Unemployed in NC may have to wait for their checks

Many unemployed people here in North Carolina may now have to wait for their unemployment checks. The website of the State Employment Security Commission was apparently overwhelmed this weekend and crashed, leaving thousands with no way to register for this week’s money.

It is the first thing you see when you log onto the Employment Security Commission’s website, We are experiencing technical difficulties with our web site. Some customers might not be able to access some applications…”

It certainly was not what Edward Ware wanted to see. “I tried to file for my check online and I couldn’t get on there. And I needed my money,” he said.

So, like a lot of others, Ware had to come to the Raleigh ESC office. Fortunately his problem was easily resolved once he showed up in person, but now his check is going to be at least a day late.
Part of that check was to pay Ware’s cell phone bill. “My phone’s cut off. And I was depending on it today,” Ware said. He is depending on it for calls back about job applications, and he knows others may be depending on it for even more important things – things like feeding their families.

Employment Security Commission officials realize how vital the checks are, but even they did not anticipate the economic mess that’s quickly lead to record joblessness in North Carolina.

Andy James of the NC Employment Security Commission said, “About 18 months ago a heavy day for us would have been 23,000 people accessing the website to file their claims. Over the weekend we had over 130,000 people try to do the same thing.”

ESC officials hope the problem with the website will be resolved, and they hope to avoid a repeat of the problem in the future. At least Edward Ware was willing to cut them a little bit of a break under the circumstances. “I can understand it, but surprised. There are just a lot of people out of work.”

News Channel 3 checked the state website earlier this morning. While it still had an alert for possible problems posted we were able to access all the necessary forms.

Story provided by WTVD-TV Raleigh