Unemployed workers battle application issues

District 5 State Senator Daniel Sparks gives tips to help make the unemployment application process less frustrating.

Spread of the coronavirus has many people applying for unemployment insurance... and this process hasn't been easy for many people... w-t-v-a's kayla thompson spoke with senator daniel sparks.

She joins us live in tupelo to talk about the issues you may be facing and how you can avoid them... right now...people aren't able to get through the phone lines to the office of employment security.

Those online are having issues with passwords...this is creating a very frustrating experience... ."

"people are needing to file unemployment and they are having trouble."

District 5 state senator daniel sparks says this trouble led him to jackson to meet with the mississippi department of employment security to make the process less frustrating... stand up one of the things senator sparks recommends is filing online around 10 p.m.- 5 a.m.

That way you'll avoid the 8-5 rush...or worse (nats of me calling and it telling me they can't be reached) "80 percent of the filing has been online and they've been successful but they've had about 25,000 calls in the last few days.

It's overwhelmed the system and we understand there is anxiety on the part of workers, and this unemployment insurance is temporary insurance that we want to give them to help through this time."

Right now you are able to file for unemployment benefits 24 hours a day/ 7 days a week...should you be directed to the call center for password issues...or any other problem...it's open from 7 a.m.

To 7 p.m.... "they're likely going to extend that but because of the sensitive nature of information you are giving they need to make sure people are vetted to do that."

Once you have completed your application, your employer will to verify your employment to prove you are eligible for assistance... this procedure won't take away from your benefits... "there is not a one week waiting period.

One of the key things i want people to understand is that your date of separation it will be back dated to that date so if it takes 3 or 4 days that doesn't mean you're going to lose those days of benefits.

Senator sparks says he knows this process is tough...but the department is working around the clock to fix issues and get you help... "please be patient we want you to have these benefits because we want to be able to support you as much as we can while we're working through this."

I(need a different line unless we can send them to our website for a link) live in tupelo, kt wtva 9 news... in alabama, nearly 17 thousand people filed