Assemblyman Anthony Palumbo, candidate for New York State Senate in the 1st District, today called for additional resources to help the Department of Labor deliver unemployment insurance in a timelier fashion to out-of-work Long Islanders.

“Every day for the past two months my office has been deluged with calls from constituents struggling to receive their unemployment assistance,” said Palumbo. “I understand the enormity of the problem and the state must shift its resources to improve response time and help people sooner. During this time of crisis, we just cannot continue to have families going weeks without receiving the unemployment assistance they need to support their loved ones.”

Palumbo noted that even though the state has reportedly spent nearly $88 million on high-end firm Deloitte to overhaul the Department of Labor (DOL) call system , thousands of desperate, unemployed New Yorkers either still cannot get through to apply for assistance or have legitimate filings stuck in the system.

To remedy this situation, Palumbo calling for the following immediate actions:

• · The Governor must streamline application certifications and allow applicants to “certify” upon application, while still providing appropriate safeguards to help ensure that benefits only go to eligible New Yorkers;

• · In addition to the 3,000 employees currently working phones, the DOL must collaborate with other state agencies to train thousands more of the state’s workforce, many of whom are staying at home, to rapidly field calls and help New Yorkers file to receive benefits immediately;

• · The State Comptroller, who oversees payments, contracts, and finances in the state, should be empowered to provide emergency oversight and assistance to the DOL;

• · Comptroller DiNapoli should conduct an immediate, fast-track audit of the DOL’s procedures and administration of the program; and

• · A State Legislative Joint Committee should conduct an immediate review and investigation into the DOL’s continued failed handling of unemployment benefits throughout the pandemic.

“I urge our state government to move swiftly to end the unemployment backlog,” said Palumbo. “In the meantime, my office will continue to provide any help and support with unemployment insurance claims that we can. If you need help, please contact my Assembly office by phone (631) 727-0204 or by email PalumboA@NYAssembly.gov. My staff and I are here to help.”

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