Mar. 10, 2021
HARRISBURG – Today the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry announced plans to add at least 500 new customer service representatives to improve upon the existing backlog of claims.
The move comes one week after Rep. Natalie Mihalek (R-Allegheny/Washington) live-called the Unemployment Compensation Call Center and received a busy signal to lead off questioning during the department’s budget hearing before the Pennsylvania House Appropriations Committee. Acting Secretary Jennifer Berrier had no answer for why Pennsylvanians are repeatedly spending days waiting for someone to answer the phone and then another two to nine weeks before they receive a response to questions other than to say the issues are “complex.”
Watch the exchange here.
“I’m certainly glad the Wolf administration heard our message last week that the current level of service at our unemployment system is disgraceful,” said Appropriations Committee Chairman Stan Saylor (R-York). “Candidly, however, they should have taken these steps a long time ago.”
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
House Republican Caucus
Media Contact: Neal Lesher
Office: 717-260-6495
Cell: 717-507-9240
nlesher@pahousegop.com