LANSING, MI-- The following is a press release from Rep. Sara Cambensy's office:
"State Rep. Sara Cambensy (D-Marquette) testified before the Michigan Legislature’s Joint Select Committee on the COVID-19 Pandemic Thursday to speak about her letter urging Gov. Whitmer to reopen Unemployment Insurance Agency (UIA) district offices to allow Michigan residents to file and resolve claims directly in person.
'"I appreciate the opportunity to be able to testify today before the bi-partisan COVID-19 committee and make my case on why the reopening of our regional UIA offices and phone lines are critical,” said Rep. Cambensy. “The majority of help people need with their unemployment claim is for very minor, non-monetary issues. These claims could be resolved in a matter of minutes for people, rather than having them wait in a computer system for 4, 6 or 8 weeks before seeing a payment. The Secretary of State offices reopened June 1st after realizing it needed to find a way to more efficiently serve residents. They have done so in a safe manor. Why can't our UIA offices do the same?"
"The enormous influx of unemployment claims due to the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as recently enacted fraud prevention measures, have left thousands of Michigan residents waiting for months to receive benefits. Legislative offices have been attempting to assist the UIA process and resolve claims by submitting cases to an internal database that assigns them to specific UIA caseworkers, but the system does not allow legislative staff to resolve claims themselves, even those with minor issues. Though the system helps UIA to better categorize cases, these claims could be resolved much more quickly if residents could work with UIA district offices directly.
"Rep. Cambensy hopes to meet with officials in the governor’s administration next week to determine how legislative offices and the UIA can work together to better serve those still awaiting benefits.
'"Letting legislators' staff help the UIA find these efficiencies in the system and get the most basic claims resolved and out of the way quicker will help everyone, especially residents who are desperately awaiting their checks.”'
Rep. Cambensy’s testimony can be viewed by clicking here.
