog?”. Maybe it’s time to take a deep dive as we creep closer to looming May 1 rent/mortgage payments.
Comment by Southsider Thursday, Apr 16, 20 @ 10:27 am
The number in IL will likely spike dramatically next week for two reasons. They migrated the system to a more robust platform. They are encouraging independent contractors to go ahead and apply now.
That being said, there will be a lot more frustrated claimants in the coming weeks because all though throughput has increased, there are not enough staff to resolve issues and adjudication. The ramp up time for new staff is very long because the program is very complicated.
Comment by Bothanspy Thursday, Apr 16, 20 @ 10:28 am
And most of them have lost their employer-sponsored health insurance. Insurance associated with work is a great idea isn’t it?
Comment by PublicServant Thursday, Apr 16, 20 @ 10:34 am
Not to sound too Foxnewsy but does this mean there are +130 million still working? And some or most of the 22 million are gonna get some sort of UI $$$. Not good, but maybe something that can be weathered. We thought it would be a lot worse.
Comment by Annonin Thursday, Apr 16, 20 @ 10:44 am
You can open your claim on the phone computer, after your waiting week you will be given your certification day three weeks later, for a one week check
Comment by Rabid Thursday, Apr 16, 20 @ 10:47 am
When will somebody ask DoIT why, in 2020, a person is unable to file their claim via smartphone?
Why is this particular condition not highlighted on the very front page of the IDES website?
And then that reporter might try to do a deep dive to find out how many of the ten or hundreds of thousands of failed attempts to access the IDES application come from smartphones, because apparently it’s still 2006, and the only way to access the interweb is via a computer?
Comment by Lynn S. Thursday, Apr 16, 20 @ 11:28 am
=== And most of them have lost their employer-sponsored health insurance. Insurance associated with work is a great idea isn’t it?===
What are 22 Americans going to do for their healthcare needs?
Comment by Da Big Bad Wolf Thursday, Apr 16, 20 @ 11:31 am
And people wonder why the websites are crashing. That’s not happening just in Illinois.
Comment by JoanP Thursday, Apr 16, 20 @ 11:34 am
Some laid off workers, even in lower paid blue collar positions are having their insurance covered by their employers. Don’t know extensive that is but it is occurring. A man who does landscaping work for me is quite happy with his unemployment benefits (he did complain about the contact problems), his stimulus check that he received a couple of days ago, and his continued health care coverage from his employer. He said he could hold out another month or two without serious financial damage. Don’t know how many others are in similar positions. His firm (800 employees) expects to be around when this is over and wants its staff intact when it does resume operations.
Comment by Rachel Thursday, Apr 16, 20 @ 11:44 am
I’ve seen several “press statements” today stating gig worker MUST apply for unemployment and be turned down first before they can apply for the federal benefit. This advice seems contrary to the current advice on the IDES website (though their information seems conflicting in this regard.) The sources I’ve see that are saying gig workers MUST apply are -so far - only GOP reps, including some from the eastern bloc. Makes me skeptical.
Comment by Morningstar Thursday, Apr 16, 20 @ 12:08 pm
@JoanP
My comment was based on the experience of someone close to me.
Is the problem truly a large number of applicants, or a system that:
1. Fails to account for the primary method of technical access used by the largest percentage of the population? (And quite possibly, the only means of technical access by low-income folks, or folks under the age of 25?)
And
2. The failure of the agency to notify potential applicants of this technical limitation on the very front page of the agency’s website?
Leading to
3. Large numbers of applicants experiencing technical failures of unknown origin? (No error message given by computer program.)
Leading to
4. Large numbers of applicants calling the agency, leading to clogged lines and extraordinarily long wait times? (Assuming the system doesn’t keep dropping the call, whereupon the applicant dials again in a frustrated attempt to talk to someone–anyone–who can assist the applicant?)
There are indeed record numbers of applicants.
But there are also a lot of (seemingly minor) decisions by DoIT that are making the situation unnecessarily worse than it needs to be.
Comment by Lynn S. Thursday, Apr 16, 20 @ 12:13 pm
Nothing about IDES is working and no one is asking the questions. Daily briefing needs to also inform the millions who are currently unemployed and can’t get benefits. Website sends you to the 800#, 800# sends you to the website and repeat, repeat, repeat. I can survive, but many need these benefits yesterday. Happy to talk or start a movement. #AskJB
Comment by Distancing in Narnia Thursday, Apr 16, 20 @ 12:15 pm
Morningstar,
I do believe the Governor made that statement about applying and being turned down earlier this week.
Comment by Lynn S. Thursday, Apr 16, 20 @ 12:15 pm
@Distancing in Narnia,
Don’t ask JB.
Ask DoIT.
Comment by Lynn S. Thursday, Apr 16, 20 @ 12:16 pm
Lynn S. - thanks. I was trying to verify the advice. IDES website was not helpful and could certainly communicate this more clearly.
Comment by Morningstar Thursday, Apr 16, 20 @ 12:21 pm
Sacrifice is noble.
Comment by JB13 Thursday, Apr 16, 20 @ 12:28 pm
@Morningstar,
Glad to help.
IDES website could also communicate that an applicant cannot use their smartphone to apply, but nobody seems interested in allowing that advice to enter public knowledge.
Comment by Lynn S. Thursday, Apr 16, 20 @ 12:43 pm
Just saw that IDES website updated their guidance on this question.
Comment by Morningstar Thursday, Apr 16, 20 @ 12:45 pm
Maybe J.B. should get on the phone with Pelosi and Schumer to tell them to stop holding up refunding the PPP/SBA program. Now isn’t the time to play politics with peoples livelihood. More Money in the fund will prevent more unemployment claims from being filed. I’m so sick of the politics involved. They’re here to solve problems not just to obstruct Trump. In the end it’s the blue collar worker that gets hurt
Comment by Left Right Center Thursday, Apr 16, 20 @ 12:49 pm
=== should get on the phone with Pelosi and Schumer to tell them to stop holding up refunding the PPP/SBA program. Now isn’t the time to play politics with peoples livelihood===
Just curious, what politics is being played to hold this up.
Can you explain that. Saying “to stop Trump” isn’t acceptable, what are they asking.
Thanks.
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Apr 16, 20 @ 12:51 pm
@ Left Right Center
You might want to review the allowed candidates for the programs you cite.
One of the lead stories on the CBS national news last night was that 20 locations of Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse have applied for and received PPP funding.
If memory serves, there was a story in the Wall Street Journal that Shake Shack (publicly listed corporation) also planned to apply for PPP.
Remind me again: how many millions of revenue, or shares of publicly traded stock, make you a “large corporation”, and thus ineligible for PPP?
Comment by Lynn S. Thursday, Apr 16, 20 @ 1:53 pm
Thanks to Google:
Ruth’s Chris on NASDAQ. 4th quarter revenue 2019 = $135,000,000. Net income 4Q = $14,460,000. Share price over $26 within last year, now $7.18
Shake Shack on NYSE. 4th quarter 2019 revenue = $151,440,000. Net loss in 4Q 2019. Stock price over $103 in last year, now $43.xx
Remind me again why these companies need an infusion of federal tax dollars?
Comment by Lynn S. Thursday, Apr 16, 20 @ 2:18 pm
OW. They can negotiate phase 4 any time. The PPP program was already agreed to. It just needs more money now. This should not be held up just because the Democrats want more for phase 4. Both sides recognize the need for phase 4. Please don’t be naive to think Pelosi doesn’t want to stick it to Trump. By the way, I’m an Independent
Comment by Left Right Center Thursday, Apr 16, 20 @ 3:30 pm
=== They can negotiate phase 4 any time.===
They are choosing now.
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Apr 16, 20 @ 3:33 pm
Unfortunate phase 4 has time. The PPP program is out of money now. So we should just tell those that will be laid off, sorry, we have to play politics with a program we already agreed on. Nice
Comment by Left Right Center Thursday, Apr 16, 20 @ 3:38 pm
=== So we should just tell those that will be laid off===
Isn’t that playing politics… shaming.
All sides will get to this. The pressure will only increase.
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Apr 16, 20 @ 3:41 pm
Some people can’t wait.
Comment by Left Right Center Thursday, Apr 16, 20 @ 3:43 pm
The House goes back on the 20th
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Apr 16, 20 @ 3:44 pm