How to apply for unemployment

With the COVID-19 novel Coronavirus pandemic came a sharp rise in unemployment following the shuddering of nonessential businesses all over the United States, and Wichita County is no exception.

The easiest and quickest way to apply for unemployment, according to Kendra Ball, Business and Outreach Manager for Workforce Solutions North Texas (WSNT), remains through their website at ui.texasworkforce.org. However, she said, they understand there are still many situations that warrant a conversation, so a recent expansion of hours will support that need as well. The Texas Workforce Commission tele-center number is 877-915-6400.

Since the first of the year, unemployment claims in Texas have run from 12,000 to 22,000 a week up until after the first week in March, when it spiked to more than 155,000 for the week ending March 14 then to 276,000 claims filed during the following week.

Although the Texas Workforce Commission website and call centers are strained, they are working hard to accommodate the rising number of unemployment claims in the state.

In the last three weeks, the TWC installed 15 new servers to make sure the website can support the increase in traffic. They are actively adding to the capacity of call centers as well enabling them to extend the call center hours and days even further.

Starting this past Monday, the Tele-center phone lines are open 7 a.m. To 7 p.m., seven days a week. The addition of new call center workers last week and more who are currently in training are being added to the queues to take calls, enabling them to extend their hours.

While a more immediate focus has been on the effects of the layoffs and unemployed, the local Workforce Solutions North Texas offices are available to help customers and businesses through this transition as well.

Their employees are working remotely, but are fully equipped to continue serving the community. They can be contacted by leaving a message for callback at 940-322-1801, ext. 102, or by emailing employmentservices2@ntxworksolutions. org. Both messaging systems are alerting employees immediately and messages are returned promptly, according to Ms. Ball.

For customers, Workforce Solutions North Texas can help them connect with employers who are still hiring, or even offer training options to dislocated workers through a local college. The online job matching system may be found at www.WorkInTexas.com. They continue to offer virtual workshops and have more coming out soon available to everyone at no charge.

Ms. Ball said the best way to connect with local Workforce updates is through social media, and asks people to follow their Facebook page @WorkforceSolutionsNorthTexas for local updates.

For businesses, they can provide information on layoff aversion options like the Shared Work program through TWC, which supplements wages for workers whose hours have been reduced by 10-40% Filing a mass unemployment claim for employees if a layoff is unavoidable is another option employers can take to help easethe transition of their workers.

WSNT can also provide a virtual or a recorded orientation to workers to get them started on filing their unemployment and offer employment services guidance for their future career needs. Additionally, they are launching a virtual hiring event option for employers who are still needing workers. This will be a good way for employees and job seekers to connect in real-time without having to go to a public event.