In December, due to budget constraints the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry furloughed over 500 of its employees, most of whom work in the unemployment offices throughout the state.

According to state Rep. Jack Rader, who serves on the Labor and Industry Committee, the furloughs came about when questions were raised about some questionable spending within the department.“But while we are scheduling hearings into the matter and putting forth legislation to correct the problem,” Rader said. “The governor has the power to keep the offices open. He kept them open during the budget crisis, he can keep at least some of them open now.”As a result, the unemployed who are eligible to file, along with those who have recently lost their jobs are getting nowhere fast with their unemployment claims.“We have received at least 50 requests for assistance,” said Nancy Parks, district constituent outreach specialist atRader’s office. “All we can do is send an official legislative request on their behalf. In the past, the constituent would receive a call within 24 hours. Now we are telling them it will take five to 10 business days.”According to Parks, the callers are contacting the office because when they try to file online, they are getting “kicked off” line, they cannot get through by phone and there are extremely long lines at CareerLink. Also, in some cases their payments are not being processed.“This is affecting those that have already received confirmation of their claims and those that are trying to start a claim,” said Parks. “At least 10 of those we helped have stopped in to let us know that they were able to get what they needed.”“This is hurting those who need help the most,” said Rader. “There is a definite disagreement that needs to be fixed, but we also have a responsibility to help out those who are in need.”Parks said that the bulk of those calling the office recently are First Student bus drivers from the Pleasant Valley School District trying to collect for the time school was closed over the winter break.