Pennsylvania to invest $6 million to improve unemployment compensation system
Governor Edward G. Rendell today said Pennsylvania will continue improving its unemployment compensation, or UC, system through a $6 million grant from the U.S. Department of Labor.
“Pennsylvanians who are out of work through no fault of their own deserve to have fast, efficient access to the state’s unemployment compensation services,” said Governor Rendell. “This grant will enable us to make additional technological upgrades that will enhance the operation and security of our UC systems.”
More than $5.7 million of the grant will be used to increase the efficiency of the UC telephone claims system, including the installation of a new automated telephone claims system that will replace the PA Teleclaims system in late 2010.
The grant also funds a new automated call distribution system that adds greater flexibility in routing calls as well as initiatives to prevent abuse of the UC tax system and digitally record benefit appeal hearings.
To better handle increased demand for services over the past year, Pennsylvania has already made significant improvements to its UC system. Some of those improvements include:
- Creating the new, easy-to-use Web site: www.uc.pa.gov;
- Implementing the Unemployment Compensation Modernization System that will replace the department’s 40-year-old legacy computer system, and, in the process, reduce paper processing errors and costs; improve processing times; simplify and automate workflow;
- Upgrading and expanding servers to meet the increased volume of activity on the Web site;
- Expanding UC service center calling hours to 7 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, and adding Sunday calling hours, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the statewide toll-free number, 1-888-313-7284;
- Expanding UC service center staff to more than 1,000 by adding about 400 temporary workers to reduce the number of busy signals callers might receive;
- Providing general assistance with filing an online claim and answers to basic questions about the UC process at PA CareerLink® offices.
The Employment and Training Administration grant is part of $164 million provided by the U.S. Department of Labor to 49 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands to upgrade unemployment insurance systems.
More information on the unemployment compensation system is available online at: www.uc.pa.gov.
Topics: automated telephone claims, Governance, improvements, jobs, PA Teleclaims, Pennsylvania, recession, security, soceity, technological enhancement, technology, telephone, telephone system, U.S., UC, unemployement, unemployment compensation system, United States
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