Wisconsin's unemployment rates in September were down 0.7 percentage points from 8.4 percent in August to 7.7 percent. This is continued good news for the fourth straight month in Wisconsin. However, every day I get calls into my office from people about to reach the end of their unemployment insurance compensation. As we struggle in Wisconsin to reach the end of the economic recession which has forced thousands of families out of their homes, it is my hope the federal government will extend unemployment benefits once again to help Wisconsin's working families.
Needed good news this week included an announcement that Wisconsin received $2.5 million to upgrade our unemployment insurance system from the U.S. Department of Labor. Many complaints have been expressed about the timeliness of the current system and the wait for benefits that have been the result of an unprecedented increase in claims being filed. The Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development will use the grant money to upgrade and replace the state's 10-year-old system used for taking telephone claims, and implement a new system to schedule UI appeals more efficiently. In addition, the funds will be used to further enhance the State Information Data Exchange System (SIDES), which helps improve the timeliness of information submitted by employers, which will mean faster claims for workers.
The funds from the federal government to Wisconsin in the form of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) have been put to good use. Funding for schools that were faced with the prospect of extreme cuts and decaying facilities, funds for local governments for shovel ready projects, funds for state, federal and county highways have been allocated or will be allocated in the coming months. This influx into our state economy has helped us stay out of danger and is helping us put thousands of people to work and kept the jobs of thousands more. However, there still remain many people out of work in Wisconsin. It is my hope that the federal government will step up to the plate again and make an additional extension of unemployment insurance benefits. It is my understanding and hope that action on an extension will happen soon in Congress.
The state is paying approximately 200,000 claims per week to individuals who are unemployed. Wisconsin has seen record claims resulting from the recession. The state is administering five benefit programs providing state and federal benefit for up to 79 weeks. There is consideration in Congress on a proposal to add an additional 13 weeks of federal extended benefits.
As a part of ARRA, the federal Trade Adjustment Assistance was more than doubled. These funds are used to provide assistance for dislocated worker training, income support, job search allowance and relocation allowance. Since Oct. 1, there have been TAA allocations made available in Wisconsin for a total of 957 jobs for Rockwell workers from Milwaukee and Richland Center, Pace Industries workers of Grafton, Gardner Denver workers of Sheboygan, and Permacel workers of Pleasant Prairie.
For more information on unemployment insurance and related benefits in Wisconsin, please contact my office at 888-549-0027 or 608-266-6670 or contact me via e-mail at sen.erpenbach@legis.wi.gov.
- Sen. Jon Erpenbach, D-Waunakee, serves the 27th Senate District.
Needed good news this week included an announcement that Wisconsin received $2.5 million to upgrade our unemployment insurance system from the U.S. Department of Labor. Many complaints have been expressed about the timeliness of the current system and the wait for benefits that have been the result of an unprecedented increase in claims being filed. The Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development will use the grant money to upgrade and replace the state's 10-year-old system used for taking telephone claims, and implement a new system to schedule UI appeals more efficiently. In addition, the funds will be used to further enhance the State Information Data Exchange System (SIDES), which helps improve the timeliness of information submitted by employers, which will mean faster claims for workers.
The funds from the federal government to Wisconsin in the form of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) have been put to good use. Funding for schools that were faced with the prospect of extreme cuts and decaying facilities, funds for local governments for shovel ready projects, funds for state, federal and county highways have been allocated or will be allocated in the coming months. This influx into our state economy has helped us stay out of danger and is helping us put thousands of people to work and kept the jobs of thousands more. However, there still remain many people out of work in Wisconsin. It is my hope that the federal government will step up to the plate again and make an additional extension of unemployment insurance benefits. It is my understanding and hope that action on an extension will happen soon in Congress.
The state is paying approximately 200,000 claims per week to individuals who are unemployed. Wisconsin has seen record claims resulting from the recession. The state is administering five benefit programs providing state and federal benefit for up to 79 weeks. There is consideration in Congress on a proposal to add an additional 13 weeks of federal extended benefits.
As a part of ARRA, the federal Trade Adjustment Assistance was more than doubled. These funds are used to provide assistance for dislocated worker training, income support, job search allowance and relocation allowance. Since Oct. 1, there have been TAA allocations made available in Wisconsin for a total of 957 jobs for Rockwell workers from Milwaukee and Richland Center, Pace Industries workers of Grafton, Gardner Denver workers of Sheboygan, and Permacel workers of Pleasant Prairie.
For more information on unemployment insurance and related benefits in Wisconsin, please contact my office at 888-549-0027 or 608-266-6670 or contact me via e-mail at sen.erpenbach@legis.wi.gov.
- Sen. Jon Erpenbach, D-Waunakee, serves the 27th Senate District.
