ATLANTA—This week, Georgia House and Senate legislators will host press conferences to discuss backlogged Unemployment Insurance (UI) benefits claims.
Lawmakers say they are deeply concerned and want Georgia Labor Commissioner Mark Butler to take action to process backlogged claims that are over 30 days late. Legislators say they want more staff to be trained and hired to resolve the issue, as well as an emergency call center to respond to the public.
“We are at a critical time for many Georgians,” said State Rep. Sandra G. Scott of House District 76, who is organizing the press conferences. “Failure to pass the extended unemployment benefits have left individuals, families, workers and businesses at risk. With moratoriums lifted on evictions and utilities, the most vulnerable will be hardest hit. As virtual learning is set to begin, stable housing and utilities are being shut off and families need their UI benefits so it won’t have a negative impact on their children starting school.”
State Rep. Kim Schofield, of House District 60, concurred.
“Many Georgians have failed to receive their UI benefits and payments. Many have not received any correspondence from the Georgia Department of Labor,” said Schofield. “We are in a state of emergency and we need Commissioner Mark Butler to release the UI funds to the people that have been waiting for months.”
Press conferences this week will be held with concerned citizens at 10 a.m. in parking lots of the following locations:
Week of Press Conference Locations | |
Monday, August 3, 2020 | Georgia Department of Labor, 1630 Phoenix Boulevard, Suite 200, College Park, GA 30349 |
Tuesday, August 4, 2020 | Georgia Department of Labor, 148 Andrew Young International Boulevard NE, Atlanta, GA 30303 |
Wednesday, August 5, 2020 | Georgia Department of Labor, 2211 Beaver Ruin Road, Suite 160, Norcross, GA 30071 |
Thursday, August 6, 2020 | Georgia Department of Labor, 465 Big Shanty Road, Marietta, GA 30066 |
Thursday, August 6, 2020 | Georgia Department of Labor, 3090 Mercer University Drive, Macon, GA 31204 |
Friday, August 7, 2020 | Georgia Department of Labor, 223 Courtland Street NE, Suite 200, Atlanta, GA 30303 |
For more information, Rep. Sandra G. Scott at 678-283-7149.
2 Comments
Rep.Scott mark butler don’t care about anything but his check.He is getting paid all that money to do what close the dept doors down.Thats the only idea he has come up with.He had enough time to think of how he could make this situation better.All this time he could have built barriers for his employees or do the app. thing like dds is doing we have heard nothing.Time to put some in his place that’s a little more creative.i’m 60 years old to young to retire too old to get hired.A simple answer from a phone call would help.
I attempted the press conference in Marietta, GA today and while appreciate the efforts of our State Representatives we need to keep the pressure on Governor Kemp. The stories were heart breaking one person indicated she has lost everything but her life and pleaded for mercy. Mark Butler has clearly failed the challenge of getting through the backlog of unemployment applications. Why not call in the National guards for help or hire people that are currently unemployed. Yes we can vote M Butler out of office but we can’t wait for that, action is needed now!