When it comes to receiving unemployment payments, North Carolina takes the longest, an ABC 11 report found. | Stock Photo
When it comes to receiving unemployment payments, North Carolina takes the longest, an ABC 11 report found. | Stock Photo
A North Carolina legislator said that the state's system to provide unemployment benefits needs to be reformed.
Rep. Jason Saine (R-Lincoln) comments come after an ABC 11 report that ranked North Carolina last for having unemployment claims paid within two to three weeks.
“I know that many of you are still experiencing difficulties receiving unemployment benefits," Saine said in his Aug. 17 Facebook post. "The system certainly needs to be reformed. If you have any questions, please contact my office and we will help advise you in the best way we know how."
The Division of Employment Security hopes to pay unemployment claims between 14 and 21 days after filing, but considering the uptick in requests due to COVID-19, the ability to meet that deadline has been rare, even pre-coronavirus, ABC 11 reported in May.
DES told the news station that it approved 14,684 claims each day from April 15 to May 27, and 531 were denied.
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