Many Pennsylvanians Still Waiting On Unemployment Benefits

THE BOARD OF THE TRUSTEES ISEXPECTED TO APPROVE THE FREEZENEXT MONTH.WELL OVER 1 MILLIONPENNSYLVANIANS AREUNEMPLOYMENT DUE TO THEPANDEMIC.FIVE OR SIX WEEKS AFTER FILINGCLAIMS, MANY ARE STILL WAITINGFOR THEIR BENEFITS TO COME IN."EYEWITNESS NEWS" HAS BEENFOLLOWING THIS ISSUE.MATT PETRILLO HAS AN UPDATE ONWHAT, WHAT IS BEING DELIVEREDTO HELP.REPORTER: 1.6 MILLIONPENNSYLVANIANS FILING FORUNEMPLOYMENT BACKLOGS ARECAUSING MANY TO WAIT SEVERALWEEKS, TO COLLECT.NOT RECEIVING ANY BENEFITS.REPORTER: IISHA JOHNSON OFSOUTH PHILADELPHIA HAS BEENWORKING TO GET UNEMPLOYMENTSINCE MARCH 13TH WHEN SHE WASLAID OFF FROM HER JOB AS ACONCESSIONS WORKER AT CITIZENSBANK PARK.WAKE UP CALL ABOUT8:00 O'CLOCK IN THE MORNINGAND LINE WAS BUSY.5:00 O'CLOCK IN THE MORNINGAND AFTERNOON LINE WAS BUSY,AND SAME ROUTINE EVERY DAY.IT IS POSSIBLE...REPORTER: DURING A VIRTUALNEWS CONFERENCE THE STATESLABOR AND INDUSTRY DEPARTMENTADMITTED E-MAILS HAVE A 25 DAYBACKLOG.MONDAY AND TUESDAY, OFTEN SEEA FLOOD OF THE PEOPLE CALLINGAND A AGING SYSTEM WITHNON-EQUIPPED FOR TAKING CLAIMSFROM PEOPLE MAKING SIX DIGITS.OUR SYSTEM 40 YEARS OLD WASNOT DESIGN TO TAKE WAGESHIGHER THEN HUNDRED YOU THISDOLLARS IN THE YEAR.BACK IN THE LATE 60'S IN ONEIMAGINED ANYONE'S SALARY WOULDBE THAT HIGH.REPORTER: OFFICIALS AREMAKING TECHNOLOGY UPGRADES.THEY MAINTAIN RESPONSE TIMESARE IMPROVING, AND THEDEPARTMENT HIRED ADDITIONALSTAFF BUT THE BEST DAYS TOCALL ARE THURSDAY AND FRIDAY.MEANTIME MANY PEOPLE, LIKEKATE PAYNE OF WEST OAK LANERECEIVED UNEMPLOYMENT, BUTSTILL SEVERAL FRIENDS HAVENOT.WE NEED HELP.THEY HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANYMONEY, ALL MONTH.REPORTER: MEANTIME STATEOFFICIALS ALSO TELL US THATAMERICAN A BILLION DOLLARS INCLAIMS HAVE BEEN PAID OUT IN