State Rep. Dan Ugaste (R-Geneva) says a modernized unemployment system is needed as an overwhelming number of constituents have not been able to file for unemployment since the coronavirus pandemic has left them out of work. | Ugaste website
State Rep. Dan Ugaste (R-Geneva) says a modernized unemployment system is needed as an overwhelming number of constituents have not been able to file for unemployment since the coronavirus pandemic has left them out of work. | Ugaste website
In light of the rising number of complaints he and other lawmakers are receiving from constituents about a floundering system, Illinois state Rep. Dan Ugaste (R-Geneva) is calling on Gov. J.B. Pritzker to quickly make needed improvements to the Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) in the face of ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
“Every member of our caucus has indicated receiving numerous calls from constituents outraged that they can’t get through to file an unemployment claim,” Ugaste told the McHenry Times. “That’s a real problem because a lot of people are now suddenly unemployed because of the Governor’s stay at home order. We know IDES is swamped because every time we try to call to talk to someone you can’t get through.”
Ugaste said residents laid off as far back as in March still haven’t been able to complete paperwork needed to start receiving benefits.
“The Governor needs to do whatever is needed to remedy this,” he said. “I’d like to see him contract with a third-party or transfer staff from other departments to help handle the increased workload. In the end, it’ll probably take a combination of both.”
During the first week of April, IDES received a staggering 200,000 unemployment claims as droves of workers suddenly found themselves jobless with no real answers about when that might change.
Ugaste said he’ll leave the question of whether or not a complete shutdown of the economy was needed to health experts.
“I do think in Illinois we need to modernize that office so it’s more up to speed in a time of crisis,” he said. “Since all this happened, I understand some things have happened, but we need to better prepare by always having our systems modernized where they are as efficient as they can be.”
In the end, Ugaste said it’s all about making sure that people are able to promptly get the benefits they are entitled to and desperately in need of.
“It is crucial, which is why I am asking that the Governor do more to help these workers and expand the powers of IDES,” he said.
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