“That’s about as fast as the process can be after you meet all the statutory time lines,’’ Todd said. “We’ve made enormous strides.’’
The three-person commission, which is appointed by the governor and currently has one vacant seat, hears appeals when businesses or individuals contest initial decisions by the state jobs department.
The cases typically involve individuals disputing rulings that they’re ineligible to receive unemployment insurance benefits, and employers contesting awards granted to workers whom they believe were rightfully terminated and ineligible for benefits, Todd said.
“Obviously, there were lots and lots of claims coming in because of the recession,” Todd said. “But we also hadn’t met federal (efficiency) standards for a decade before that.”
U.S. Department of Labor standards require that 60 percent of the commission’s cases be closed within 30 days, and 80 percent of cases be closed within 45 days. By March, the commission reported it was closing 75 percent of cases within 30 days, and 89 percent of cases within 45 days.
The catch-up work included requiring hearing officers to meet higher performance standards, hiring temporary staff and installing a new computer system.
Reducing wait times not only benefits workers who have been wrongfully denied unemployment insurance benefits, it also saves money for the state by eliminating overpayments.
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