More than 230,000 people have filed for unemployment in Kansas since the COVID-19 pandemic gripped the state about seven weeks ago.
The Department of Labor has struggled to process new claims, but Secretary Delia Garcia promised back payments would go out Friday.
NOW TO "REBOUND:KANSAS CITY" -- ANDWE'RE GETTING ANSWERSFOR YOU FROM THOSERUNNING UNEMPLOYMENTSYSTEMS.WE KNOW FRUSTRATIONIS MOUNTING FOR PEOPLEIN KANSAS WAITING ONJOBLESS BENEFITS --FROM TROUBLE GETTINGTHROUGH ON THE PHONETO MISSINGRETROACTICVEPAYMENTS.LISTEN TO WHATGOVERNOR LAURA KELLYSAID TODAY ABOUT THIS.Governor Laura KellyKansas"we're doing what we can with averyantiquated system as quickly aswecan and we will continue to workon itwe know it's important, andwe're notignoring it at all.
And I knowpeopleare frustrated."REPORTER: "What other optionsare available for these peopleandtheir money?""there really are no otheroptionsthan to work through thissystem.And so, the is taking time, Iwillreassure those that have beefrustrated by not being able toget inor not getting the tracks thatyouknow there will be retrospectivepayments, so that while weweren'table to give it to them in atimelyfashion."WE KNOW THAT'S NOTGOOD ENOUGH OF ANANSWER FOR FAMILIESWAITING FOR FINANCIALHELP TO MAKE ENDS MEET-- HELP PROMISED BYCONGRESS AND LEFT UPTO THE STATES TO WORKOUT.SO -- 41 ACTION NEWSREPORTER NICK STARLINGPRESSED THE STATE'SSECRETARY OF LABOR FORANSWERS ON WHENPEOPLE WE'VE TALKED TOWILL GET THEIR MONEY.MANY KANSANS AREFRUSTRATED AS WE'RE INTHE MIDDLE OF WEEK 7AND SOME HAVE YET TOSEE ANY BENEFITS-ORTHEY'RE LOOKING FORBACK PAY on the benefitsI SPOKE TO SECRETARYDELIA GARCIA-ABOUTYOUR CONCERNS ANDWHAT YOU CAN EXPECT.Dela Garca // kansasdepartment of labor secretaryWe're doing what we can withthe resources that we can.BUT MANY KANSAS WESPOKE WITH THINK THEDEPARTMENT CAN DOMORE.Rick Alrich, Lawrence, KSI actually haven't been paid inalmost a month, I haven'treceived any kind of paycheckor any kind of unemployment.MANY OF YOU HADQUESTIONS ON receivingback pay on benefits at thestate level and the additional600 dollars from the federalcares acNICK:They haven't received those$600 payments, when willthose payments be dishedout?GARCIA:I want people to know thatyes, you will receive your backpayments starting back fromMarch 30th week until nowand those are expected to bedone by this Friday.OTHERS WANTED US TOASK ABOUT THOSE WHOARE SOLE-PROPRIETORS-OR SELF EMPLOYED-BECAUSE SO FAR-THEYHAVEN'T RECEIVED ABENEFIT CHECK YENICK:For people who are selemployed when can they startto see some payments?GARCIA:Yes so the timeline that weshared last week was May12th, we'll what an individualcan do today is go ahead andgo to our website atwww.getkansasbenefits.govand go ahead and file,because once they are deniedthat is the first step.WE MET MICHAEL KING-LAST WEEK-HE WAS LAID OFF LASTYEAR-AND he cannot get anymore unemployment SINCEHE'S WITHIN HIS BENEFITYEARMichael King, unemployedI can't reapply but since mybenefits ran out there'snothing there.KDOL Secretary Dela GarcaHe can be able to apply againand have that be extendedand work with us and ouroffice.GARCIA SAYS FOR PEOPLEIN THAT SITUATION, THEYCAN FILE THROUGH THEfederal Pandemic EmergencyUnemployment CompensationON MAY 22ND.and according to a timelinefrom the kansas department oflabor --it includes a may 25th date foranyone who applied forfederal pandemicunemployment relief.NICK;Are you confident you are ableto stick to that timeline forbenefits?GARCIA:You know I am confident, I willsay what I'm not confident inis our antiquated system whatI am confident is my team.REPORTING IN KANSASCITYNICK STARLING 41AC