© Reuters / Nick OxfordPeople who lost their jobs wait to file for unemployment at an Arkansas Workforce Center in Fort Smith, the US
The number of those who filed for unemployment surpassed 26 million, after an additional 4.4 million claims were filed last week. As more and more people are seeking financial aid amid massive layoffs triggered by the deadly pandemic, some have complained of glitches in the government's online system.
It turns out the frustration over the application process could have resulted in massive undercounting in the official number of unemployment applications, according to the Economic Policy Institute (ERI). The researchers say that millions could have filed for benefits if not for the difficulties, while just half of the applicants are actually receiving benefits.
The results of its online survey, released on Tuesday, indicate that for every 10 people who have successfully filed for unemployment benefits, at least three couldn't get through the system to make a claim, while another two decided not to even try as they found the process "too difficult."
"We estimate that an additional 8.9 ‒13.9 million people could have filed for benefits had the process been easier," the authors of the poll concluded after extrapolating their findings to the full five weeks of claims since March 15.
"These findings imply the official count of unemployment insurance claims likely drastically understates the extent of employment reductions and the need for economic relief during the coronavirus crisis."
The EPI poll, conducted between April 13 and 24, targeted 25,000 US adult internet users. The majority of the participants (more than 68 percent) said that they did not apply as they managed to keep their jobs, while over 15 percent found themselves ineligible for benefits. Of those who did apply, around 1.6 percent were rejected, with the EPI saying that this may have happened as states were unable to process applicants with expanded eligibility.
The husband of one of my co-workers and one of my co workers (who only works about 8 hrs. a week but is otherwise self employed) both gave up on trying to file for unemployment.
I personally have waited on hold for over an hour 3 times to get issues resolved. Once their system even hung up on me after 45 min on wait time. This article is totally plausible to me, I'm living it.
It does feel really strange getting so much money for unemployment though. When I catch myself feeling guilty about it I remind myself of Life is religion, written by Laura. And, Wow, looking for that quote in my kindle edition of that book I came across many amazing revelations that hit me in a totally different way now. I think I will re read the whole book now.
Peace Out,
Laurie